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Varga A, Kedves R, Sághy K, Garab D, Zádor F, Lendvai B, Lévay G, Román V. R-Baclofen Treatment Corrects Autistic-like Behavioral Deficits in the RjIbm(m):FH Fawn-Hooded Rat Strain. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:939. [PMID: 39065788 PMCID: PMC11279403 DOI: 10.3390/ph17070939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The Fawn-hooded rat has long been used as a model for various peripheral and central disorders and the data available indicate that the social behavior of this strain may be compromised. However, a thorough description of the Fawn-hooded rat is unavailable in this regard. The objective of the present study was to investigate various aspects of the Fawn-hooded rat's social behavior in depth. Our results show that several facets of socio-communicational behavior are impaired in the RjIbm(m):FH strain, including defective ultrasonic vocalizations in pups upon maternal deprivation, reduced social play in adolescence and impaired social novelty discrimination in adulthood. In addition, Fawn-hooded rats exhibited heightened tactile sensitivity and hyperactivity. The defects observed were comparable to those induced by prenatal valproate exposure, a widely utilized model of autism spectrum disorder. Further on, the pro-social drug R-baclofen (0.25-1 mg/kg) reversed the autistic-like defects observed in Fawn-hooded rats, specifically the deficiency in ultrasonic vocalization, tactile sensitivity and social novelty discrimination endpoints. In conclusion, the asocial, hypersensitive and hyperactive phenotype as well as the responsivity to R-baclofen indicate this variant of the Fawn-hooded rat strain may serve as a model of autism spectrum disorder and could be useful in the identification of novel drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Varga
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology and Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Rita Kedves
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Sághy
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dénes Garab
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Zádor
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Lendvai
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
- Richter Department, Semmelweis University, Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - György Lévay
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Morphology and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Vas utca 17, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktor Román
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
- Richter Department, Semmelweis University, Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
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2
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Purpura G, Petri S, Tancredi R, Tinelli F, Calderoni S. Haptic and visuo-haptic impairments for object recognition in children with autism spectrum disorder: focus on the sensory and multisensory processing dysfunctions. Exp Brain Res 2024; 242:1731-1744. [PMID: 38819648 PMCID: PMC11208199 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-024-06855-2] [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: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Dysfunctions in sensory processing are widely described in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although little is known about the developmental course and the impact of these difficulties on the learning processes during the preschool and school ages of ASD children. Specifically, as regards the interplay between visual and haptic information in ASD during developmental age, knowledge is very scarce and controversial. In this study, we investigated unimodal (visual and haptic) and cross-modal (visuo-haptic) processing skills aimed at object recognition through a behavioural paradigm already used in children with typical development (TD), with cerebral palsy and with peripheral visual impairments. Thirty-five children with ASD (age range: 5-11 years) and thirty-five age-matched and gender-matched typically developing peers were recruited. The procedure required participants to perform an object-recognition task relying on only the visual modality (black-and-white photographs), only the haptic modality (manipulation of real objects) and visuo-haptic transfer of these two types of information. Results are consistent with the idea that visuo-haptic transfer may be significantly worse in ASD children than in TD peers, leading to significant impairment in multisensory interactions for object recognition facilitation. Furthermore, ASD children tended to show a specific deficit in haptic information processing, while a similar trend of maturation of visual modality between the two groups is reported. This study adds to the current literature by suggesting that ASD differences in multisensory processes also regard visuo-haptic abilities necessary to identify and recognise objects of daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Purpura
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - S Petri
- Unit for Visually Impaired People, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - R Tancredi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Tinelli
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - S Calderoni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy.
