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He Q, Li R, Zhong N, Ma J, Nie F, Zhang R. The role and molecular mechanisms of the early growth response 3 gene in schizophrenia. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2024; 195:e32969. [PMID: 38327141 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic, debilitating mental illness caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors play a major role in schizophrenia development. Early growth response 3 (EGR3) is a member of the EGR family, which is associated with schizophrenia. Accumulating studies have investigated the relationship between EGR3 and schizophrenia. However, the role of EGR3 in schizophrenia pathogenesis remains unclear. In the present review, we focus on the progress of research related to the role of EGR3 in schizophrenia, including association studies between EGR3 and schizophrenia, abnormal gene expressional analysis of EGR3 in schizophrenia, biological function studies of EGR3 in schizophrenia, the molecular regulatory mechanism of EGR3 and schizophrenia susceptibility candidate genes, and possible role of EGR3 in the immune system function in schizophrenia. In summary, EGR3 is a schizophrenia risk candidate factor and has comprehensive regulatory roles in schizophrenia pathogenesis. Further studies investigating the molecular mechanisms of EGR3 in schizophrenia are warranted for understanding the pathophysiology of this disorder as well as the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment and control of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi He
- School of Basic Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine, Shannxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ruochun Li
- Department of Medical Technology, Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Nannan Zhong
- Department of Medical Technology, Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Department of Electron Microscope, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fayi Nie
- School of Basic Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine, Shannxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Medical Technology, Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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2
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Thöny B, Ng J, Kurian MA, Mills P, Martinez A. Mouse models for inherited monoamine neurotransmitter disorders. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024; 47:533-550. [PMID: 38168036 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Several mouse models have been developed to study human defects of primary and secondary inherited monoamine neurotransmitter disorders (iMND). As the field continues to expand, current defects in corresponding mouse models include enzymes and a molecular co-chaperone involved in monoamine synthesis and metabolism (PAH, TH, PITX3, AADC, DBH, MAOA, DNAJC6), tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) cofactor synthesis and recycling (adGTPCH1/DRD, arGTPCH1, PTPS, SR, DHPR), and vitamin B6 cofactor deficiency (ALDH7A1), as well as defective monoamine neurotransmitter packaging (VMAT1, VMAT2) and reuptake (DAT). No mouse models are available for human DNAJC12 co-chaperone and PNPO-B6 deficiencies, disorders associated with recessive variants that result in decreased stability and function of the aromatic amino acid hydroxylases and decreased neurotransmitter synthesis, respectively. More than one mutant mouse is available for some of these defects, which is invaluable as different variant-specific (knock-in) models may provide more insights into underlying mechanisms of disorders, while complete gene inactivation (knock-out) models often have limitations in terms of recapitulating complex human diseases. While these mouse models have common phenotypic traits also observed in patients, reflecting the defective homeostasis of the monoamine neurotransmitter pathways, they also present with disease-specific manifestations with toxic accumulation or deficiency of specific metabolites related to the specific gene affected. This review provides an overview of the currently available models and may give directions toward selecting existing models or generating new ones to investigate novel pathogenic mechanisms and precision therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beat Thöny
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Joanne Ng
- Genetic Therapy Accelerator Centre, University College London, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Manju A Kurian
- Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
| | - Philippa Mills
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Aurora Martinez
- Department of Biomedicine and Center for Translational Research in Parkinson's Disease, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Neuro-SysMed, Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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3
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Ye J, Chen H, Wang K, Wang Y, Ammerman A, Awasthi S, Xu J, Liu B, Li W. Structural insights into vesicular monoamine storage and drug interactions. Nature 2024; 629:235-243. [PMID: 38499039 PMCID: PMC11070986 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07290-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Biogenic monoamines-vital transmitters orchestrating neurological, endocrinal and immunological functions1-5-are stored in secretory vesicles by vesicular monoamine transporters (VMATs) for controlled quantal release6,7. Harnessing proton antiport, VMATs enrich monoamines around 10,000-fold and sequester neurotoxicants to protect neurons8-10. VMATs are targeted by an arsenal of therapeutic drugs and imaging agents to treat and monitor neurodegenerative disorders, hypertension and drug addiction1,8,11-16. However, the structural mechanisms underlying these actions remain unclear. Here we report eight cryo-electron microscopy structures of human VMAT1 in unbound form and in complex with four monoamines (dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin and histamine), the Parkinsonism-inducing MPP+, the psychostimulant amphetamine and the antihypertensive drug reserpine. Reserpine binding captures a cytoplasmic-open conformation, whereas the other structures show a lumenal-open conformation stabilized by extensive gating interactions. The favoured transition to this lumenal-open state contributes to monoamine accumulation, while protonation facilitates the cytoplasmic-open transition and concurrently prevents monoamine binding to avoid unintended depletion. Monoamines and neurotoxicants share a binding pocket that possesses polar sites for specificity and a wrist-and-fist shape for versatility. Variations in this pocket explain substrate preferences across the SLC18 family. Overall, these structural insights and supporting functional studies elucidate the mechanism of vesicular monoamine transport and provide the basis to develop therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases and substance abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Ye
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Huaping Chen
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kaituo Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Aaron Ammerman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Samjhana Awasthi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jinbin Xu
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA.
