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Bi XA, Wang Y, Luo S, Chen K, Xing Z, Xu L. Hypergraph Structural Information Aggregation Generative Adversarial Networks for Diagnosis and Pathogenetic Factors Identification of Alzheimer's Disease With Imaging Genetic Data. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NEURAL NETWORKS AND LEARNING SYSTEMS 2024; 35:7420-7434. [PMID: 36264725 DOI: 10.1109/tnnls.2022.3212700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with profound pathogenetic causes. Imaging genetic data analysis can provide comprehensive insights into its causes. To fully utilize the multi-level information in the data, this article proposes a hypergraph structural information aggregation model, and constructs a novel deep learning method named hypergraph structural information aggregation generative adversarial networks (HSIA-GANs) for the automatic sample classification and accurate feature extraction. Specifically, HSIA-GAN is composed of generator and discriminator. The generator has three main functions. First, vertex graph and edge graph are constructed based on the input hypergraph to present the low-order relations. Second, the low-order structural information of hypergraph is extracted by the designed vertex convolution layers and edge convolution layers. Finally, the synthetic hypergraph is generated as the input of the discriminator. The discriminator can extract the high-order structural information directly from hypergraph through vertex-edge convolution, fuse the high and low-order structural information, and finalize the results through the full connection (FC) layers. Based on the data acquired from AD neuroimaging initiative, HSIA-GAN shows significant advantages in three classification tasks, and extracts discriminant features conducive to better disease classification.
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Maroon M, Haddad F, Doornaert E, Allman B, Schmid S. Investigating gene-environment interaction on attention in a double-hit model for Autism Spectrum Disorder. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299380. [PMID: 38748694 PMCID: PMC11095761 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental behavioral disorder characterized by social, communicative, and motor deficits. There is no single etiological cause for ASD, rather, there are various genetic and environmental factors that increase the risk for ASD. It is thought that some of these factors influence the same underlying neural mechanisms, and that an interplay of both genetic and environmental factors would better explain the pathogenesis of ASD. To better appreciate the influence of genetic-environment interaction on ASD-related behaviours, rats lacking a functional copy of the ASD-linked gene Cntnap2 were exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy and assessed in adolescence and adulthood. We hypothesized that Cntnap2 deficiency interacts with poly I:C MIA to aggravate ASD-like symptoms in the offspring. In this double-hit model, we assessed attention, a core deficit in ASD due to prefrontal cortical dysfunction. We employed a well-established attentional paradigm known as the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRTT). Cntnap2-/- rats exhibited greater perseverative responses which is indicative of repetitive behaviors. Additionally, rats exposed to poly I:C MIA exhibited premature responses, a marker of impulsivity. The rats exposed to both the genetic and environmental challenge displayed an increase in impulsive activity; however, this response was only elicited in the presence of an auditory distractor. This implies that exacerbated symptomatology in the double-hit model may situation-dependent and not generally expressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin Maroon
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Faraj Haddad
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ella Doornaert
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Brian Allman
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Griffin EN, Jucius T, Sim SE, Harris BS, Heinz S, Ackerman SL. RREB1 regulates neuronal proteostasis and the microtubule network. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadh3929. [PMID: 38198538 PMCID: PMC10780896 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh3929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Transcription factors play vital roles in neuron development; however, little is known about the role of these proteins in maintaining neuronal homeostasis. Here, we show that the transcription factor RREB1 (Ras-responsive element-binding protein 1) is essential for neuron survival in the mammalian brain. A spontaneous mouse mutation causing loss of a nervous system-enriched Rreb1 transcript is associated with progressive loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells and ataxia. Analysis of chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing, along with RNA sequencing data revealed dysregulation of RREB1 targets associated with the microtubule cytoskeleton. In agreement with the known role of microtubules in dendritic development, dendritic complexity was disrupted in Rreb1-deficient neurons. Analysis of sequencing data also suggested that RREB1 plays a role in the endomembrane system. Mutant Purkinje cells had fewer numbers of autophagosomes and lysosomes and contained P62- and ubiquitin-positive inclusions. Together, these studies demonstrate that RREB1 functions to maintain the microtubule network and proteostasis in mammalian neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily N. Griffin
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Thomas Jucius
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Su-Eon Sim
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | | | - Sven Heinz
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Susan L. Ackerman
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Braz CU, Passamonti MM, Khatib H. Characterization of genomic regions escaping epigenetic reprogramming in sheep. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2023; 10:dvad010. [PMID: 38496251 PMCID: PMC10944287 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvad010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The mammalian genome undergoes two global epigenetic reprogramming events during the establishment of primordial germ cells and in the pre-implantation embryo after fertilization. These events involve the erasure and re-establishment of DNA methylation marks. However, imprinted genes and transposable elements (TEs) maintain their DNA methylation signatures to ensure normal embryonic development and genome stability. Despite extensive research in mice and humans, there is limited knowledge regarding environmentally induced epigenetic marks that escape epigenetic reprogramming in other species. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the characteristics and locations of genomic regions that evade epigenetic reprogramming in sheep, as well as to explore the biological functions of the genes within these regions. In a previous study, we identified 107 transgenerationally inherited differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs) in the F1 and F2 generations in response to a paternal methionine-supplemented diet. These DMCs were found in TEs, non-repetitive regions, and imprinted and non-imprinted genes. Our findings suggest that genomic regions, rather than TEs and imprinted genes, have the propensity to escape reprogramming and serve as potential candidates for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Notably, 34 transgenerational methylated genes influenced by paternal nutrition escaped reprogramming, impacting growth, development, male fertility, cardiac disorders, and neurodevelopment. Intriguingly, among these genes, 21 have been associated with neural development and brain disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disease, and intellectual disability. This suggests a potential genetic overlap between brain and infertility disorders. Overall, our study supports the concept of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of environmentally induced marks in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila U Braz
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Matilde Maria Passamonti
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Universit’a Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, 29122, Italy
| | - Hasan Khatib
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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St George-Hyslop F, Haneklaus M, Kivisild T, Livesey FJ. Loss of CNTNAP2 Alters Human Cortical Excitatory Neuron Differentiation and Neural Network Development. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:780-791. [PMID: 37001843 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loss-of-function mutations in the contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene are causal for neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and intellectual disability. CNTNAP2 encodes CASPR2, a single-pass transmembrane protein that belongs to the neurexin family of cell adhesion molecules. These proteins have a variety of functions in developing neurons, including connecting presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons, and mediating signaling across the synapse. METHODS To study the effect of loss of CNTNAP2 function on human cerebral cortex development, and how this contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders, we generated human induced pluripotent stem cells from one neurotypical control donor null for full-length CNTNAP2, modeling cortical development from neurogenesis through to neural network formation in vitro. RESULTS CNTNAP2 is particularly highly expressed in the first two populations of early-born excitatory cortical neurons, and loss of CNTNAP2 shifted the relative proportions of these two neuronal types. Live imaging of excitatory neuronal growth showed that loss of CNTNAP2 reduced neurite branching and overall neuronal complexity. At the network level, developing cortical excitatory networks null for CNTNAP2 had complex changes in activity compared with isogenic controls: an initial period of relatively reduced activity compared with isogenic controls, followed by a lengthy period of hyperexcitability, and then a further switch to reduced activity. CONCLUSIONS Complete loss of CNTNAP2 contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders through complex changes in several aspects of human cerebral cortex excitatory neuron development that culminate in aberrant neural network formation and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances St George-Hyslop
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Moritz Haneklaus
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Toomas Kivisild
- Estonian Biocentre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederick J Livesey
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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Hongyao HE, Chun JI, Xiaoyan G, Fangfang L, Jing Z, Lin Z, Pengxiang Z, Zengchun L. Associative gene networks reveal novel candidates important for ADHD and dyslexia comorbidity. BMC Med Genomics 2023; 16:208. [PMID: 37667328 PMCID: PMC10478365 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-023-01502-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly associated with developmental dyslexia (DD), which are both prevalent and complicated pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders that have a significant influence on children's learning and development. Clinically, the comorbidity incidence of DD and ADHD is between 25 and 48%. Children with DD and ADHD may have more severe cognitive deficiencies, a poorer level of schooling, and a higher risk of social and emotional management disorders. Furthermore, patients with this comorbidity are frequently treated for a single condition in clinical settings, and the therapeutic outcome is poor. The development of effective treatment approaches against these diseases is complicated by their comorbidity features. This is often a major problem in diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we developed bioinformatical methodology for the analysis of the comorbidity of these two diseases. As such, the search for candidate genes related to the comorbid conditions of ADHD and DD can help in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the comorbid condition, and can also be useful for genotyping and identifying new drug targets. RESULTS Using the ANDSystem tool, the reconstruction and analysis of gene networks associated with ADHD and dyslexia was carried out. The gene network of ADHD included 599 genes/proteins and 148,978 interactions, while that of dyslexia included 167 genes/proteins and 27,083 interactions. When the ANDSystem and GeneCards data were combined, a total of 213 genes/proteins for ADHD and dyslexia were found. An approach for ranking genes implicated in the comorbid condition of the two diseases was proposed. The approach is based on ten criteria for ranking genes by their importance, including relevance scores of association between disease and genes, standard methods of gene prioritization, as well as original criteria that take into account the characteristics of an associative gene network and the presence of known polymorphisms in the analyzed genes. Among the top 20 genes with the highest priority DRD2, DRD4, CNTNAP2 and GRIN2B are mentioned in the literature as directly linked with the comorbidity of ADHD and dyslexia. According to the proposed approach, the genes OPRM1, CHRNA4 and SNCA had the highest priority in the development of comorbidity of these two diseases. Additionally, it was revealed that the most relevant genes are involved in biological processes related to signal transduction, positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoters, chemical synaptic transmission, response to drugs, ion transmembrane transport, nervous system development, cell adhesion, and neuron migration. CONCLUSIONS The application of methods of reconstruction and analysis of gene networks is a powerful tool for studying the molecular mechanisms of comorbid conditions. The method put forth to rank genes by their importance for the comorbid condition of ADHD and dyslexia was employed to predict genes that play key roles in the development of the comorbid condition. The results can be utilized to plan experiments for the identification of novel candidate genes and search for novel pharmacological targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- H E Hongyao
- Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - J I Chun
- Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Gao Xiaoyan
- Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Liu Fangfang
- Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Zhang Jing
- Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Zhong Lin
- Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Zuo Pengxiang
- Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.