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Whelan TP, Daly E, Puts NA, Malievskaia E, Murphy DGM, McAlonan GM. Editorial Perspective: Bridging the translational neuroscience gap in autism - development of the 'shiftability' paradigm. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:862-865. [PMID: 38130022 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Clinical trials of pharmacological candidates targeting the core features of autism have largely failed. This is despite evidence linking differences in multiple neurochemical systems to brain function in autism. While this has in part been explained by the heterogeneity of the autistic population, the field has largely relied upon association studies to link brain chemistry to function. The only way to directly establish that a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator is involved in a candidate brain function is to change it and observe a shift in that function. This experimental approach dominates preclinical neuroscience, but not human studies. There is little direct experimental evidence describing how neurochemical systems modulate information processing in the living human brain. Thus, our understanding of how neurochemical differences contribute to neurodiversity is limited, impeding our ability to translate findings from animal studies into humans. Here, we introduce our 'shiftability' paradigm, an approach to bridge the translational gap in autism research. We provide an overview of the guiding principles and methodologies we use to directly test the hypothesis that neurochemical systems function differently in autistic and non-autistic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias P Whelan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- COMPASS Pathfinder Ltd, London, UK
| | - Eileen Daly
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nicolaas A Puts
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Declan G M Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- NIHR-Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Grainne M McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- NIHR-Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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4
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Whelan TP, Daly E, Puts NA, Smith P, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S, Malievskaia E, Murphy DGM, McAlonan GM. The 'PSILAUT' protocol: an experimental medicine study of autistic differences in the function of brain serotonin targets of psilocybin. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:319. [PMID: 38658877 PMCID: PMC11044362 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05768-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The underlying neurobiology of the complex autism phenotype remains obscure, although accumulating evidence implicates the serotonin system and especially the 5HT2A receptor. However, previous research has largely relied upon association or correlation studies to link differences in serotonin targets to autism. To directly establish that serotonergic signalling is involved in a candidate brain function our approach is to change it and observe a shift in that function. We will use psilocybin as a pharmacological probe of the serotonin system in vivo. We will directly test the hypothesis that serotonergic targets of psilocybin - principally, but not exclusively, 5HT2A receptor pathways-function differently in autistic and non-autistic adults. METHODS The 'PSILAUT' "shiftability" study is a case-control study autistic and non-autistic adults. How neural responses 'shift' in response to low doses (2 mg and 5 mg) of psilocybin compared to placebo will be examined using multimodal techniques including functional MRI and EEG. Each participant will attend on up to three separate visits with drug or placebo administration in a double-blind and randomized order. RESULTS This study will provide the first direct evidence that the serotonin targets of psilocybin function differently in the autistic and non-autistic brain. We will also examine individual differences in serotonin system function. CONCLUSIONS This work will inform our understanding of the neurobiology of autism as well as decisions about future clinical trials of psilocybin and/or related compounds including stratification approaches. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT05651126.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias P Whelan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- COMPASS Pathfinder Ltd, London, UK
| | - Eileen Daly
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nicolaas A Puts
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Paula Smith
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carrie Allison
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Declan G M Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
- NIHR-Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Grainne M McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
- NIHR-Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
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5
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Huang Q, Ellis CL, Leo SM, Velthuis H, Pereira AC, Dimitrov M, Ponteduro FM, Wong NML, Daly E, Murphy DGM, Mahroo OA, McAlonan GM. Retinal GABAergic Alterations in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1218232024. [PMID: 38467434 PMCID: PMC10993034 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1218-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Alterations in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) have been implicated in sensory differences in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Visual signals are initially processed in the retina, and in this study, we explored the hypotheses that the GABA-dependent retinal response to light is altered in individuals with ASD. Light-adapted electroretinograms were recorded from 61 adults (38 males and 23 females; n = 22 ASD) in response to three stimulus protocols: (1) the standard white flash, (2) the standard 30 Hz flickering protocol, and (3) the photopic negative response protocol. Participants were administered an oral dose of placebo, 15 or 30 mg of arbaclofen (STX209, GABAB agonist) in a randomized, double-blind, crossover order before the test. At baseline (placebo), the a-wave amplitudes in response to single white flashes were more prominent in ASD, relative to typically developed (TD) participants. Arbaclofen was associated with a decrease in the a-wave amplitude in ASD, but an increase in TD, eliminating the group difference observed at baseline. The extent of this arbaclofen-elicited shift significantly correlated with the arbaclofen-elicited shift in cortical responses to auditory stimuli as measured by using an electroencephalogram in our prior study and with broader autistic traits measured with the autism quotient across the whole cohort. Hence, GABA-dependent differences in retinal light processing in ASD appear to be an accessible component of a wider autistic difference in the central processing of sensory information, which may be upstream of more complex autistic phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyun Huang