| | - Weikai Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
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4
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Abstract
The vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) is a proton-dependent antiporter responsible for loading monoamine neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles. Dysregulation of VMAT2 can lead to several neuropsychiatric disorders including Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Furthermore, drugs such as amphetamine and MDMA are known to act on VMAT2, exemplifying its role in the mechanisms of actions for drugs of abuse. Despite VMAT2's importance, there remains a critical lack of mechanistic understanding, largely driven by a lack of structural information. Here, we report a 3.1 Å resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of VMAT2 complexed with tetrabenazine (TBZ), a non-competitive inhibitor used in the treatment of Huntington's chorea. We find TBZ interacts with residues in a central binding site, locking VMAT2 in an occluded conformation and providing a mechanistic basis for non-competitive inhibition. We further identify residues critical for cytosolic and lumenal gating, including a cluster of hydrophobic residues which are involved in a lumenal gating strategy. Our structure also highlights three distinct polar networks that may determine VMAT2 conformational dynamics and play a role in proton transduction. The structure elucidates mechanisms of VMAT2 inhibition and transport, providing insights into VMAT2 architecture, function, and the design of small-molecule therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Dalton
- Department of Structural Biology, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
| | - Mary Hongying Cheng
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookUnited States
| | - Ivet Bahar
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookUnited States
| | - Jonathan A Coleman
- Department of Structural Biology, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
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5
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Dalton MP, Cheng MH, Bahar I, Coleman JA. Structural mechanisms for VMAT2 inhibition by tetrabenazine. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.05.556211. [PMID: 37732203 PMCID: PMC10508774 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.05.556211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
The vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) is a proton-dependent antiporter responsible for loading monoamine neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles. Dysregulation of VMAT2 can lead to several neuropsychiatric disorders including Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Furthermore, drugs such as amphetamine and MDMA are known to act on VMAT2, exemplifying its role in the mechanisms of actions for drugs of abuse. Despite VMAT2's importance, there remains a critical lack of mechanistic understanding, largely driven by a lack of structural information. Here we report a 3.1 Å resolution cryo-EM structure of VMAT2 complexed with tetrabenazine (TBZ), a non-competitive inhibitor used in the treatment of Huntington's chorea. We find TBZ interacts with residues in a central binding site, locking VMAT2 in an occluded conformation and providing a mechanistic basis for non-competitive inhibition. We further identify residues critical for cytosolic and lumenal gating, including a cluster of hydrophobic residues which are involved in a lumenal gating strategy. Our structure also highlights three distinct polar networks that may determine VMAT2 conformational dynamics and play a role in proton transduction. The structure elucidates mechanisms of VMAT2 inhibition and transport, providing insights into VMAT2 architecture, function, and the design of small-molecule therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Dalton
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
| | - Mary Hongying Cheng
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Ivet Bahar
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jonathan A Coleman
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
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6
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Inhibition of VMAT2 by β2-adrenergic agonists, antagonists, and the atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1283. [PMID: 36418492 PMCID: PMC9684503 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04121-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) is responsible for packing monoamine neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles for storage and subsequent neurotransmission. VMAT2 inhibitors are approved for symptomatic treatment of tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's chorea, but despite being much-studied inhibitors their exact binding site and mechanism behind binding and inhibition of monoamine transport are not known. Here we report the identification of several approved drugs, notably β2-adrenergic agonists salmeterol, vilanterol and formoterol, β2-adrenergic antagonist carvedilol and the atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone as inhibitors of rat VMAT2. Further, plausible binding modes of the established VMAT2 inhibitors reserpine and tetrabenazine and hit compounds salmeterol and ziprasidone were identified using molecular dynamics simulations and functional assays using VMAT2 wild-type and mutants. Our findings show VMAT2 as a potential off-target of treatments with several approved drugs in use today and can also provide important first steps in both drug repurposing and therapy development targeting VMAT2 function.
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7
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Humanized substitutions of Vmat1 in mice alter amygdala-dependent behaviors associated with the evolution of anxiety. iScience 2022; 25:104800. [PMID: 35992083 PMCID: PMC9385864 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Kang K, Sun X, Wang L, Yao X, Tang S, Deng J, Wu X, Yang C, Chen G. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing in China and its role in GWAS discovery and replication. QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40484-020-0209-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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9
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Sato DX, Ishii Y, Nagai T, Ohashi K, Kawata M. Human-specific mutations in VMAT1 confer functional changes and multi-directional evolution in the regulation of monoamine circuits. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:220. [PMID: 31791232 PMCID: PMC6889191 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1543-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurochemicals like serotonin and dopamine play crucial roles in human cognitive and emotional functions. Vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT1) transports monoamine neurotransmitters, and its variant (136Thr) is associated with various psychopathological symptoms and reduced monoamine uptake relative to 136Ile. We previously showed that two human-specific amino acid substitutions (Glu130Gly and Asn136Thr/Ile) of VMAT1 were subject to positive natural selection. However, the potential functional alterations caused by these substitutions (Glu130Gly and Asn136Thr) remain unclear. To assess functional changes in VMAT1 from an evolutionary perspective, we reconstructed ancestral residues and examined the role of these substitutions in monoamine uptake in vitro using fluorescent false neurotransmitters (FFN), which are newly developed substances used to quantitatively assay VMATs. RESULTS Immunoblotting confirmed that all the transfected YFP-VMAT1 variants are properly expressed in HEK293T cells at comparable levels, and no significant difference was seen in the density and the size of vesicles among them. Our fluorescent assays revealed a significant difference in FFN206 uptake among VMAT1 variants: 130Glu/136Asn, 130Glu/136Thr, and 130Gly/136Ile showed significantly higher levels of FFN206 uptake than 130Gly/136Asn and 130Gly/136Thr, indicating that both 130Glu and 136Ile led to increased neurotransmitter uptake, for which 136Thr and 136Asn were comparable by contrast. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that monoamine uptake by VMAT1 initially declined (from 130Glu/136Asn to 130Gly/136Thr) in human evolution, possibly resulting in higher susceptibility to the external environment of our ancestors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki X Sato
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yuu Ishii
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Nagai
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Ohashi
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Masakado Kawata
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.