| | - Li Zengchun
- Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.
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Naudhani S, Ahmad A, Khan Bazai F, Pervez MT, Zafar A, Shah SA, Raheem N, Baloch AH, Mushtaq M, Daud S. A Missense Pathogenic Variant in a Conserved Region of CNTNAP2 Is Associated with Obesity, Seizures, and Language Impairment in a Pakistani Family. Mol Syndromol 2023; 14:293-302. [PMID: 37766826 PMCID: PMC10521233 DOI: 10.1159/000529427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In a consanguineous family, seven siblings born in three sibships showed a syndromic disorder characterized by obesity, seizures, and language impairment phenotypes, which appeared at early age or developed during early childhood. Methods By whole-exome sequencing and subsequent Sanger sequencing, a novel homozygous missense variant (c.3371 T>A [p.Ile1124Asn]) in exon 20 of the CNTNAP2 gene was identified. Results The pathogenic variant in this family is located within one of the laminin G-like 4 domains of CASPR2 and may cause loss of hydrophobic interactions of CASPR2 with its partner proteins. Single nucleotide and copy number variants in this gene have previously been related to Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, cortical dysplasia-focal epilepsy syndrome, schizophrenia, Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, and autism spectrum, attention deficit hyperactivity, and obsessive compulsive disorders. Yet, few studies described patients with CNTNAP2 variants showing diet-induced obesity. Conclusion This report expands the phenotypic spectrum of this rare syndrome and provides deeper insights by documenting the clinical features and genetic findings of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Naudhani
- Department of Biotechnology, BUITEMS, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Adeel Ahmad
- Continental Medical College and Hayat Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Fariya Khan Bazai
- Quetta Institute of Medical Sciences/Combined Military Hospital, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tariq Pervez
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Virtual University of Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Azqa Zafar
- Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sajjad Ali Shah
- Institute of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, Pakistan
| | | | - Abdul Hameed Baloch
- Department of Biotechnology, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS), Uthal, Pakistan
| | | | - Shakeela Daud
- Department of Biotechnology, BUITEMS, Quetta, Pakistan
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Dolma S, Joshi A. The Node of Ranvier as an Interface for Axo-Glial Interactions: Perturbation of Axo-Glial Interactions in Various Neurological Disorders. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2023; 18:215-234. [PMID: 37285016 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-023-10072-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The action potential conduction along the axon is highly dependent on the healthy interactions between the axon and myelin-producing glial cells. Myelin, which facilitates action potential, is the protective insulation around the axon formed by Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes in the peripheral (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS), respectively. Myelin is a continuous structure with intermittent gaps called nodes of Ranvier, which are the sites enriched with ion channels, transmembrane, scaffolding, and cytoskeletal proteins. Decades-long extensive research has identified a comprehensive proteome with strictly regularized localization at the node of Ranvier. Concurrently, axon-glia interactions at the node of Ranvier have gathered significant attention as the pathophysiological targets for various neurodegenerative disorders. Numerous studies have shown the alterations in the axon-glia interactions culminating in neurological diseases. In this review, we have provided an update on the molecular composition of the node of Ranvier. Further, we have discussed in detail the consequences of disruption of axon-glia interactions during the pathogenesis of various CNS and PNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonam Dolma
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences- Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Telangana state, India
| | - Abhijeet Joshi
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences- Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Telangana state, India.
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Brase L, You SF, D'Oliveira Albanus R, Del-Aguila JL, Dai Y, Novotny BC, Soriano-Tarraga C, Dykstra T, Fernandez MV, Budde JP, Bergmann K, Morris JC, Bateman RJ, Perrin RJ, McDade E, Xiong C, Goate AM, Farlow M, Sutherland GT, Kipnis J, Karch CM, Benitez BA, Harari O. Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing of autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease and risk variant carriers. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2314. [PMID: 37085492 PMCID: PMC10121712 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37437-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic studies of Alzheimer disease (AD) have prioritized variants in genes related to the amyloid cascade, lipid metabolism, and neuroimmune modulation. However, the cell-specific effect of variants in these genes is not fully understood. Here, we perform single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) on nearly 300,000 nuclei from the parietal cortex of AD autosomal dominant (APP and PSEN1) and risk-modifying variant (APOE, TREM2 and MS4A) carriers. Within individual cell types, we capture genes commonly dysregulated across variant groups. However, specific transcriptional states are more prevalent within variant carriers. TREM2 oligodendrocytes show a dysregulated autophagy-lysosomal pathway, MS4A microglia have dysregulated complement cascade genes, and APOEε4 inhibitory neurons display signs of ferroptosis. All cell types have enriched states in autosomal dominant carriers. We leverage differential expression and single-nucleus ATAC-seq to map GWAS signals to effector cell types including the NCK2 signal to neurons in addition to the initially proposed microglia. Overall, our results provide insights into the transcriptional diversity resulting from AD genetic architecture and cellular heterogeneity. The data can be explored on the online browser ( http://web.hararilab.org/SNARE/ ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Brase
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Shih-Feng You
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ricardo D'Oliveira Albanus
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Yaoyi Dai
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brenna C Novotny
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Carolina Soriano-Tarraga
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Taitea Dykstra
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Maria Victoria Fernandez
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - John P Budde
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kristy Bergmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - John C Morris
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Randall J Bateman
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Richard J Perrin
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Eric McDade
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Chengjie Xiong
- Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alison M Goate
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Martin Farlow
- Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Greg T Sutherland
- School of Medical Sciences and Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jonathan Kipnis
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Celeste M Karch
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bruno A Benitez
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Oscar Harari
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Ahmed NY, Knowles R, Liu L, Yan Y, Li X, Schumann U, Wang Y, Sontani Y, Reynolds N, Natoli R, Wen J, Del Pino I, Mi D, Dehorter N. Developmental deficits of MGE-derived interneurons in the Cntnap2 knockout mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1112062. [PMID: 36819097 PMCID: PMC9930104 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1112062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Interneurons are fundamental cells for maintaining the excitation-inhibition balance in the brain in health and disease. While interneurons have been shown to play a key role in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adult mice, little is known about how their maturation is altered in the developing striatum in ASD. Here, we aimed to track striatal developing interneurons and elucidate the molecular and physiological alterations in the Cntnap2 knockout mouse model. Using Stereo-seq and single-cell RNA sequencing data, we first characterized the pattern of expression of Cntnap2 in the adult brain and at embryonic stages in the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE), a transitory structure producing most cortical and striatal interneurons. We found that Cntnap2 is enriched in the striatum, compared to the cortex, particularly in the developing striatal cholinergic interneurons. We then revealed enhanced MGE-derived cell proliferation, followed by increased cell loss during the canonical window of developmental cell death in the Cntnap2 knockout mice. We uncovered specific cellular and molecular alterations in the developing Lhx6-expressing cholinergic interneurons of the striatum, which impacts interneuron firing properties during the first postnatal week. Overall, our work unveils some of the mechanisms underlying the shift in the developmental trajectory of striatal interneurons which greatly contribute to the ASD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noorya Yasmin Ahmed
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Rhys Knowles
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Lixinyu Liu
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yiming Yan
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohan Li
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ulrike Schumann
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yumeng Wang
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yovina Sontani
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Nathan Reynolds
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Riccardo Natoli
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Jiayu Wen
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Isabel Del Pino
- Institute of Neurosciences, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
| | - Da Mi
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Nathalie Dehorter
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia,*Correspondence: Nathalie Dehorter,