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Research Center for Brain-Computer Interface, Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou 510665, China
| | - Claire L Ellis
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Shaun M Leo
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, United Kingdom
| | - Hester Velthuis
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Andreia C Pereira
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal
| | - Mihail Dimitrov
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca M Ponteduro
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Nichol M L Wong
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Eileen Daly
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Omar A Mahroo
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, United Kingdom
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- Section of Ophthalmology, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
- Department of Translational Ophthalmology, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Gráinne M McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
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6
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França LGS, Ciarrusta J, Gale-Grant O, Fenn-Moltu S, Fitzgibbon S, Chew A, Falconer S, Dimitrova R, Cordero-Grande L, Price AN, Hughes E, O'Muircheartaigh J, Duff E, Tuulari JJ, Deco G, Counsell SJ, Hajnal JV, Nosarti C, Arichi T, Edwards AD, McAlonan G, Batalle D. Neonatal brain dynamic functional connectivity in term and preterm infants and its association with early childhood neurodevelopment. Nat Commun 2024; 15:16. [PMID: 38331941 PMCID: PMC10853532 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44050-z] [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: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain dynamic functional connectivity characterises transient connections between brain regions. Features of brain dynamics have been linked to emotion and cognition in adult individuals, and atypical patterns have been associated with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism. Although reliable functional brain networks have been consistently identified in neonates, little is known about the early development of dynamic functional connectivity. In this study we characterise dynamic functional connectivity with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in the first few weeks of postnatal life in term-born (n = 324) and preterm-born (n = 66) individuals. We show that a dynamic landscape of brain connectivity is already established by the time of birth in the human brain, characterised by six transient states of neonatal functional connectivity with changing dynamics through the neonatal period. The pattern of dynamic connectivity is atypical in preterm-born infants, and associated with atypical social, sensory, and repetitive behaviours measured by the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) scores at 18 months of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas G S França
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Judit Ciarrusta
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Oliver Gale-Grant
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Sunniva Fenn-Moltu
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Sean Fitzgibbon
- Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Andrew Chew
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Shona Falconer
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Ralica Dimitrova
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Lucilio Cordero-Grande
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
- Biomedical Image Technologies, ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Anthony N Price
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Emer Hughes
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Jonathan O'Muircheartaigh
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Eugene Duff
- Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Jetro J Tuulari
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, 20500, Turku, Finland
- Turku Collegium for Science and Medicine and Technology, University of Turku, 20500, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20500, Turku, Finland
| | - Gustavo Deco
- Center for Brain and Cognition, Computational Neuroscience Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Pompeu Fabra University, 08002, Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Serena J Counsell
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Joseph V Hajnal
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Chiara Nosarti
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Tomoki Arichi
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- Department of Paediatric Neurosciences, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, SE1 7EH, UK
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - A David Edwards
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Dafnis Batalle
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
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7
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Huang Q, Velthuis H, Pereira AC, Ahmad J, Cooke SF, Ellis CL, Ponteduro FM, Puts NAJ, Dimitrov M, Batalle D, Wong NML, Kowalewski L, Ivin G, Daly E, Murphy DGM, McAlonan GM. Exploratory evidence for differences in GABAergic regulation of auditory processing in autism spectrum disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:320. [PMID: 37852957 PMCID: PMC10584846 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02619-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Altered reactivity and responses to auditory input are core to the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Preclinical models implicate ϒ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in this process. However, the link between GABA and auditory processing in humans (with or without ASD) is largely correlational. As part of a study of potential biosignatures of GABA function in ASD to inform future clinical trials, we evaluated the role of GABA in auditory repetition suppression in 66 adults (n = 28 with ASD). Neurophysiological responses (temporal and frequency domains) to repetitive standard tones and novel deviants presented in an oddball paradigm were compared after double-blind, randomized administration of placebo, 15 or 30 mg of arbaclofen (STX209), a GABA type B (GABAB) receptor agonist. We first established that temporal mismatch negativity was comparable between participants with ASD and those with typical development (TD). Next, we showed that temporal and spectral responses to repetitive standards were suppressed relative to responses to deviants in the two groups, but suppression was significantly weaker in individuals with ASD at baseline. Arbaclofen reversed weaker suppression of spectral responses in ASD but disrupted suppression in TD. A post hoc analysis showed that arbaclofen-elicited shift in suppression was correlated with autistic symptomatology measured using the Autism Quotient across the entire group, though not in the smaller sample of the ASD and TD group when examined separately. Thus, our results confirm: GABAergic dysfunction contributes to the neurophysiology of auditory sensory processing alterations in ASD, and can be modulated by targeting GABAB activity. These GABA-dependent sensory differences may be upstream of more complex autistic phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyun Huang