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10
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Lohoff FW, Carr GV, Brookshire B, Ferraro TN, Lucki I. Deletion of the vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (vmat1/slc18a1) gene affects dopamine signaling. Brain Res 2019; 1712:151-157. [PMID: 30685272 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The vesicular monoamine transporter is involved in presynaptic catecholamine storage and neurotransmission. Two isoforms of the transporter exist, VMAT1 and VMAT2, and both are expressed in the brain, though VMAT2 expression is more robust and has been more widely studied. In this study we investigated the role of VMAT1 KO on markers of dopaminergic function and neurotransmission, and dopamine-related behaviors. Null-mutant VMAT1 mice were studied behaviorally using the tail suspension test, elevated zero maze and locomotor activity assessments. Tissue monoamines were measured both ex vivo and by using in vivo microdialysis. Protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and D2 dopamine receptors was measured using western blot analysis. Results show that VMAT1 KO mice have decreased dopamine levels in the frontal cortex, increased postsynaptic D2 expression, and lower frontal cortex tyrosine hydroxylase expression compared to WT mice. VMAT1 KO mice also show an exaggerated behavioral locomotor response to acute amphetamine treatment. We conclude that dopaminergic signaling is robustly altered in the frontal cortex of VMAT1 null-mutant mice and suggest that VMAT1 may be relevant to the pathogenesis and/or treatment of psychiatric illnesses including schizophrenia and bipolar disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Falk W Lohoff
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Gregory V Carr
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bethany Brookshire
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Translational Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Thomas N Ferraro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Irwin Lucki
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
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11
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Lehrer S, Rheinstein PH. Expression of the Vesicular Monoamine Transporter Gene Solute Carrier Family 18 Member 1 ( SLC18A1) in Lung Cancer. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2018; 15:387-393. [PMID: 30194079 PMCID: PMC6199572 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One aspect of smoking and lung cancer that has not been closely examined, is that regarding genes that may predispose to tobacco dependence. Smoking and mental illness are tightly linked, apparently the result of smokers using cigarettes to self-medicate for mental problems. The gene for solute carrier family 18 member A1 (vesicular monoamine transporter; SLC18A1) is of particular interest in this regard because of its association with schizophrenia, autism and bipolar illness as well as with cancer. In the current study, the relationship of SLC18A1 expression with smoking and lung cancer was analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS The association between smoking, SLC18A1 expression and overall survival in the lung cancer dataset in The Cancer Genome Atlas was evaluated using the Genomic Data Commons Data Portal (https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov), as well as CbioPortal for Cancer Genomics (http://www.cbioportal.org) and the University of California Santa Cruz Xena browser (https://xenabrowser.net). RESULTS Increased expression of SLC18A1 was found to be associated with a significantly increased survival in patients with adenocarcinoma (p=0.0058), but not those with squamous carcinoma (p=0.96). Lifelong never-smokers had the highest SLC18A1 expression. In the Pan Cancer Atlas, increased expression of SLC18A1 places such a tumor in group C5, among immunologically-quiet tumors. CONCLUSION Most never-smokers with lung cancer do not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). But for unknown reasons, a small proportion do show clinical benefit from the ICI pembrolizumab. Because of the good response of this group, it may be worthwhile assessing their SLC18A1 expression pre-treatment as a marker for potential clinical benefit. If SLC18A1 expression is low, a never-smoker may respond well to ICIs. High levels of expression would indicate a C5 tumor less likely to respond to ICIs. SLC18A1 might complement other biomarkers currently under study in relation to programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death protein ligand 1 inhibition.
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12
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Sato DX, Kawata M. Positive and balancing selection on SLC18A1 gene associated with psychiatric disorders and human-unique personality traits. Evol Lett 2018; 2:499-510. [PMID: 30283697 PMCID: PMC6145502 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of genetic variants susceptible to psychiatric disorders is one of the intriguing evolutionary enigmas. The present study detects three psychiatric disorder‐relevant genes (CLSTN2, FAT1, and SLC18A1) that have been under positive selection during the human evolution. In particular, SLC18A1 (vesicular monoamine transporter 1; VMAT1) gene has a human‐unique variant (rs1390938, Thr136Ile), which is associated with bipolar disorders and/or the anxiety‐related personality traits. 136Ile shows relatively high (20–61%) frequency in non‐African populations, and Tajima's D reports a significant peak around the Thr136Ile site, suggesting that this polymorphism has been positively maintained by balancing selection in non‐African populations. Moreover, Coalescent simulations predict that 136Ile originated around 100,000 years ago, the time being generally associated with the Out‐of‐Africa migration of modern humans. Our study sheds new light on a gene in monoamine pathway as a strong candidate contributing to human‐unique psychological traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki X Sato
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University Sendai 980-8578 Japan
| | - Masakado Kawata
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University Sendai 980-8578 Japan
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13
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Sayad A, Noroozi R, Khodamoradi Z, Omrani MD, Taheri M, Ghafouri-Fard S. Association Study of VMAT1 Polymorphisms and Suicide Behavior. J Mol Neurosci 2018. [PMID: 29536333 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-018-1047-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Genetic association studies have linked suicide behavior with genes encoding transporters of monoamine. Variants in the vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT1) have been previously shown to be associated with several psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, their association with suicide behavior has not been explored. In the present study, we genotyped three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2270637, rs1390938, and rs2279709) within this gene in 100 individuals who attempted suicide, 236 suicide victims, and 300 control subjects without any history of psychiatric disorders or suicide ideation. We demonstrated no difference in genotype, allele, or haplotype frequencies of theses single-nucleotide polymorphisms between the study groups. Consequently, contribution of VMAT1 in risk of psychiatric disorders might be independent of suicide behavior. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arezou Sayad
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rezvan Noroozi
- Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Khodamoradi
- School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mir Davood Omrani
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Urogenital Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Urogenital Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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14
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Marballi KK, Gallitano AL. Immediate Early Genes Anchor a Biological Pathway of Proteins Required for Memory Formation, Long-Term Depression and Risk for Schizophrenia. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:23. [PMID: 29520222 PMCID: PMC5827560 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