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11
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Cifuentes-Diaz C, Canali G, Garcia M, Druart M, Manett T, Savariradjane M, Guillaume C, Le Magueresse C, Goutebroze L. Differential impacts of Cntnap2 heterozygosity and Cntnap2 null homozygosity on axon and myelinated fiber development in mouse. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1100121. [PMID: 36793543 PMCID: PMC9922869 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, a large variety of alterations of the Contactin Associated Protein 2 (CNTNAP2) gene, encoding Caspr2, have been identified in several neuronal disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders and peripheral neuropathies. Some of these alterations are homozygous but most are heterozygous, and one of the current challenges is to estimate to what extent they could affect the functions of Caspr2 and contribute to the development of these pathologies. Notably, it is not known whether the disruption of a single CNTNAP2 allele could be sufficient to perturb the functions of Caspr2. To get insights into this issue, we questioned whether Cntnap2 heterozygosity and Cntnap2 null homozygosity in mice could both impact, either similarly or differentially, some specific functions of Caspr2 during development and in adulthood. We focused on yet poorly explored functions of Caspr2 in axon development and myelination, and performed a morphological study from embryonic day E17.5 to adulthood of two major brain interhemispheric myelinated tracts, the anterior commissure (AC) and the corpus callosum (CC), comparing wild-type (WT), Cntnap2 -/- and Cntnap2 +/- mice. We also looked for myelinated fiber abnormalities in the sciatic nerves of mutant mice. Our work revealed that Caspr2 controls the morphology of the CC and AC throughout development, axon diameter at early developmental stages, cortical neuron intrinsic excitability at the onset of myelination, and axon diameter and myelin thickness at later developmental stages. Changes in axon diameter, myelin thickness and node of Ranvier morphology were also detected in the sciatic nerves of the mutant mice. Importantly, most of the parameters analyzed were affected in Cntnap2 +/- mice, either specifically, more severely, or oppositely as compared to Cntnap2 -/- mice. In addition, Cntnap2 +/- mice, but not Cntnap2 -/- mice, showed motor/coordination deficits in the grid-walking test. Thus, our observations show that both Cntnap2 heterozygosity and Cntnap2 null homozygosity impact axon and central and peripheral myelinated fiber development, but in a differential manner. This is a first step indicating that CNTNAP2 alterations could lead to a multiplicity of phenotypes in humans, and raising the need to evaluate the impact of Cntnap2 heterozygosity on the other neurodevelopmental functions of Caspr2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Cifuentes-Diaz
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Giorgia Canali
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Marta Garcia
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Mélanie Druart
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Taylor Manett
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Mythili Savariradjane
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Camille Guillaume
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Corentin Le Magueresse
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Goutebroze
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France,*Correspondence: Laurence Goutebroze,
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12
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Benítez-Burraco A, Jiménez-Romero MS, Fernández-Urquiza M. Delving into the Genetic Causes of Language Impairment in a Case of Partial Deletion of NRXN1. Mol Syndromol 2023; 13:496-510. [PMID: 36660026 PMCID: PMC9843585 DOI: 10.1159/000524710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Copy-number variations (CNVs) impacting on small DNA stretches and associated with language deficits provide a unique window to the role played by specific genes in language function. Methods We report in detail on the cognitive, language, and genetic features of a girl bearing a small deletion (0.186 Mb) in the 2p16.3 region, arr[hg19] 2p16.3(50761778_50947729)×1, affecting exons 3-7 of NRXN1, a neurexin-coding gene previously related to schizophrenia, autism (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorder, and intellectual disability (ID). Results The proband exhibits many of the features commonly found in subjects with deletions of NRXN1, like ASD-like traits (including ritualized behaviors, disordered sensory aspects, social disturbances, and impaired theory of mind), ADHD symptoms, moderate ID, and impaired speech and language. Regarding this latter aspect, we observed altered speech production, underdeveloped phonological awareness, minimal syntax, serious shortage of active vocabulary, impaired receptive language, and inappropriate pragmatic behavior (including lack of metapragmatic awareness and communicative use of gaze). Microarray analyses point to the dysregulation of several genes important for language function in the girl compared to her healthy parents. Discussion Although some basic cognitive deficit - such as the impairment of executive function - might contribute to the language problems exhibited by the proband, molecular evidence suggests that they might result, to a great extent, from the abnormal expression of genes directly related to language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Benítez-Burraco
- Department of Spanish, Linguistics, and Theory of Literature (Linguistics), University of Seville, Seville, Spain,*Antonio Benítez-Burraco,
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Cabana-Domínguez J, Soler Artigas M, Arribas L, Alemany S, Vilar-Ribó L, Llonga N, Fadeuilhe C, Corrales M, Richarte V, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Ribasés M. Comprehensive analysis of omics data identifies relevant gene networks for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:409. [PMID: 36153331 PMCID: PMC9509350 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02182-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that results from the interaction of both genetic and environmental risk factors. Genome-wide association studies have started to identify multiple genetic risk loci associated with ADHD, however, the exact causal genes and biological mechanisms remain largely unknown. We performed a multi-step analysis to identify and characterize modules of co-expressed genes associated with ADHD using data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 270 ADHD cases and 279 controls. We identified seven ADHD-associated modules of co-expressed genes, some of them enriched in both genetic and epigenetic signatures for ADHD and in biological pathways relevant for psychiatric disorders, such as the regulation of gene expression, epigenetics and immune system. In addition, for some of the modules, we found evidence of potential regulatory mechanisms, including microRNAs and common genetic variants. In conclusion, our results point to promising genes and pathways for ADHD, supporting the use of peripheral blood to assess gene expression signatures in psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, they highlight that the combination of multi-omics signals provides deeper and broader insights into the biological mechanisms underlying ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Cabana-Domínguez
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. .,Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain. .,Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - María Soler Artigas
- grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.469673.90000 0004 5901 7501Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain ,grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorena Arribas
- grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Alemany
- grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Vilar-Ribó
- grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.469673.90000 0004 5901 7501Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Llonga
- grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christian Fadeuilhe
- grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.469673.90000 0004 5901 7501Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain ,grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montse Corrales
- grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.469673.90000 0004 5901 7501Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain ,grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vanesa Richarte
- grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.469673.90000 0004 5901 7501Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain ,grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga
- grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.469673.90000 0004 5901 7501Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain ,grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Ribasés
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. .,Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain. .,Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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14
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PTPRD and CNTNAP2 as markers of tumor aggressiveness in oligodendrogliomas. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14083. [PMID: 35982066 PMCID: PMC9388569 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14977-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrogliomas are typically associated with the most favorable prognosis among diffuse gliomas. However, many of the tumors progress, eventually leading to patient death. To characterize the changes associated with oligodendroglioma recurrence and progression, we analyzed two recurrent oligodendroglioma tumors upon diagnosis and after tumor relapse based on whole-genome and RNA sequencing. Relapsed tumors were diagnosed as glioblastomas with an oligodendroglioma component before the World Health Organization classification update in 2016. Both patients died within 12 months after relapse. One patient carried an inactivating POLE mutation leading to a clearly hypermutated progressed tumor. Strikingly, both relapsed tumors carried focal chromosomal rearrangements in PTPRD and CNTNAP2 genes with associated decreased gene expression. TP53 mutation was also detected in both patients after tumor relapse. In The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) diffuse glioma cohort, PTPRD and CNTNAP2 expression decreased by tumor grade in oligodendrogliomas and PTPRD expression also in IDH-mutant astrocytomas. Low expression of the genes was associated with poor overall survival. Our analysis provides information about aggressive oligodendrogliomas with worse prognosis and suggests that PTPRD and CNTNAP2 expression could represent an informative marker for their stratification.