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Research Center for Brain-Computer Interface, Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Hester Velthuis
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andreia C Pereira
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jumana Ahmad
- School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, London, UK
| | - Samuel F Cooke
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Claire L Ellis
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Francesca M Ponteduro
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nicolaas A J Puts
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mihail Dimitrov
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Dafnis Batalle
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nichol M L Wong
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lukasz Kowalewski
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Glynis Ivin
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - Eileen Daly
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gráinne M McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
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8
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Kamhout S, Olivier JM, Morris J, Brimhall HR, Black BL, Gabrielsen TP, South M, Lundwall RA, Nielsen JA. Binocular rivalry in autistic and socially anxious adults. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1181797. [PMID: 37547197 PMCID: PMC10400451 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1181797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Social anxiousness is a pervasive symptom in both social anxiety disorder and autism spectrum conditions. Binocular rivalry, which occurs when different images are presented to each eye, has been used to explore how visual and cognitive processing differs across various clinical diagnoses. Previous studies have separately explored whether individuals with autism or anxiety experience binocular rivalry in ways that are different from neurotypical individuals. Methods We applied rivalry paradigms that are similar to those used in previous studies of autism and general anxiety to individuals experiencing symptoms of social anxiousness at clinical or subclinical levels. We also incorporated rivalrous stimuli featuring neutral and emotional facial valances to explore potential overlap of social processing components in social anxiety and autism. Results We hypothesized that higher levels of social anxiousness would increase binocular rivalry switch rates and that higher levels of autistic traits would decrease switch rates. However, stimulus condition did not affect switch rates in either diagnostic group, and switch rate was not significantly predictive of dimensional measures of either autism or social anxiety. Discussion This may suggest a common mechanism for atypical visual cognition styles previously associated with social anxiety and autism. Alternatively, differences in switch rates may only emerge at higher trait levels than reported by the participants in our studies. Furthermore, these findings may be influenced by sex differences in our unique sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kamhout
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Joshua M. Olivier
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Jarom Morris
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | | | - Braeden L. Black
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Terisa P. Gabrielsen
- Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Mikle South
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Rebecca A. Lundwall
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Jared A. Nielsen
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
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9
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Wilson M, Hecker L, Joos E, Aertsen A, Tebartz van Elst L, Kornmeier J. Spontaneous Necker-cube reversals may not be that spontaneous. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1179081. [PMID: 37323933 PMCID: PMC10268006 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1179081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction During observation of the ambiguous Necker cube, our perception suddenly reverses between two about equally possible 3D interpretations. During passive observation, perceptual reversals seem to be sudden and spontaneous. A number of theoretical approaches postulate destabilization of neural representations as a pre-condition for reversals of ambiguous figures. In the current study, we focused on possible Electroencephalogram (EEG) correlates of perceptual destabilization, that may allow prediction of an upcoming perceptual reversal. Methods We presented ambiguous Necker cube stimuli in an onset-paradigm and investigated the neural processes underlying endogenous reversals as compared to perceptual stability across two consecutive stimulus presentations. In a separate experimental condition, disambiguated cube variants were alternated randomly, to exogenously induce perceptual reversals. We compared the EEG immediately before and during endogenous Necker cube reversals with corresponding time windows during exogenously induced perceptual reversals of disambiguated cube variants. Results For the ambiguous Necker cube stimuli, we found the earliest differences in the EEG between reversal trials and stability trials already 1 s before a reversal occurred, at bilateral parietal electrodes. The traces remained similar until approximately 1100 ms before a perceived reversal, became maximally different at around 890 ms (p = 7.59 × 10-6, Cohen's d = 1.35) and remained different until shortly before offset of the stimulus preceding the reversal. No such patterns were found in the case of disambiguated cube variants. Discussion The identified EEG effects may reflect destabilized states of neural representations, related to destabilized perceptual states preceding a perceptual reversal. They further indicate that spontaneous Necker cube reversals are most probably not as spontaneous as generally thought. Rather, the destabilization may occur over a longer time scale, at least 1 s before a reversal event, despite the reversal event as such being perceived as spontaneous by the viewer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Wilson