While the causes of myriad medical and infectious illnesses have been identified, the etiologies of neuropsychiatric illnesses remain elusive. This is due to two major obstacles. First, the risk for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, is determined by both genetic and environmental factors. Second, numerous genes influence susceptibility for these illnesses. Genome-wide association studies have identified at least 108 genomic loci for schizophrenia, and more are expected to be published shortly. In addition, numerous biological processes contribute to the neuropathology underlying schizophrenia. These include immune dysfunction, synaptic and myelination deficits, vascular abnormalities, growth factor disruption, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction. However, the field of psychiatric genetics lacks a unifying model to explain how environment may interact with numerous genes to influence these various biological processes and cause schizophrenia. Here we describe a biological cascade of proteins that are activated in response to environmental stimuli such as stress, a schizophrenia risk factor. The central proteins in this pathway are critical mediators of memory formation and a particular form of hippocampal synaptic plasticity, long-term depression (LTD). Each of these proteins is also implicated in schizophrenia risk. In fact, the pathway includes four genes that map to the 108 loci associated with schizophrenia: GRIN2A, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATc3), early growth response 1 (EGR1) and NGFI-A Binding Protein 2 (NAB2); each of which contains the "Index single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)" (most SNP) at its respective locus. Environmental stimuli activate this biological pathway in neurons, resulting in induction of EGR immediate early genes: EGR1, EGR3 and NAB2. We hypothesize that dysfunction in any of the genes in this pathway disrupts the normal activation of Egrs in response to stress. This may result in insufficient electrophysiologic, immunologic, and neuroprotective, processes that these genes normally mediate. Continued adverse environmental experiences, over time, may thereby result in neuropathology that gives rise to the symptoms of schizophrenia. By combining multiple genes associated with schizophrenia susceptibility, in a functional cascade triggered by neuronal activity, the proposed biological pathway provides an explanation for both the polygenic and environmental influences that determine the complex etiology of this mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketan K. Marballi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Amelia L. Gallitano
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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15
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Noroozi R, Ghafouri-Fard S, Omrani MD, Habibi M, Sayad A, Taheri M. Association study of the vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT1) gene with autism in an Iranian population. Gene 2017; 625:10-14. [PMID: 28476685 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Revised: 04/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (MIM 209850) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders distinguished by destructed social interaction and communication abilities along with peculiar repetitive behavior. Several genetic loci have been linked to this disorder. Vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT1/SLC18A1) is an attractive candidate gene for psychiatric disorders because of its participation in regulation monoamines. In the present case-control study, we evaluated the link between three non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs2270641 [Pro4Thr], rs2270637 [Thr98Ser] and rs1390938 [Thr136Ile]) and one intronic SNP (rs2279709) across the VMAT1 gene and ASD in a group of Iranian patients. Allele frequency analyses showed significant over-presentation of rs1390938-G allele in cases compared with controls (P<0.001). The analysis under different genetic models showed that the AA genotype of the rs1390938 was protective against ASD under dominant and recessive models. The rs2270641 SNP was associated with ASD risk only in over-dominant model. Other SNPs showed no significant difference in allele or genotype frequencies between two groups. Haplotype analysis revealed that C A T T and C A T G haplotypes (rs2270637, rs1390938, rs2279709 and rs2270641 respectively) have a protective effect against ASD. Consequently, the functional rs1390938 SNP in VMAT1 is associated with ASD in Iranian population. Considering the role of VMAT1 in regulation of monoamines, the dysregulated expression of this protein during early stages of brain development might be implicated in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rezvan Noroozi
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mir Davood Omrani
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Urogenital stem cell research, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Habibi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arezou Sayad
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Urogenital stem cell research, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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16
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Vaht M, Kiive E, Veidebaum T, Harro J. A Functional Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 1 (VMAT1) Gene Variant Is Associated with Affect and the Prevalence of Anxiety, Affective, and Alcohol Use Disorders in a Longitudinal Population-Representative Birth Cohort Study. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2016; 19:pyw013. [PMID: 26861143 PMCID: PMC4966275 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyw013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inter-individual differences in the monoaminergic systems have been shown to moderate the risk for a lifetime history of anxiety, affective, and alcohol use disorders. A common single nucleotide polymorphism in the vesicular monoamine transporter 1 gene (VMAT1 rs1390938 G/A; Thr136Ile) has been reported as functional in vitro and associated with bipolar disorder and anxiety. We aimed at assessing the association between the VMAT1 genotype, affect, and affect-related psychiatric disorders in a longitudinal population-representative study. METHODS We used the database of the Estonian Children Personality Behaviour and Health Study (beginning in 1998). Cohorts of initially 9- (recalled at ages 15 and 18 years, n=579) and 15- (recalled at ages 18 and 25 years; n=654) year-old children provided self-reports on impulsivity, anxiety, depressiveness, neuroticism, and alcohol use. In addition, psychiatric assessment based on DSM-IV was carried out in the older cohort at age 25 years. RESULTS Subjects homozygous for the less prevalent A (136Ile) allele reported lower maladaptive impulsivity, state and trait anxiety, depressiveness, and neuroticism and were less likely to have been diagnosed with an affective, anxiety, and/or alcohol use disorder by young adulthood. While in the younger cohort alcohol use started at younger age, this birth cohort effect was dependent on genotype: only G allele carriers and in particular the GG homozygotes started alcohol use earlier. CONCLUSIONS VMAT1 rs1390938/Thr136Ile is associated with mood, personality, and alcohol use in the general population. Subjects homozygous for the "hyperfunction" allele (AA; Ile/Ile) appear to be more resilient to these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariliis Vaht
- Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences (Ms Vaht and Dr Harro), and Department of Educational Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia (Dr Kiive); National Institute for Health Development, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia (Dr Veidebaum)
| | - Evelyn Kiive
- Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences (Ms Vaht and Dr Harro), and Department of Educational Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia (Dr Kiive); National Institute for Health Development, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia (Dr Veidebaum)
| | - Toomas Veidebaum
- Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences (Ms Vaht and Dr Harro), and Department of Educational Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia (Dr Kiive); National Institute for Health Development, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia (Dr Veidebaum)
| | - Jaanus Harro
- Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences (Ms Vaht and Dr Harro), and Department of Educational Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia (Dr Kiive); National Institute for Health Development, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia (Dr Veidebaum).