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15
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Altered Blood Brain Barrier Permeability and Oxidative Stress in Cntnap2 Knockout Rat Model. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11102725. [PMID: 35628852 PMCID: PMC9146766 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11102725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by three core symptoms, specifically impaired social behavior, stereotypic/repetitive behaviors, and sensory/communication deficits. Although the exact pathophysiology of ASD is still unknown, host genetics, oxidative stress, and compromised blood brain barrier (BBB) have been implicated in predisposition to ASD. With regards to genetics, mutations in the genes such as CNTNAP2 have been associated with increased susceptibility of developing ASD. Although some studies observed conflicting results suggesting no association of CNTNAP2 with ASD, other investigations correlated this gene with autism. In addition, CNTNAP2 mediated signaling is generally considered to play a role in neurological disorders due to its critical role in neurodevelopment, neurotransmission, and synaptic plasticity. In this investigation, we studied BBB integrity and oxidative stress in Cntnap2−/− rats. We observed that the BBB permeability was significantly increased in Cntnap2−/− rats compared to littermate wild-type (WT) animals as determined by FITC-dextran and Evans blue assay. High levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lower amounts of reduced glutathione were observed in brain homogenates of Cntnap2−/− rats, suggesting oxidative stress. Brain sections from Cntnap2−/− rats showed intense inducible nitric oxide synthase immunostaining, which was undetectable in WT animals. Quantification of nitric oxide in brain homogenates revealed significantly high levels in Cntnap2−/− rats compared to the control group. As increased permeability of the BBB and oxidative stress have been observed in ASD individuals, our results suggest that Cntnap2−/− rats have a high construct and face validity and can be explored to develop effective therapeutic modalities.
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Park G, Jeon SJ, Ko IO, Park JH, Lee KC, Kim MS, Shin CY, Kim H, Lee YS. Decreased in vivo glutamate/GABA ratio correlates with the social behavior deficit in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. Mol Brain 2022; 15:19. [PMID: 35183218 PMCID: PMC8858545 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-022-00904-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
To diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD), researchers have sought biomarkers whose alterations correlate with the susceptibility to ASD. However, biomarkers closely related to the pathophysiology of ASD are lacking. Even though excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance has been suggested as an underlying mechanism of ASD, few studies have investigated the actual ratio of glutamate (Glu) to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration in vivo. Moreover, there are controversies in the directions of E/I ratio alterations even in extensively studied ASD animal models. Here, using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) at 9.4T, we found significant differences in the levels of different metabolites or their ratios in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of Cntnap2−/− mice compared to their wild-type littermates. The Glu/GABA ratio, N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/total creatine (tCr) ratio, and tCr level in the prefrontal cortex were significantly different in Cntnap2−/− mice compared to those in wild-type mice, and they significantly correlated with the sociability of mice. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses indicated high specificity and selectivity of these metabolites in discriminating genotypes. These results suggest that the lowered Glu/GABA ratio in the prefrontal cortex along with the changes in the other metabolites might contribute to the social behavior deficit in Cntnap2−/− mice. Our results also demonstrate the utility of 1H-MRS in investigating the underlying mechanisms or the diagnosis of ASD.
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Martín-de-Saavedra MD, Dos Santos M, Culotta L, Varea O, Spielman BP, Parnell E, Forrest MP, Gao R, Yoon S, McCoig E, Jalloul HA, Myczek K, Khalatyan N, Hall EA, Turk LS, Sanz-Clemente A, Comoletti D, Lichtenthaler SF, Burgdorf JS, Barbolina MV, Savas JN, Penzes P. Shed CNTNAP2 ectodomain is detectable in CSF and regulates Ca 2+ homeostasis and network synchrony via PMCA2/ATP2B2. Neuron 2022; 110:627-643.e9. [PMID: 34921780 PMCID: PMC8857041 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although many neuronal membrane proteins undergo proteolytic cleavage, little is known about the biological significance of neuronal ectodomain shedding (ES). Here, we show that the neuronal sheddome is detectable in human cerebrospinal fluid (hCSF) and is enriched in neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) risk factors. Among shed synaptic proteins is the ectodomain of CNTNAP2 (CNTNAP2-ecto), a prominent NDD risk factor. CNTNAP2 undergoes activity-dependent ES via MMP9 (matrix metalloprotease 9), and CNTNAP2-ecto levels are reduced in the hCSF of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Using mass spectrometry, we identified the plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase (PMCA) extrusion pumps as novel CNTNAP2-ecto binding partners. CNTNAP2-ecto enhances the activity of PMCA2 and regulates neuronal network dynamics in a PMCA2-dependent manner. Our data underscore the promise of sheddome analysis in discovering neurobiological mechanisms, provide insight into the biology of ES and its relationship with the CSF, and reveal a mechanism of regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis and neuronal network synchrony by a shed ectodomain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc Dos Santos
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lorenza Culotta
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Olga Varea
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Benjamin P Spielman
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Euan Parnell
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Marc P Forrest
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ruoqi Gao
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Sehyoun Yoon
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Emmarose McCoig
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Hiba A Jalloul
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Kristoffer Myczek
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Natalia Khalatyan
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Hall
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Liam S Turk
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Antonio Sanz-Clemente
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Davide Comoletti
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Stefan F Lichtenthaler
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Department of Neuroproteomics, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, and Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Jeffrey S Burgdorf
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Maria V Barbolina
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Jeffrey N Savas
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Peter Penzes
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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Scott KE, Mann RS, Schormans AL, Schmid S, Allman BL. Hyperexcitable and Immature-Like Neuronal Activity in the Auditory Cortex of Adult Rats Lacking the Language-Linked CNTNAP2 Gene. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:4797-4817. [PMID: 35106542 PMCID: PMC9626820 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The contactin-associated protein-like 2 gene, CNTNAP2, is a highly penetrant risk gene thought to play a role in the genetic etiology of language-related disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and developmental language disorder. Despite its candidacy for influencing language development, few preclinical studies have examined the role of CNTNAP2 in auditory processing. Using in vivo and in vitro electrophysiological recordings in a rat model with translational validity, we report that a loss of the Cntnap2 gene function caused immature-like cortical evoked potentials, delayed multiunit response latencies to acoustic stimuli, impaired temporal processing, and led to a pattern of hyperexcitability in both multiunit and single cell recordings in adulthood. These collective results provide direct evidence that a constitutive loss of Cntnap2 gene function in rats can cause auditory processing impairments similar to those seen in language-related human disorders, indicating that its contribution in maintaining cortical neuron excitability may underlie the cortical activity alterations observed in Cntnap2−/− rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaela E Scott
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Rajkamalpreet S Mann
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ashley L Schormans
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Brian L Allman
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Papale LA, Madrid A, Zhang Q, Chen K, Sak L, Keleş S, Alisch RS. Gene by environment interaction mouse model reveals a functional role for 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in neurodevelopmental disorders. Genome Res 2022; 32:266-279. [PMID: 34949667 PMCID: PMC8805724 DOI: 10.1101/gr.276137.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Mouse knockouts of Cntnap2 show altered neurodevelopmental behavior, deficits in striatal GABAergic signaling, and a genome-wide disruption of an environmentally sensitive DNA methylation modification (5-hydroxymethylcytosine [5hmC]) in the orthologs of a significant number of genes implicated in human neurodevelopmental disorders. We tested adult Cntnap2 heterozygous mice (Cntnap2 +/-; lacking behavioral or neuropathological abnormalities) subjected to a prenatal stress and found that prenatally stressed Cntnap2 +/- female mice show repetitive behaviors and altered sociability, similar to the homozygote phenotype. Genomic profiling revealed disruptions in hippocampal and striatal 5hmC levels that are correlated to altered transcript levels of genes linked to these phenotypes (e.g., Reln, Dst, Trio, and Epha5). Chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing and hippocampal nuclear lysate pull-down data indicated that 5hmC abundance alters the binding of the transcription factor CLOCK near the promoters of these genes (e.g., Palld, Gigyf1, and Fry), providing a mechanistic role for 5hmC in gene regulation. Together, these data support gene-by-environment hypotheses for the origins of mental illness and provide a means to identify the elusive factors contributing to complex human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ligia A Papale
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Andy Madrid
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
| | - Kailei Chen
- Department of Statistics, Biostatistics, and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Lara Sak
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Sündüz Keleş
- Department of Statistics, Biostatistics, and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Reid S Alisch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
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20