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Hecker
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ellen Joos
- INSERM U1114, Cognitive Neuropsychology and Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ad Aertsen
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Bernstein Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ludger Tebartz van Elst
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Kornmeier
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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10
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Ueberbach T, Simacek CA, Tegeder I, Kirischuk S, Mittmann T. Tonic activation of GABA B receptors via GAT-3 mediated GABA release reduces network activity in the developing somatosensory cortex in GAD67-GFP mice. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2023; 15:1198159. [PMID: 37325697 PMCID: PMC10267986 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2023.1198159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficiency of neocortical information processing critically depends on the balance between the glutamatergic (excitatory, E) and GABAergic (inhibitory, I) synaptic transmission. A transient imbalance of the E/I-ratio during early development might lead to neuropsychiatric disorders later in life. The transgenic glutamic acid decarboxylase 67-green fluorescent protein (GAD67-GFP) mouse line (KI) was developed to selectively visualize GABAergic interneurons in the CNS. However, haplodeficiency of the GAD67 enzyme, the main GABA synthetizing enzyme in the brain, temporarily leads to a low GABA level in the developing brain of these animals. However, KI mice did not demonstrate any epileptic activity and only few and mild behavioral deficits. In the present study we investigated how the developing somatosensory cortex of KI-mice compensates the reduced GABA level to prevent brain hyperexcitability. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings from layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons at P14 and at P21 revealed a reduced frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) in KI mice without any change in amplitude or kinetics. Interestingly, mEPSC frequencies were also decreased, while the E/I-ratio was nevertheless shifted toward excitation. Surprisingly, multi-electrode-recordings (MEA) from acute slices revealed a decreased spontaneous neuronal network activity in KI mice compared to wild-type (WT) littermates, pointing to a compensatory mechanism that prevents hyperexcitability. Blockade of GABAB receptors (GABABRs) with CGP55845 strongly increased the frequency of mEPSCs in KI, but failed to affect mIPSCs in any genotype or age. It also induced a membrane depolarization in P14 KI, but not in P21 KI or WT mice. MEA recordings in presence of CGP55845 revealed comparable levels of network activity in both genotypes, indicating that tonically activated GABABRs balance neuronal activity in P14 KI cortex despite the reduced GABA levels. Blockade of GABA transporter 3 (GAT-3) reproduced the CGP55845 effects suggesting that tonic activation of GABABRs is mediated by ambient GABA released via GAT-3 operating in reverse mode. We conclude that GAT-3-mediated GABA release leads to tonic activation of both pre- and postsynaptic GABABRs and restricts neuronal excitability in the developing cortex to compensate for reduced neuronal GABA synthesis. Since GAT-3 is predominantly located in astrocytes, GAD67 haplodeficiency may potentially stimulate astrocytic GABA synthesis through GAD67-independent pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Ueberbach
- Institute for Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Clara A. Simacek
- Institute for Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Irmgard Tegeder
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sergei Kirischuk
- Institute for Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Mittmann
- Institute for Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
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11
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Pretzsch CM, Floris DL, Schäfer T, Bletsch A, Gurr C, Lombardo MV, Chatham CH, Tillmann J, Charman T, Arenella M, Jones E, Ambrosino S, Bourgeron T, Dumas G, Cliquet F, Leblond CS, Loth E, Oakley B, Buitelaar JK, Baron-Cohen S, Beckmann CF, Persico AM, Banaschewski T, Durston S, Freitag CM, Murphy DGM, Ecker C. Cross-sectional and longitudinal neuroanatomical profiles of distinct clinical (adaptive) outcomes in autism. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:2158-2169. [PMID: 36991132 PMCID: PMC10575772 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02016-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (henceforth referred to as autism) display significant variation in clinical outcome. For instance, across age, some individuals' adaptive skills naturally improve or remain stable, while others' decrease. To pave the way for 'precision-medicine' approaches, it is crucial to identify the cross-sectional and, given the developmental nature of autism, longitudinal neurobiological (including neuroanatomical and linked genetic) correlates of this variation. We conducted a longitudinal follow-up study of 333 individuals (161 autistic and 172 neurotypical individuals, aged 6-30 years), with two assessment time points separated by ~12-24 months. We collected behavioural (Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale-II, VABS-II) and neuroanatomical (structural magnetic resonance imaging) data. Autistic participants were grouped into clinically meaningful "Increasers", "No-changers", and "Decreasers" in adaptive behaviour (based on VABS-II scores). We compared each clinical subgroup's neuroanatomy (surface area and cortical thickness at T1, ∆T (intra-individual change) and T2) to that of the neurotypicals. Next, we explored the neuroanatomical differences' potential genomic associates using the Allen Human Brain Atlas. Clinical subgroups had distinct neuroanatomical profiles in surface area and cortical thickness at baseline, neuroanatomical development, and follow-up. These profiles were enriched for genes previously associated with autism and for genes previously linked to neurobiological pathways implicated in autism (e.g. excitation-inhibition systems). Our findings suggest that distinct clinical outcomes (i.e. intra-individual change in clinical profiles) linked to autism core symptoms are associated with atypical cross-sectional and longitudinal, i.e. developmental, neurobiological profiles. If validated, our findings may advance the development of interventions, e.g. targeting mechanisms linked to relatively poorer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte M Pretzsch