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17
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Altered expression of mRNA profiles in blood of early-onset schizophrenia. Sci Rep 2016; 6:16767. [PMID: 26733343 PMCID: PMC4702094 DOI: 10.1038/srep16767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
To identify gene expression abnormalities in schizophrenia (SZ), we generated whole-genome gene expression profiles using microarrays on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 18 early-onset SZ cases and 12 controls. We detected 84 transcripts differentially expressed by diagnostic status, with 82 genes being upregulated and 2 downregulated. We identified two SZ associated gene coexpression modules (green and red), including 446 genes . The green module is positively correlated with SZ, encompassing predominantly up-regulated genes in SZ; while the red module was negatively correlated with disease status, involving mostly nominally down-regulated genes in SZ. The olfactory transduction pathway was the most enriched pathways for the genes within the two modules. The expression levels of several hub genes, including AKT1, BRCA1, CCDC134, UBD, and ZIC2 were validated using real-time quantitative PCR. Our findings indicate that mRNA coexpression abnormalities may serve as a promising mechanism underlying the development of SZ.
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18
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Zhu X, Dutta N, Helton SG, Schwandt M, Yan J, Hodgkinson CA, Cortes CR, Kerich M, Hall S, Sun H, Phillips M, Momenan R, Lohoff FW. Resting-state functional connectivity and presynaptic monoamine signaling in Alcohol Dependence. Hum Brain Mapp 2015; 36:4808-18. [PMID: 26368063 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Revised: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol Dependence (AD) is a chronic relapsing disorder with high degrees of morbidity and mortality. While multiple neurotransmitter systems are involved in the complex symptomatology of AD, monoamine dysregulation and subsequent neuroadaptations have been long postulated to play an important role. Presynaptic monoamine transporters, such as the vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT1), are likely critical as they represent a key common entry point for monoamine regulation and may represent a shared pathway for susceptibility to AD. Excessive monoaminergic signaling as mediated by genetic variation in VMAT1 might affect functional brain connectivity in particular in alcoholics compared to controls. We conducted resting-state fMRI functional connectivity (FC) analysis using the independent component analysis (ICA) approach in 68 AD subjects and 72 controls. All subjects were genotyped for the Thr136Ile (rs1390938) variant in VMAT1. Functional connectivity analyses showed a significant increase of resting-state FC in 4 networks in alcoholics compared to controls (P < 0.05, corrected). The FC was significantly positively correlated with Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS). The hyperfunction allele 136Ile was associated with a significantly decreased FC in the Default Mode Network, Prefrontal Cortex Network, and Executive Control Network in alcohol dependent participants (P < 0.05, corrected), but not in controls. Our data suggest that increased FC might represent a neuroadaptive mechanism relevant to AD that is furthermore mediated by genetic variation in VMAT1. The hyperfunction allele Thr136Ile might have a protective effect that is, in particular, relevant in AD by mechanism of increased monoamine transport into presynaptic storage vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zhu
- Section on Brain and Electrophysiology and Imaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nisha Dutta
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sarah G Helton
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Melanie Schwandt
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jia Yan
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Colin A Hodgkinson
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Carlos R Cortes
- Section on Brain and Electrophysiology and Imaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Mike Kerich
- Section on Brain and Electrophysiology and Imaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Samuel Hall
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hui Sun
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Monte Phillips
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Reza Momenan
- Section on Brain and Electrophysiology and Imaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Falk W Lohoff
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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19
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Sun L, Cheng Z, Zhang F, Xu Y. Gene expression profiling in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of early-onset schizophrenia. GENOMICS DATA 2015; 5:169-70. [PMID: 26484249 PMCID: PMC4583616 DOI: 10.1016/j.gdata.2015.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Revised: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a severe chronic psychiatric disorder with wide prevalence and high morbidity. We know little about SZ's etiology and pathophysiology at present. The study of gene expression profile is useful for us to identify potential biomarkers at molecular level and explain possible pathogenesis of SZ. Therefore we recently compared gene expression profiles in PMBCs from EOS cases and healthy controls using microarrays. Here we will describe in detail the contents and quality control of the microarray experiment. The raw microarray data are accessible through GEO series accession number GSE54913.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Sun
- Wuxi Mental Health Center of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zaohuo Cheng
- Wuxi Mental Health Center of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Fuquan Zhang
- Wuxi Mental Health Center of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yong Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
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20
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Large-scale candidate gene study to identify genetic risk factors predictive of paliperidone treatment response in patients with schizophrenia. Pharmacogenet Genomics 2015; 25:173-85. [DOI: 10.1097/fpc.0000000000000122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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21
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Jasien JM, Daimon CM, Wang R, Shapiro BK, Martin B, Maudsley S. The effects of aging on the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. Front Aging Neurosci 2014; 6:225. [PMID: 25225482 PMCID: PMC4150363 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by alterations in social functioning, communicative abilities, and engagement in repetitive or restrictive behaviors. The process of aging in individuals with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders is not well understood, despite the fact that the number of individuals with ASD aged 65 and older is projected to increase by over half a million individuals in the next 20 years. To elucidate the effects of aging in the context of a modified central nervous system, we investigated the effects of age on the BTBR T + tf/j mouse, a well characterized and widely used mouse model that displays an ASD-like phenotype. We found that a reduction in social behavior persists into old age in male BTBR T + tf/j mice. We employed quantitative proteomics to discover potential alterations in signaling systems that could regulate aging in the BTBR mice. Unbiased proteomic analysis of hippocampal and cortical tissue of BTBR mice compared to age-matched wild-type controls revealed a significant decrease in brain derived neurotrophic factor and significant increases in multiple synaptic markers (spinophilin, Synapsin I, PSD 95, NeuN), as well as distinct changes in functional pathways related to these proteins, including “Neural synaptic plasticity regulation” and “Neurotransmitter secretion regulation.” Taken together, these results contribute to our understanding of the effects of aging on an ASD-like mouse model in regards to both behavior and protein alterations, though additional studies are needed to fully understand the complex interplay underlying aging in mouse models displaying an ASD-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan M Jasien