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Kingdom R, Wright CF. Incomplete Penetrance and Variable Expressivity: From Clinical Studies to Population Cohorts. Front Genet 2022; 13:920390. [PMID: 35983412 PMCID: PMC9380816 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.920390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The same genetic variant found in different individuals can cause a range of diverse phenotypes, from no discernible clinical phenotype to severe disease, even among related individuals. Such variants can be said to display incomplete penetrance, a binary phenomenon where the genotype either causes the expected clinical phenotype or it does not, or they can be said to display variable expressivity, in which the same genotype can cause a wide range of clinical symptoms across a spectrum. Both incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity are thought to be caused by a range of factors, including common variants, variants in regulatory regions, epigenetics, environmental factors, and lifestyle. Many thousands of genetic variants have been identified as the cause of monogenic disorders, mostly determined through small clinical studies, and thus, the penetrance and expressivity of these variants may be overestimated when compared to their effect on the general population. With the wealth of population cohort data currently available, the penetrance and expressivity of such genetic variants can be investigated across a much wider contingent, potentially helping to reclassify variants that were previously thought to be completely penetrant. Research into the penetrance and expressivity of such genetic variants is important for clinical classification, both for determining causative mechanisms of disease in the affected population and for providing accurate risk information through genetic counseling. A genotype-based definition of the causes of rare diseases incorporating information from population cohorts and clinical studies is critical for our understanding of incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. This review examines our current knowledge of the penetrance and expressivity of genetic variants in rare disease and across populations, as well as looking into the potential causes of the variation seen, including genetic modifiers, mosaicism, and polygenic factors, among others. We also considered the challenges that come with investigating penetrance and expressivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Kingdom
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline F Wright
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom
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21
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22
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Riva D. Sex and gender difference in cognitive and behavioral studies in developmental age: An introduction. J Neurosci Res 2021; 101:543-552. [PMID: 34687075 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This paper introduces a special issue focused on sex and gender (s/g) cognitive/behavioral differences at developmental ages providing an overview of this multifaceted and debated topic. It will provide a description of the biological systems that are strongly interconnected to generate s/g differences, that is, genetic determinants, sex hormones, differences in brain structure, organization, and/or function, inherited or modifiable under environmental pressures. Developmental studies are rare. Some addressed whether s/g differences in cognitive/behavioral characteristics are evident early in life and are consistent throughout development, entailing that s/g differences can follow the evolving steps in girls and boys in different domains. The data are far from being homogeneous and consistent about s/g difference in language, social skills, and visuo/spatial abilities. The differences are small, often with overlapping performances, similar to what is seen in adulthood. Given that several variables and the interactions between them are implicated, further longitudinal studies adopting adequate assessment tools, very large size multicultural samples stratified in different, well-sized and precise age groups, considering biological and sociocultural variables, are needed. Due to the complexity of the issue, there is still the need to support and adopt an s/g difference approach also in cognitive and behavioral studies at developmental ages. Finally, these studies have not only scientific importance and relevant cultural, anthropological, and social implications, but are also useful for pedagogical programming as well as for the study of the different susceptibility to develop CNS diseases and consequently to promote different therapies and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Riva
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy.,Fondazione Pierfranco e Luisa Mariani, Milano, Italy.,Fondazione Together To Go, Milano, Italy
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23
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Tosca L, Drévillon L, Mouka A, Lecerf L, Briand A, Ortonne V, Benoit V, Brisset S, Van Maldergem L, Laudouar Q, Heide S, Goossens M, Giurgea I, Tachdjian G, Métay C. Two new cases of interstitial 7q35q36.1 deletion including CNTNAP2 and KMT2C. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2021; 9:e1645. [PMID: 34582124 PMCID: PMC8606216 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Terminal deletions of the long arm of chromosome 7 are well known and frequently associated with syndromic holoprosencephaly due to the involvement of the SHH (aliases HHG1, SMMCI, TPT, TPTPS, and MCOPCB5) gene region. However, interstitial deletions including CNTNAP2 (aliases Caspr2, KIAA0868, and NRXN4) and excluding the SHH region are less common. Methods We report the clinical and molecular characterization associated with pure 7q35 and 7q35q36.1 deletion in two unrelated patients as detected by oligonucleotide‐based array‐CGH analysis. Results The common clinical features were abnormal maternal serum screening during first‐trimester pregnancy, low occipitofrontal circumference at birth, hypotonia, abnormal feet, developmental delay, impaired language development, generalized seizures, hyperactive behavior, friendly personality, and cranio‐facial dysmorphism. Both deletions occurred de novo and sequencing of CNTNAP2, a candidate gene for epilepsy and autism showed absence of mutation on the contralateral allele. Conclusion Combined haploinsufficiency of GALNTL5 (alias GalNAc‐T5L), CUL1, SSPO (aliases SCO‐spondin, KIAA0543, and FLJ36112), AOC1(alias DAO), RHEB, and especially KMT2C (alias KIAA1506 and HALR) with monoallelic disruption of CNTNAP2 may explain neurologic abnormalities, hypotonia, and exostoses. Haploinsufficiency of PRKAG2 (aliases AAKG, AAKG2, H91620p, WPWS, and CMH6) and KCNH2 (aliases Kv11.1, HERG, and erg1) genes may be responsible of long QT syndrome observed for one patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Tosca
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Loïc Drévillon
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Aurélie Mouka
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Laure Lecerf
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique, AP-HP. Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U955, Créteil, France.,Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Est, Créteil, France
| | - Audrey Briand
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique, AP-HP. Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Valérie Ortonne
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique, AP-HP. Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Virginie Benoit
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Sophie Brisset
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | | | - Quitterie Laudouar
- Service de Réanimation Néonatale, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Solveig Heide
- UF Génétique Clinique, AP-HP. Sorbonne Université, Hôpital universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Michel Goossens
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique, AP-HP. Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Irina Giurgea
- Département de Génétique Médicale, INSERM Childhood Genetic Diseases, AP-HP. Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - Gérard Tachdjian
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Corinne Métay
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique, AP-HP. Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
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24
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A white paper on a neurodevelopmental framework for drug discovery in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 48:49-88. [PMID: 33781629 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In the last decade there has been a revolution in terms of genetic findings in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), with many discoveries critical for understanding their aetiology and pathophysiology. Clinical trials in single-gene disorders such as fragile X syndrome highlight the challenges of investigating new drug targets in NDDs. Incorporating a developmental perspective into the process of drug development for NDDs could help to overcome some of the current difficulties in identifying and testing new treatments. This paper provides a summary of the proceedings of the 'New Frontiers Meeting' on neurodevelopmental disorders organised by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology in conjunction with the Innovative Medicines Initiative-sponsored AIMS-2-TRIALS consortium. It brought together experts in developmental genetics, autism, NDDs, and clinical trials from academia and industry, regulators, patient and family associations, and other stakeholders. The meeting sought to provide a platform for focused communication on scientific insights, challenges, and methodologies that might be applicable to the development of CNS treatments from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Multidisciplinary translational consortia to develop basic and clinical research in parallel could be pivotal to advance knowledge in the field. Although implementation of clinical trials for NDDs in paediatric populations is widely acknowledged as essential, safety concerns should guide each aspect of their design. Industry and academia should join forces to improve knowledge of the biology of brain development, identify the optimal timing of interventions, and translate these findings into new drugs, allowing for the needs of users and families, with support from regulatory agencies.
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25
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Poulin CJ, Fox AE. Preliminary evidence for timing abnormalities in the CNTNAP2 knockout rat. Behav Processes 2021; 190:104449. [PMID: 34175409 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The CNTNAP2 gene has been implicated in several neuropsychological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. The CNTNAP2 knockout (KO) rat model, rats without the CNTNAP2 gene, exhibits deficits in social interaction and increases in both repetitive and anxiety-like behaviors. However, deficits in time perception that may underlie several of the neuropsychological disorders implicated have not been investigated. The current study investigated timing in CNTNAP2 KO rats compared to control rats using a discrete-trial temporal bisection task. Results suggested deficits in the timing of relatively long durations in the CNTNAP2 KO rats. This finding is consistent with similar findings previously reported in humans diagnosed with ASD, and is promising for understanding the role that the CNTNAP2 gene may play in timing in certain neuropsychological disorders, and for developing targeted clinical therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole J Poulin
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, St. Lawrence University, United States
| | - Adam E Fox
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, St. Lawrence University, United States.