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Dorothea L Floris
- Methods of Plasticity Research, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Tim Schäfer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Anke Bletsch
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Caroline Gurr
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- Laboratory for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Chris H Chatham
- F. Hoffmann La Roche, Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Julian Tillmann
- F. Hoffmann La Roche, Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tony Charman
- Clinical Child Psychology, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Martina Arenella
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Emily Jones
- Centre for Brain & Cognitive Development, University of London, London, UK
| | - Sara Ambrosino
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Thomas Bourgeron
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, UMR3571 CNRS, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Dumas
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Freddy Cliquet
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, UMR3571 CNRS, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Claire S Leblond
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, UMR3571 CNRS, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Eva Loth
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Bethany Oakley
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jan K Buitelaar
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Christian F Beckmann
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sarah Durston
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Christine M Freitag
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Christine Ecker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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12
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Wang Y, Liu C, Deng J, Xu Q, Lin J, Li H, Hu M, Hu C, Li Q, Xu X. Behavioral and Sensory Deficits Associated with Dysfunction of GABAergic System in a Novel shank2-Deficient Zebrafish Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:2208. [PMID: 36768529 PMCID: PMC9916955 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyper-reactivity to sensory inputs is a common and debilitating symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the underlying neural abnormalities remain unclear. Two of three patients in our clinical cohort screen harboring de novo SHANK2 mutations also exhibited high sensitivity to visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli, so we examined whether shank2 deficiencies contribute to sensory abnormalities and other ASD-like phenotypes by generating a stable shank2b-deficient zebrafish model (shank2b-/-). The adult shank2b-/- zebrafish demonstrated reduced social preference and kin preference as well as enhanced behavioral stereotypy, while larvae exhibited hyper-sensitivity to auditory noise and abnormal hyperactivity during dark-to-light transitions. This model thus recapitulated the core developmental and behavioral phenotypes of many previous genetic ASD models. Expression levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunit mRNAs and proteins were also reduced in shank2b-/- zebrafish, and these animals exhibited greater sensitivity to drug-induced seizures. Our results suggest that GABAergic dysfunction is a major contributor to the sensory hyper-reactivity in ASD, and they underscore the need for interventions that target sensory-processing disruptions during early neural development to prevent disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- Division of Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Chunxue Liu
- Division of Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Jingxin Deng
- Division of Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Qiong Xu
- Division of Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Jia Lin
- Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Children’s Hopstial of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, 399 Wangyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Huiping Li
- Division of Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Meixin Hu
- Division of Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Chunchun Hu
- Division of Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Children’s Hopstial of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, 399 Wangyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Xiu Xu
- Division of Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
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13
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Excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in autism: the role of glutamate and GABA gene-sets in symptoms and cortical brain structure. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:18. [PMID: 36681677 PMCID: PMC9867712 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02317-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalance hypothesis posits that imbalance between excitatory (glutamatergic) and inhibitory (GABAergic) mechanisms underlies the behavioral characteristics of autism. However, how E/I imbalance arises and how it may differ across autism symptomatology and brain regions is not well understood. We used innovative analysis methods-combining competitive gene-set analysis and gene-expression profiles in relation to cortical thickness (CT) to investigate relationships between genetic variance, brain structure and autism symptomatology of participants from the AIMS-2-TRIALS LEAP cohort (autism = 359, male/female = 258/101; neurotypical control participants = 279, male/female = 178/101) aged 6-30 years. Using competitive gene-set analyses, we investigated whether aggregated genetic variation in glutamate and GABA gene-sets could be associated with behavioral measures of autism symptoms and brain structural variation. Further, using the same gene-sets, we corelated expression profiles throughout the cortex with differences in CT between autistic and neurotypical control participants, as well as in separate sensory subgroups. The glutamate gene-set was associated with all autism symptom severity scores on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) within the autistic group. In adolescents and adults, brain regions with greater gene-expression of glutamate and GABA genes showed greater differences in CT between autistic and neurotypical control participants although in opposing directions. Additionally, the gene expression profiles were associated with CT profiles in separate sensory subgroups. Our results suggest complex relationships between E/I related genetics and autism symptom profiles as well as brain structure alterations, where there may be differential roles for glutamate and GABA.