- Metabolism Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging Baltimore, MD, USA ; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Caitlin M Daimon
- Metabolism Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rui Wang
- Metabolism Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bruce K Shapiro
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bronwen Martin
- Metabolism Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stuart Maudsley
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Baltimore, MD, USA ; VIB-Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp Antwerp, Belgium
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22
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Galaktionova DY, Gareeva AE, Khusnutdinova EK, Nasedkina TV. Association of SLC18A1, TPH1, and RELN gene polymorphisms with risk of paranoid schizophrenia. Mol Biol 2014. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893314030042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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23
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Lohoff FW, Hodge R, Narasimhan S, Nall A, Ferraro TN, Mickey BJ, Heitzeg MM, Langenecker SA, Zubieta JK, Bogdan R, Nikolova YS, Drabant E, Hariri AR, Bevilacqua L, Goldman D, Doyle GA. Functional genetic variants in the vesicular monoamine transporter 1 modulate emotion processing. Mol Psychiatry 2014; 19:129-39. [PMID: 23337945 PMCID: PMC4311877 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2012.193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2012] [Revised: 11/12/2012] [Accepted: 11/16/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Emotional behavior is in part heritable and often disrupted in psychopathology. Identification of specific genetic variants that drive this heritability may provide important new insight into molecular and neurobiological mechanisms involved in emotionality. Our results demonstrate that the presynaptic vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT1) Thr136Ile (rs1390938) polymorphism is functional in vitro, with the Ile allele leading to increased monoamine transport into presynaptic vesicles. Moreover, we show that the Thr136Ile variant predicts differential responses in emotional brain circuits consistent with its effects in vitro. Lastly, deep sequencing of bipolar disorder (BPD) patients and controls identified several rare novel VMAT1 variants. The variant Phe84Ser was only present in individuals with BPD and leads to marked increase monoamine transport in vitro. Taken together, our data show that VMAT1 polymorphisms influence monoamine signaling, the functional response of emotional brain circuits and risk for psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Falk W. Lohoff
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Rachel Hodge
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Sneha Narasimhan
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Aleksandra Nall
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Thomas N. Ferraro
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Brian J. Mickey
- Department of Psychiatry and Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mary M. Heitzeg
- Department of Psychiatry and Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Scott A. Langenecker
- Department of Psychiatry and Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jon-Kar Zubieta
- Department of Psychiatry and Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Ryan Bogdan
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Yuliya S. Nikolova
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | | | - Ahmad R. Hariri
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Laura Bevilacqua
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, MD
| | - David Goldman
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, MD
| | - Glenn A. Doyle
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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24
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Stingo FC, Guindani M, Vannucci M, Calhoun VD. An Integrative Bayesian Modeling Approach to Imaging Genetics. J Am Stat Assoc 2013; 108. [PMID: 24298194 DOI: 10.1080/01621459.2013.804409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In this paper we present a Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach for imaging genetics, where the interest lies in linking brain connectivity across multiple individuals to their genetic information. We have available data from a functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) study on schizophrenia. Our goals are to identify brain regions of interest (ROIs) with discriminating activation patterns between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls, and to relate the ROIs' activations with available genetic information from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the subjects. For this task we develop a hierarchical mixture model that includes several innovative characteristics: it incorporates the selection of ROIs that discriminate the subjects into separate groups; it allows the mixture components to depend on selected covariates; it includes prior models that capture structural dependencies among the ROIs. Applied to the schizophrenia data set, the model leads to the simultaneous selection of a set of discriminatory ROIs and the relevant SNPs, together with the reconstruction of the correlation structure of the selected regions. To the best of our knowledge, our work represents the first attempt at a rigorous modeling strategy for imaging genetics data that incorporates all such features.
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25
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Multani PK, Hodge R, Estévez MA, Abel T, Kung H, Alter M, Brookshire B, Lucki I, Nall AH, Talbot K, Doyle GA, Lohoff FW. VMAT1 deletion causes neuronal loss in the hippocampus and neurocognitive deficits in spatial discrimination. Neuroscience 2012. [PMID: 23201251 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Vesicular monoamine transporters (VMAT) are involved in presynaptic storage and release of neurotransmitters. While it was thought initially that only VMAT2 is brain expressed and VMAT1 is present only in the periphery, recent data have challenged the exclusive expression of VMAT2 in the brain. To further elucidate the role of VMAT1 brain expression and its potential role in neuropsychiatric disorders, we have investigated mice lacking VMAT1. Comparison of wildtype and knock-out (KO) mice using qPCR and immunohistochemistry documents the expression of VMAT1 in the brain. Deletion of VMAT1 leads to increased hippocampal apoptosis and reduced neurogenesis as assessed by caspase-3-labeling and 5-bromo-deoxy-uridine-labeling. Behavioral data show that mice lacking VMAT1 have neurocognitive deficits. VMAT2 expression is not altered in VMAT1 KO mice, suggesting a distinct role of VMAT1. Our data support VMAT1 brain expression and suggest that VMAT1 plays a key role in survival of hippocampal neurons and thus might contribute to neurocognitive deficits observed in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Multani
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Translational Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - R Hodge
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Translational Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M A Estévez
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - T Abel