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26
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CNTNAP2 gene polymorphisms in autism spectrum disorder and language impairment among Bangladeshi children: a case-control study combined with a meta-analysis. Hum Cell 2021; 34:1410-1423. [PMID: 33950402 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-021-00546-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by communication deficits, impaired social interactions, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors with restricted interests, and connected with the interaction between environmental factors and genetic vulnerability. CNTNAP2 gene has been extensively investigated for ASD and related neurodevelopment diseases. However, previous studies have resulted in an inconsistent outcome. Based on this fact, we conducted a case-control study followed by a meta-analysis to investigate the association of rs7794745 and rs2710102 polymorphisms with ASD. A total of 216 autistic children and 240 healthy volunteers were recruited, and genotyping was performed using the PCR-RFLP method. We observed that SNP rs7794745 revealed a significantly (p < 0.05) increased association with the development of ASD in children in all genetic models. No significant association was found for rs2710102 with ASD. Besides, rs2710102 exhibited a significant association with language impairment in TC genotype, C allele, and dominant model. From the meta-analysis of both SNPs, we found a significant association in codominant 1, 2, and the dominant model of rs2710102 and codominant 1 and dominant model of rs7794745 with ASD. Our case-control study suggests that rs7794745 polymorphism is associated with ASD, while rs2710102 is correlated with language impairment. Moreover, meta-analysis results indicated the association between both rs7794745 and rs2710102 polymorphisms and ASD.
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27
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Li D, Zhang L, Bai T, Huang W, Ji GJ, Yang T, Zhang Y, Tian Y, Qiu B, Wang K. Common variants of the autism-associated CNTNAP2 gene contribute to the modulatory effect of social function mediated by temporal cortex. Behav Brain Res 2021; 409:113319. [PMID: 33901431 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Autistic traits are highly heritable and characterized by social deficits. Common genetic variants of the autism-related CNTNAP2 gene have been linked with social impairments, but the neural substrates are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the genetic effect of common variants of CNTNAP2 (rs2710102 and rs7794745) on gray matter volume and its association with social performance among 442 healthy participants. Our results showed that individuals with rs2710102 GG homozygotes had smaller left superior temporal gyrus (STG)/insular volume than A-allele carriers (AA and AG), while individuals with rs7794745 TT and AT showed smaller right parahippocampal, right STG/insular, and left inferior parietal lobule (IPL) cortex volume than those with rs7794745 AA. Smaller volume of the STG/insular and parahippocampal cortex was associated with poorer social performance. An indirect effect of CNTNAP2 rs7794745 and rs2710102 genotype on the social performance was mediated by the STG/insular cortex and parahippocampal cortex volume. These findings provided insight into the genetic effect of CNTNAP2 variants on social behavior, which may be moderated by the temporal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, 230022, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, 230022, China; School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, 230022, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Tongjian Bai
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, 230022, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Wanling Huang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Gong-Jun Ji
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, 230022, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, 230022, China; School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Tingting Yang
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Yifan Zhang
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Yanghua Tian
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, 230022, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Bensheng Qiu
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, 230022, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, 230022, China; School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China; Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, 230022, China.
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Agarwala S, Ramachandra NB. Role of CNTNAP2 in autism manifestation outlines the regulation of signaling between neurons at the synapse. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMAN GENETICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s43042-021-00138-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Autism is characterized by high heritability and a complex genetic mutational landscape with restricted social behavior and impaired social communication. Whole-exome sequencing is a reliable tool to pinpoint variants for unraveling the disease pathophysiology. The present meta-analysis was performed using 222 whole-exome sequences deposited by Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) at the European Nucleotide Archive. This sample cohort was used to identify causal mutations in autism-specific genes to create a mutational landscape focusing on the CNTNAP2 gene.
Results
The authors account for the identification of 15 high confidence genes with 24 variants for autism with Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) gene scoring. These genes encompass critical autism pathways such as neuron development, synapse complexity, cytoskeleton, and microtubule activation. Among these 15 genes, overlapping variants were present across multiple samples: KMT2C in 167 cases, CNTNAP2 in 192 samples, CACNA1C in 152 cases, and SHANK3 in 124 cases. Pathway analysis identifies clustering and interplay of autism genes—WDFY3, SHANK2, CNTNAP2, HOMER1, SYNGAP1, and ANK2 with CNTNAP2. These genes coincide across autism-relevant pathways, namely abnormal social behavior and intellectual and cognitive impairment. Based on multiple layers of selection criteria, CNTNAP2 was chosen as the master gene for the study. It is an essential gene for autism with speech-language delays, a typical phenotype in most cases under study. It showcases nine variants across multiple samples with one damaging variant, T589P, with a GERP rank score range of 0.065–0.95. This unique variant was present across 86.5% of the samples impairing the epithelial growth factor (EGF) domain. Established microRNA (miRNA) genes hsa-mir-548aq and hsa-mir-548f were mutated within the CNTNAP2 region, adding to the severity. The mutated protein showed reduced stability by 0.25, increased solvent accessibility by 9%, and reduced depth by 0.2, which rendered the protein non-functional. Secondary physical interactors of CNTNAP2 through CNTN2 proteins were mutated in the samples, further intensifying the severity.
Conclusion
CNTNAP2 has been identified as a master gene in autism manifestation responsible for speech-language delay by impairing the EGF protein domain and downstream cascade. The decrease in EGF is correlated with vital autism symptoms, especially language disabilities.
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Basilico B, Morandell J, Novarino G. Molecular mechanisms for targeted ASD treatments. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2020; 65:126-137. [PMID: 32659636 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The possibility to generate construct valid animal models enabled the development and testing of therapeutic strategies targeting the core features of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). At the same time, these studies highlighted the necessity of identifying sensitive developmental time windows for successful therapeutic interventions. Animal and human studies also uncovered the possibility to stratify the variety of ASDs in molecularly distinct subgroups, potentially facilitating effective treatment design. Here, we focus on the molecular pathways emerging as commonly affected by mutations in diverse ASD-risk genes, on their role during critical windows of brain development and the potential treatments targeting these biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jasmin Morandell
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Gaia Novarino
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria.
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Gulisano M, Barone R, Mosa MR, Milana MC, Saia F, Scerbo M, Rizzo R. Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Youths Affected by Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome Based on Data from a Large Single Italian Clinical Cohort. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10110812. [PMID: 33147879 PMCID: PMC7692268 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are etiologically related neurodevelopmental disorders with an onset age before 18 years and a reported comorbidity of 2.9–20%. The aim of the present study was to identify the incidence of ASD in a large clinical sample of individuals affected by GTS and to compare our results with previously reported incidences. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data (n = 1200) from January 2010 to March 2019 obtained from the outpatient Catania Tourette Clinic, part of the Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry of the Medical and Experimental Department of Catania University. We used internationally validated evaluation tools. The neuropsychological evaluation was carried out by an expert and a certificated team of child and adolescent neurologists, supervised by two expert child neurologists (R.R. and M.G.). We investigated 975 GTS-affected individuals of various socioeconomic levels aged 5–18 years, and 8.9% (n = 87) were affected by ASD. The incidence of GTS with ASD was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in children than in adolescents. No statistically significant differences were found in the sex distribution and age of onset of tics between individuals with GTS alone and those with GTS and ASD. The incidence of GTS and ASD comorbidity in this study was high, and this has several implications in terms of treatment and prognosis.