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14
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Li Q, Shi Y, Li X, Yang Y, Zhang X, Xu L, Ma Z, Wang J, Fan L, Wu L. Proteomic-Based Approach Reveals the Involvement of Apolipoprotein A-I in Related Phenotypes of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the BTBR Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315290. [PMID: 36499620 PMCID: PMC9737945 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Abnormal lipid metabolism has been suggested to contribute to its pathogenesis. Further exploration of its underlying biochemical mechanisms is needed. In a search for reliable biomarkers for the pathophysiology of ASD, hippocampal tissues from the ASD model BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice and C57BL/6J mice were analyzed, using four-dimensional (4D) label-free proteomic analysis and bioinformatics analysis. Differentially expressed proteins were significantly enriched in lipid metabolic pathways. Among them, apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) is a hub protein and its expression was significantly higher in the BTBR mice. The investigation of protein levels (using Western blotting) also confirmed this observation. Furthermore, expressions of SphK2 and S1P in the ApoA-I pathway both increased. Using the SphK inhibitor (SKI-II), ASD core phenotype and phenotype-related protein levels of P-CREB, P-CaMKII, and GAD1 were improved, as shown via behavioral and molecular biology experiments. Moreover, by using SKI-II, we found proteins related to the development and function of neuron synapses, including ERK, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, CDK5 and KCNQ2 in BTBR mice, whose levels were restored to protein levels comparable to those in the controls. Elucidating the possible mechanism of ApoA-I in ASD-associated phenotypes will provide new ideas for studies on the etiology of ASD.
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15
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Abstract
Recent advances in genomics have revealed a wide spectrum of genetic variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders at an unprecedented scale. An increasing number of studies have consistently identified mutations-both inherited and de novo-impacting the function of specific brain circuits. This suggests that, during brain development, alterations in distinct neural circuits, cell types, or broad regulatory pathways ultimately shaping synapses might be a dysfunctional process underlying these disorders. Here, we review findings from human studies and animal model research to provide a comprehensive description of synaptic and circuit mechanisms implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. We discuss how specific synaptic connections might be commonly disrupted in different disorders and the alterations in cognition and behaviors emerging from imbalances in neuronal circuits. Moreover, we review new approaches that have been shown to restore or mitigate dysfunctional processes during specific critical windows of brain development. Considering the heterogeneity of neurodevelopmental disorders, we also highlight the recent progress in developing improved clinical biomarkers and strategies that will help to identify novel therapeutic compounds and opportunities for early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Exposito-Alonso
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom;
- Current affiliation: Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
| | - Beatriz Rico
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom;
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Advances in the identification and validation of autism biomarkers. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:697-698. [PMID: 36008547 DOI: 10.1038/d41573-022-00141-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Keeping the Balance: GABAB Receptors in the Developing Brain and Beyond. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12040419. [PMID: 35447949 PMCID: PMC9031223 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12040419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The main neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for the inhibition of neuronal activity is γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It plays a crucial role in circuit formation during development, both via its primary effects as a neurotransmitter and also as a trophic factor. The GABAB receptors (GABABRs) are G protein-coupled metabotropic receptors; on one hand, they can influence proliferation and migration; and, on the other, they can inhibit cells by modulating the function of K+ and Ca2+ channels, doing so on a slower time scale and with a longer-lasting effect compared to ionotropic GABAA receptors. GABABRs are expressed pre- and post-synaptically, at both glutamatergic and GABAergic terminals, thus being able to shape neuronal activity, plasticity, and the balance between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in response to varying levels of extracellular GABA concentration. Furthermore, given their subunit composition and their ability to form complexes with several associated proteins, GABABRs display heterogeneity with regard to their function, which makes them a promising target for pharmacological interventions. This review will describe (i) the latest results concerning GABABRs/GABABR-complex structures, their function, and the developmental time course of their appearance and functional integration in the brain, (ii) their involvement in manifestation of various pathophysiological conditions, and (iii) the current status of preclinical and clinical studies involving GABABR-targeting drugs.
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