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Translational Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - H Kung
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M Alter
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Translational Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - B Brookshire
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Translational Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - I Lucki
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Translational Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - A H Nall
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Translational Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - K Talbot
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Translational Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - G A Doyle
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Translational Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - F W Lohoff
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Translational Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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26
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A family-based association study of the EGR3 gene polymorphisms and schizophrenia. YI CHUAN = HEREDITAS 2012; 34:307-14. [DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1005.2012.00307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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27
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Zhang R, Lu S, Meng L, Min Z, Tian J, Valenzuela RK, Guo T, Tian L, Zhao W, Ma J. Genetic evidence for the association between the early growth response 3 (EGR3) gene and schizophrenia. PLoS One 2012; 7:e30237. [PMID: 22276163 PMCID: PMC3262808 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2011] [Accepted: 12/16/2011] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, two genome scan meta-analysis studies have found strong evidence for the association of loci on chromosome 8p with schizophrenia. The early growth response 3 (EGR3) gene located in chromosome 8p21.3 was also found to be involved in the etiology of schizophrenia. However, subsequent studies failed to replicate this finding. To investigate the genetic role of EGR3 in Chinese patients, we genotyped four SNPs (average interval ∼2.3 kb) in the chromosome region of EGR3 in 470 Chinese schizophrenia patients and 480 healthy control subjects. The SNP rs35201266 (located in intron 1 of EGR3) showed significant differences between cases and controls in both genotype frequency distribution (P = 0.016) and allele frequency distribution (P = 0.009). Analysis of the haplotype rs35201266-rs3750192 provided significant evidence for association with schizophrenia (P = 0.0012); a significant difference was found for the common haplotype AG (P = 0.0005). Furthermore, significant associations were also found in several other two-, and three-SNP tests of haplotype analyses. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant association between rs35201266 and schizophrenia (P = 0.0001). In summary, our study supports the association of EGR3 with schizophrenia in our Han Chinese sample, and further functional exploration of the EGR3 gene will contribute to the molecular basis for the complex network underlying schizophrenia pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shemin Lu
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Liesu Meng
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zixin Min
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Juan Tian
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Robert K. Valenzuela
- Arizona Health Science Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Tingwei Guo
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Lifang Tian
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenxiang Zhao
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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28
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Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is among the most disabling of mental disorders. Several neurobiological hypotheses have been postulated as responsible for SCZ pathogenesis: polygenic/multifactorial genomic defects, intrauterine and perinatal environment-genome interactions, neurodevelopmental defects, dopaminergic, cholinergic, serotonergic, gamma-aminobutiric acid (GABAergic), neuropeptidergic and glutamatergic/N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) dysfunctions, seasonal infection, neuroimmune dysfunction, and epigenetic dysregulation. SCZ has a heritability estimated at 60-90%. Genetic studies in SCZ have revealed the presence of chromosome anomalies, copy number variants, multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms of susceptibility distributed across the human genome, aberrant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNA genes, mitochondrial DNA mutations, and epigenetic phenomena. Pharmacogenetic studies of psychotropic drug response have focused on determining the relationship between variation in specific candidate genes and the positive and adverse effects of drug treatment. Approximately, 18% of neuroleptics are major substrates of CYP1A2 enzymes, 40% of CYP2D6, and 23% of CYP3A4; 24% of antidepressants are major substrates of CYP1A2 enzymes, 5% of CYP2B6, 38% of CYP2C19, 85% of CYP2D6, and 38% of CYP3A4; 7% of benzodiazepines are major substrates of CYP2C19 enzymes, 20% of CYP2D6, and 95% of CYP3A4. About 10-20% of Western populations are defective in genes of the CYP superfamily. Only 26% of Southern Europeans are pure extensive metabolizers for the trigenic cluster integrated by the CYP2D6+CYP2C19+CYP2C9 genes. The pharmacogenomic response of SCZ patients to conventional psychotropic drugs also depends on genetic variants associated with SCZ-related genes. Consequently, the incorporation of pharmacogenomic procedures both to drugs in development and drugs on the market would help to optimize therapeutics in SCZ and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Cacabelos
- EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, 15165-Bergondo, Coruña, Spain.
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Wimalasena K. Vesicular monoamine transporters: structure-function, pharmacology, and medicinal chemistry. Med Res Rev 2011; 31:483-519. [PMID: 20135628 PMCID: PMC3019297 DOI: 10.1002/med.20187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Vesicular monoamine transporters (VMAT) are responsible for the uptake of cytosolic monoamines into synaptic vesicles in monoaminergic neurons. Two closely related VMATs with distinct pharmacological properties and tissue distributions have been characterized. VMAT1 is preferentially expressed in neuroendocrine cells and VMAT2 is primarily expressed in the CNS. The neurotoxicity and addictive properties of various psychostimulants have been attributed, at least partly, to their interference with VMAT2 functions. The quantitative assessment of the VMAT2 density by PET scanning has been clinically useful for early diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases and drug addiction. The classical VMAT2 inhibitor, tetrabenazine, has long been used for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and recently approved in the United States. The VMAT2 imaging may also be useful for exploiting the onset of diabetes mellitus, as VMAT2 is also expressed in the β-cells of the pancreas. VMAT1 gene SLC18A1 is a locus with strong evidence of linkage with schizophrenia and, thus, the polymorphic forms of the VMAT1 gene may confer susceptibility to schizophrenia. This review summarizes the current understanding of the structure-function relationships of VMAT2, and the role of VMAT2 on addiction and psychostimulant-induced neurotoxicity, and the therapeutic and diagnostic applications of specific VMAT2 ligands. The evidence for the linkage of VMAT1 gene with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder I is also discussed.