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31
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Lee EC, Hu VW. Phenotypic Subtyping and Re-Analysis of Existing Methylation Data from Autistic Probands in Simplex Families Reveal ASD Subtype-Associated Differentially Methylated Genes and Biological Functions. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6877. [PMID: 32961747 PMCID: PMC7555936 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) describes a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with core deficits in social communication and manifestation of restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped behaviors. Despite the core symptomatology, ASD is extremely heterogeneous with respect to the severity of symptoms and behaviors. This heterogeneity presents an inherent challenge to all large-scale genome-wide omics analyses. In the present study, we address this heterogeneity by stratifying ASD probands from simplex families according to the severity of behavioral scores on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised diagnostic instrument, followed by re-analysis of existing DNA methylation data from individuals in three ASD subphenotypes in comparison to that of their respective unaffected siblings. We demonstrate that subphenotyping of cases enables the identification of over 1.6 times the number of statistically significant differentially methylated regions (DMR) and DMR-associated genes (DAGs) between cases and controls, compared to that identified when all cases are combined. Our analyses also reveal ASD-related neurological functions and comorbidities that are enriched among DAGs in each phenotypic subgroup but not in the combined case group. Moreover, relational gene networks constructed with the DAGs reveal signaling pathways associated with specific functions and comorbidities. In addition, a network comprised of DAGs shared among all ASD subgroups and the combined case group is enriched in genes involved in inflammatory responses, suggesting that neuroinflammation may be a common theme underlying core features of ASD. These findings demonstrate the value of phenotype definition in methylomic analyses of ASD and may aid in the development of subtype-directed diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valerie W. Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USA;
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32
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Loss of
Cntnap2
in the Rat Causes Autism‐Related Alterations in Social Interactions, Stereotypic Behavior, and Sensory Processing. Autism Res 2020; 13:1698-1717. [DOI: 10.1002/aur.2364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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33
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Argent L, Winter F, Prickett I, Carrasquero-Ordaz M, Olsen AL, Kramer H, Lancaster E, Becker EBE. Caspr2 interacts with type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor in the developing cerebellum and regulates Purkinje cell morphology. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:12716-12726. [PMID: 32675284 PMCID: PMC7476715 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.012655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Caspr2) is a neurexin-like protein that has been associated with numerous neurological conditions. However, the specific functional roles that Caspr2 plays in the central nervous system and their underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we report on a functional role for Caspr2 in the developing cerebellum. Using a combination of confocal microscopy, biochemical analyses, and behavioral testing, we show that loss of Caspr2 in the Cntnap2-/- knockout mouse results in impaired Purkinje cell dendritic development, altered intracellular signaling, and motor coordination deficits. We also find that Caspr2 is highly enriched at synaptic specializations in the cerebellum. Using a proteomics approach, we identify type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R1) as a specific synaptic interaction partner of the Caspr2 extracellular domain in the molecular layer of the developing cerebellum. The interaction of the Caspr2 extracellular domain with IP3R1 inhibits IP3R1-mediated changes in cellular morphology. Together, our work defines a mechanism by which Caspr2 controls the development and function of the cerebellum and advances our understanding of how Caspr2 dysfunction might lead to specific brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Argent
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Friederike Winter
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Imogen Prickett
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Abby L Olsen
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Holger Kramer
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Eric Lancaster
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Esther B E Becker
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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34
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Beiranvandi F, Akouchekian M, Javadi GR, Darvish H. The association of CNTNAP2 rs2710102 and ENGRAILED-2 rs1861972 genes polymorphism and autism in Iranian population. Meta Gene 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2020.100664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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35
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Scott R, Sánchez-Aguilera A, van Elst K, Lim L, Dehorter N, Bae SE, Bartolini G, Peles E, Kas MJH, Bruining H, Marín O. Loss of Cntnap2 Causes Axonal Excitability Deficits, Developmental Delay in Cortical Myelination, and Abnormal Stereotyped Motor Behavior. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:586-597. [PMID: 29300891 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Caspr2) is found at the nodes of Ranvier and has been associated with physiological properties of white matter conductivity. Genetic variation in CNTNAP2, the gene encoding Caspr2, has been linked to several neurodevelopmental conditions, yet pathophysiological effects of CNTNAP2 mutations on axonal physiology and brain myelination are unknown. Here, we have investigated mouse mutants for Cntnap2 and found profound deficiencies in the clustering of Kv1-family potassium channels in the juxtaparanodes of brain myelinated axons. These deficits are associated with a change in the waveform of axonal action potentials and increases in postsynaptic excitatory responses. We also observed that the normal process of myelination is delayed in Cntnap2 mutant mice. This later phenotype is a likely modulator of the developmental expressivity of the stereotyped motor behaviors that characterize Cntnap2 mutant mice. Altogether, our results reveal a mechanism linked to white matter conductivity through which mutation of CNTNAP2 may affect neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Scott
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Alberto Sánchez-Aguilera
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Kim van Elst
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lynette Lim
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nathalie Dehorter
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sung Eun Bae
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Giorgia Bartolini
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.,Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Elior Peles
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Martien J H Kas
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hilgo Bruining
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar Marín
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.,Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
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36
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The Interaction Between Contactin and Amyloid Precursor Protein and Its Role in Alzheimer’s Disease. Neuroscience 2020; 424:184-202. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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37
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Falsaperla R, Pappalardo XG, Romano C, Marino SD, Corsello G, Ruggieri M, Parano E, Pavone P. Intronic Variant in CNTNAP2 Gene in a Boy With Remarkable Conduct Disorder, Minor Facial Features, Mild Intellectual Disability, and Seizures. Front Pediatr 2020; 8:550. [PMID: 33042910 PMCID: PMC7518065 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Mutations in the contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene (MIM#604569) encoding for CASPR2, a cell adhesion protein of the neurexin family, are known to be associated with autism, intellectual disability, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. A set of intronic deletions of CNTNAP2 gene has also been suggested to have a causative role in individuals with a wide phenotypic spectrum, including Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, cortical dysplasia-focal epilepsy syndrome, Tourette syndrome, language dysfunction, and abnormal behavioral manifestations. Case presentation: A 10-years-old boy was referred to the hospital with mild intellectual disability and language impairment. Moreover, the child exhibited minor facial features, epileptic seizures, and notable behavioral abnormalities including impulsivity, aggressivity, and hyperactivity suggestive of the diagnosis of disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorder (CD). Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) revealed a copy number variant (CNV) deletion in the first intron of CNTNAP2 gene inherited from a healthy father. Conclusions: A comprehensive description of the phenotypic features of the child is provided, revealing a distinct and remarkable alteration of social behavior not previously reported in individuals affected by disorders related to CNTNAP2 gene disruptions. A possible causative link between the deletion of a non-coding regulatory region and the symptoms presented by the boy has been advanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Falsaperla
- Unit of Neonatology, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, " Catania, Italy
| | - Xena Giada Pappalardo
- National Council of Research, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), Catania, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Catia Romano
- Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, " Catania, Italy
| | - Simona Domenica Marino
- Unit of Neonatology, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, " Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanni Corsello
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care "G. D'Alessandro, " University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Martino Ruggieri
- Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, " Catania, Italy
| | - Enrico Parano
- National Council of Research, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), Catania, Italy
| | - Piero Pavone
- Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, " Catania, Italy
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38
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Hali S, Kim J, Kwak TH, Lee H, Shin CY, Han DW. Modelling monogenic autism spectrum disorder using mouse cortical organoids. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 521:164-171. [PMID: 31653345 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.10.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Variants of the contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2), which is a member of the neurexin family of proteins, function as cell adhesion molecules. The loss of CNTNAP2 function leads to autism spectrum disorder in humans and to autistic behaviours in mice. However, the functional effects of these mutations at the cellular level during fetal developmental periods remain elusive. Here, we studied mouse cortical organoids (mCOs) derived from Cntnap2-/- (knockout, KO) mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs). Our results showed that KO mCOs displayed inhibitory-neuron-specific defects. At the neural progenitor stage, the GABAergic-neurogenesis-governing transcriptional network was dysregulated in the absence of Cntnap2. Our findings suggest that, in the early fetal cortical development, the cell adhesion molecule Cntnap2 plays a crucial role in the regulation of the differentiation of GABAergic neurons in the organoid platform. The reduced number of GABAergic neurons was efficiently restored in KO mCOs by treatment with the antiepileptic drug retigabine, showing the effectiveness of Cntnap2 KO mCOs in the therapeutic targeting of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Hali
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghun Kim
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hwan Kwak
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunseong Lee
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Young Shin
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dong Wook Han
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea; School of Biotechnology and Healthcare, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, 529020, China.