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30
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Eiden LE, Weihe E. VMAT2: a dynamic regulator of brain monoaminergic neuronal function interacting with drugs of abuse. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2011; 1216:86-98. [PMID: 21272013 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05906.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The monoaminergic neuron, in particular the dopaminergic neuron, is central to mediating the hedonic and addictive properties of drugs of abuse. The effects of amphetamine (AMPH) and cocaine (COC), for example, depend on the ability to increase dopamine in the synapse, by effects on either the plasma membrane transporter DAT or the vesicular transporter for monoamine storage, VMAT2. The potential role of DAT as a target for AMPH and COC has been reviewed extensively. Here, we present VMAT2 as a target that enables the rewarding and addictive actions of these drugs, based on imaging, neurochemical, biochemical, cell biological, genetic, and immunohistochemical evidence. The presence of VMAT2 in noradrenergic, serotoninergic, histaminergic, and potentially trace aminergic neurons invites consideration of a wider role for aminergic neurotransmission in AMPH and COC abuse and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee E Eiden
- Section on Molecular Neuroscience, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
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31
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Lin Z, Canales JJ, Björgvinsson T, Thomsen MM, Qu H, Liu QR, Torres GE, Caine SB. Monoamine transporters: vulnerable and vital doorkeepers. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2011; 98:1-46. [PMID: 21199769 PMCID: PMC3321928 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385506-0.00001-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Transporters of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine have been empirically used as medication targets for several mental illnesses in the last decades. These protein-targeted medications are effective only for subpopulations of patients with transporter-related brain disorders. Since the cDNA clonings in early 1990s, molecular studies of these transporters have revealed a wealth of information about the transporters' structure-activity relationship (SAR), neuropharmacology, cell biology, biochemistry, pharmacogenetics, and the diseases related to the human genes encoding these transporters among related regulators. Such new information creates a unique opportunity to develop transporter-specific medications based on SAR, mRNA, DNA, and perhaps transporter trafficking regulation for a number of highly relevant diseases including substance abuse, depression, schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Juan J. Canales
- Department of Psychology, Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Thröstur Björgvinsson
- Behavioral Health Partial Hospital and Psychology Internship Programs, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Morgane M. Thomsen
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Hong Qu
- Center for Bioinformatics, National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Peking University. Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Qing-Rong Liu
- Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH/DHHS, 251 Bayview Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Gonzalo E. Torres
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - S. Barak Caine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
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32
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Kim SH, Song JY, Joo EJ, Lee KY, Ahn YM, Kim YS. EGR3 as a potential susceptibility gene for schizophrenia in Korea. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2010; 153B:1355-60. [PMID: 20687139 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.31115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Early growth response (EGR) genes play critical roles in signal transduction in the brain, which is involved in neuronal activation, brain development, and synaptic plasticity. EGR genes, including EGR2, EGR3, and EGR4, showed significant association with schizophrenia in Japanese schizophrenic pedigrees. In particular, EGR3, which resides at the chromosomal location 8p21.3, was suggested to be a potential susceptibility gene in schizophrenia based on a study of Japanese cases. However, this requires further replication with an independent sample set. We investigated the association of the EGR3 and EGR2 genes, which were suggested as potential susceptibility genes for schizophrenia supported by both genetic association and postmortem brain expression studies, with schizophrenia in Korean patients. Along with 350 healthy individuals, 244 schizophrenic patients were analyzed. Among the four examined single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of EGR3 (rs1008949, rs7009708, rs35201266, and rs3750192), SNP rs35201266 in intron 1 of the EGR3 gene showed a significant association with schizophrenia (P = 0.0008, χ(2) = 11.156, OR = 1.493), which withstands multiple testing correction. In addition, the "T-G-C-G" haplotype of EGR3 was under-represented in the patients with schizophrenia (P = 0.0073, χ(2) = 7.188, OR = 0.697). However, an association between the SNPs of EGR2 (rs2295814 and rs2297488) and schizophrenia was not found. These findings are consistent with the previous genetic association of the EGR3 gene in Japanese cohorts, which is the first replication concerning the association of EGR3 with schizophrenia in an independent cohort. Taken together, EGR3 could be suggested as a compelling susceptibility gene in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Hyun Kim
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Lohoff FW. Genetic variants in the vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT1/SLC18A1) and neuropsychiatric disorders. Methods Mol Biol 2010; 637:165-80. [PMID: 20419435 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60761-700-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Vesicular monoamine transporters (VMATs) are involved in the presynaptic packaging of monoaminergic neurotransmitters into storage granules. Upon an action potential, vesicles release their contents into the synaptic cleft via exocytosis. Since insufficient or excess release of neurotransmitter might alter neurochemical function and neurotransmission, VMATs are an important target for biological research in neuropsychiatric disorders. Two structurally related but pharmacologically distinct VMATs have been identified, encoded by separate genes, VMAT1 (SLC18A1) and VMAT2 (SLC18A2). Although it was reported initially that only VMAT2 is expressed in brain, recent studies indicate that VMAT1 is also expressed in brain, thus making both transporters plausible candidate genes for neuropsychiatric disorders. The gene encoding VMAT1 is located on chromosome 8p21, a region implicated in linkage studies of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety-related phenotypes. Furthermore, several recent genetic case-control studies have documented an association between common missense variations in the VMAT1 gene and susceptibility to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Variations in the VMAT1 gene might affect transporter function and might be involved in the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. This chapter describes methods for genotyping three missense polymorphisms implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders (Thr4Pro, Thr98Ser, Thr136Ile) using TaqMan-based PCR and standard PCR approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Falk W Lohoff
- Translational Research Laboratories, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Tabarés-Seisdedos R, Rubenstein JLR. Chromosome 8p as a potential hub for developmental neuropsychiatric disorders: implications for schizophrenia, autism and cancer. Mol Psychiatry 2009; 14:563-89. [PMID: 19204725 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2009.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Defects in genetic and developmental processes are thought to contribute susceptibility to autism and schizophrenia. Presumably, owing to etiological complexity identifying susceptibility genes and abnormalities in the development has been difficult. However, the importance of genes within chromosomal 8p region for neuropsychiatric disorders and cancer is well established. There are 484 annotated genes located on 8p; many are most likely oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes. Molecular genetics and developmental studies have identified 21 genes in this region (ADRA1A, ARHGEF10, CHRNA2, CHRNA6, CHRNB3, DKK4, DPYSL2, EGR3, FGF17, FGF20, FGFR1, FZD3, LDL, NAT2, NEF3, NRG1, PCM1, PLAT, PPP3CC, SFRP1 and VMAT1/SLC18A1) that are most likely to contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder and depression), neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease) and cancer. Furthermore, at least seven nonprotein-coding RNAs (microRNAs) are located at 8p. Structural variants on 8p, such as copy number variants, microdeletions or microduplications, might also contribute to autism, schizophrenia and other human diseases including cancer. In this review, we consider the current state of evidence from cytogenetic, linkage, association, gene expression and endophenotyping studies for the role of these 8p genes in neuropsychiatric disease. We also describe how a mutation in an 8p gene (Fgf17) results in a mouse with deficits in specific components of social behavior and a reduction in its dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. We finish by discussing the biological connections of 8p with respect to neuropsychiatric disorders and cancer, despite the shortcomings of this evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Tabarés-Seisdedos
- Teaching Unit of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Department of Medicine, CIBER-SAM, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
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