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39
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Baglioni V, Coutinho E, Menassa DA, Giannoccaro MP, Jacobson L, Buttiglione M, Petruzzelli O, Cardona F, Vincent A. Antibodies to neuronal surface proteins in Tourette Syndrome: Lack of evidence in a European paediatric cohort. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 81:665-669. [PMID: 31425826 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In Tourette Syndrome (TS) a role for autoantibodies directed against neuronal proteins has long been suspected, but so far results are still inconsistent. The aim of this study was to look for antibodies to specific or undefined neuronal proteins that could be involved in the aetiology of the disease. Sera from children with Tourette Syndrome or another chronic tic disorder (TS/TD), collected as part of the longitudinal European Multicenter Tics in Children Study, were investigated. Participants included 30 siblings of patients with TS/TD prior to developing tics (preclinical stage) and the same children after the first tic onset (onset), and 158 patients in the chronic phase undergoing an acute relapse (exacerbation). Presence of antibodies binding to rodent brain tissue was assessed by immunohistology on rat brain sections and by immunofluorescent staining of live hippocampal neurons. Live cell-based assays were used to screen for antibodies to NMDAR, CASPR2, LGI1, AMPAR and GABAAR. Immunohistology indicated evidence of antibodies reactive with brain tissue, binding mainly to the hippocampus, the basal ganglia or the cerebellum in 26/218 (12%), with 8% of the preclinical or onset sera binding to the dentate gyrus/CA3 region or cerebellum. Only two individuals (one pre-clinical, one chronic) had antibodies binding the NMDAR and the binding was only weakly positive. No other specific antibodies were detected. Despite some immunoreactivity towards neuronal antigens on brain tissue, this was not mirrored by antibodies binding to live neurons, suggesting the presence of non-specific antibodies or those that bind non-pathogenic intracellular epitopes. NMDAR or the other neuronal surface antibodies tested were very infrequent in these patients. The evidence for pathogenic antibodies that could be causative of TS is weak.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Baglioni
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - E Coutinho
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - D A Menassa
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - M P Giannoccaro
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - L Jacobson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - M Buttiglione
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - O Petruzzelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - F Cardona
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - A Vincent
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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40
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Ueoka I, Pham HTN, Matsumoto K, Yamaguchi M. Autism Spectrum Disorder-Related Syndromes: Modeling with Drosophila and Rodents. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4071. [PMID: 31438473 PMCID: PMC6747505 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole exome analyses have identified a number of genes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ASD-related syndromes. These genes encode key regulators of synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, cytoskeleton dynamics, protein synthesis and degradation, chromatin remodeling, transcription, and lipid homeostasis. Furthermore, in silico studies suggest complex regulatory networks among these genes. Drosophila is a useful genetic model system for studies of ASD and ASD-related syndromes to clarify the in vivo roles of ASD-associated genes and the complex gene regulatory networks operating in the pathogenesis of ASD and ASD-related syndromes. In this review, we discuss what we have learned from studies with vertebrate models, mostly mouse models. We then highlight studies with Drosophila models. We also discuss future developments in the related field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibuki Ueoka
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 603-8585, Japan
| | - Hang Thi Nguyet Pham
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, National Institute of Medicinal Materials, Hanoi 110100, Vietnam
| | - Kinzo Matsumoto
- Division of Medicinal Pharmacology, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Yamaguchi
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 603-8585, Japan.
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41
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Mazón-Cabrera R, Vandormael P, Somers V. Antigenic Targets of Patient and Maternal Autoantibodies in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1474. [PMID: 31379804 PMCID: PMC6659315 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose behavioral symptoms become apparent in early childhood. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are only partially understood and the clinical manifestations are heterogeneous in nature, which poses a major challenge for diagnosis, prognosis and intervention. In the last years, an important role of a dysregulated immune system in ASD has emerged, but the mechanisms connecting this to a disruption of brain development are still largely unknown. Although ASD is not considered as a typical autoimmune disease, self-reactive antibodies or autoantibodies against a wide variety of targets have been found in a subset of ASD patients. In addition, autoantibodies reactive to fetal brain proteins have also been described in the prenatal stage of neurodevelopment, where they can be transferred from the mother to the fetus by transplacental transport. In this review, we give an extensive overview of the antibodies described in ASD according to their target antigens, their different origins, and timing of exposure during neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Veerle Somers
- Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Science, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
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42
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A patient with a novel CNTNAP2 homozygous variant: further delineation of the CASPR2 deficiency syndrome and review of the literature. Clin Dysmorphol 2019; 28:66-70. [PMID: 30762603 DOI: 10.1097/mcd.0000000000000259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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43
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Dalla Vecchia E, Mortimer N, Palladino VS, Kittel-Schneider S, Lesch KP, Reif A, Schenck A, Norton WH. Cross-species models of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder: lessons from CNTNAP2, ADGRL3, and PARK2. Psychiatr Genet 2019; 29:1-17. [PMID: 30376466 PMCID: PMC7654943 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Animal and cellular models are essential tools for all areas of biological research including neuroscience. Model systems can also be used to investigate the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this review, we provide a summary of animal and cellular models for three genes linked to ADHD and ASD in human patients - CNTNAP2, ADGRL3, and PARK2. We also highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each model system. By bringing together behavioral and neurobiological data, we demonstrate how a cross-species approach can provide integrated insights into gene function and the pathogenesis of ADHD and ASD. The knowledge gained from transgenic models will be essential to discover and validate new treatment targets for these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Dalla Vecchia
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Niall Mortimer
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Centre of Mental Health, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Viola S. Palladino
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Sarah Kittel-Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Centre of Mental Health, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - William H.J. Norton
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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44
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Zhang T, Zhang J, Wang Z, Jia M, Lu T, Wang H, Yue W, Zhang D, Li J, Wang L. Association between CNTNAP2 polymorphisms and autism: A family-based study in the chinese han population and a meta-analysis combined with GWAS data of psychiatric genomics consortium. Autism Res 2019; 12:553-561. [PMID: 30681286 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Autism is a childhood neuropsychiatric disorder with evidence of a strong genetic component in the complex etiologies. Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2), a member of the neurexin superfamily, plays an essential role in neural development. CNTNAP2 was considered as one of the most susceptible genes for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some studies indicated the association of CNTNAP2 with ASD, while others reported no association. Given the inconsistent results of the previous studies, we performed a family-based association study between 9 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CNTNAP2 and autism in 640 autistic trios in the Chinese Han population. Then, an updated meta-analysis, combined with the data from Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (iPSYCH-PGC ASD, 2017) and available association studies, was conducted. No SNPs were significantly associated with autism in the Chinese Han population. In the meta-analysis, the two frequently reported SNPs (rs2710102 and rs7794745) showed no significant association with ASD. Therefore, CNTNAP2 polymorphisms might not be associated with autism. Autism Research 2019, 12: 553-561. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: In present family-based association study, no single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were significantly associated with autism in the Chinese Han population. In the updated meta-analysis, the association between the two frequently reported SNPs (rs2710102 and rs7794745) in CNTNAP2 and the risk of ASD was explored. However, the results showed no significant association. Therefore, our study suggested that CNTNAP2 polymorphisms might not be associated with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Zhang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jishui Zhang
- Department of Mental Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100045, China.,National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China
| | - Ziqi Wang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Meixiang Jia
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Tianlan Lu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Han Wang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Weihua Yue
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Dai Zhang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jun Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China
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45
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Canali G, Goutebroze L. CNTNAP2 Heterozygous Missense Variants: Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Other Pathologies? J Exp Neurosci 2018; 12:1179069518809666. [PMID: 30450007 PMCID: PMC6236484 DOI: 10.1177/1179069518809666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The CNTNAP2 gene has been proposed to be one of the major susceptibility genes for neurodevelopmental disorders, in which numerous heterozygous missense variants have been identified in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The contribution of these variants to the manifestations of ASD is however highly controversial because numerous heterozygous missense variants have also been identified in control subjects. In a recent study, we set up a sensitive developmental in vitro cell assay to clarify the potential functional impact of these variants in a heterozygous Cntnap2 background relevant for CNTNAP2 heterozygosity in patients with ASD. We showed that the cell adhesion glycoprotein Caspr2 encoded by CNTNAP2 plays a dose-dependent role in cortical neuron axon growth and provided a proof of principle that some variants have functional consequences, either a loss of function or a dominant-negative effect. This indicates that phenotypes mimicking CNTNAP2 heterozygous and homozygous null mutation may exist in humans. Our observations further suggest that more variants than originally expected could be functionally deleterious and induce a high heterogeneity of phenotypes at the scale of the whole brain. This raises the interesting possibility that CNTNAP2 heterozygous missense variants could define an overall endophenotype shaping a risk for ASD and questions whether, beyond ASD, the variants could contribute to the development of other neurodevelopmental disorders and/or genetically less complex pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Canali
- UMR-S 839, Inserm, Paris, France.,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Goutebroze
- UMR-S 839, Inserm, Paris, France.,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
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46
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Vogt D, Cho KKA, Shelton SM, Paul A, Huang ZJ, Sohal VS, Rubenstein JLR. Mouse Cntnap2 and Human CNTNAP2 ASD Alleles Cell Autonomously Regulate PV+ Cortical Interneurons. Cereb Cortex 2018; 28:3868-3879. [PMID: 29028946 PMCID: PMC6455910 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human mutations in CNTNAP2 are associated with an array of neuropsychiatric and neurological syndromes, including speech and language disorders, epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We examined Cntnap2's expression and function in GABAergic cortical interneurons (CINs), where its RNA is present at highest levels in chandelier neurons, PV+ neurons and VIP+ neurons. In vivo functions were studied using both constitutive Cntnap2 null mice and a transplantation assay, the latter to assess cell autonomous phenotypes of medial ganglionic eminence (MGE)-derived CINs. We found that Cntnap2 constitutive null mutants had normal numbers of MGE-derived CINs, but had reduced PV+ CINs. Transplantation assays showed that Cntnap2 cell autonomously regulated the physiology of parvalbumin (PV)+, fast-spiking CINs; no phenotypes were observed in somatostatin+, regular spiking, CINs. We also tested the effects of 4 human CNTNAP2 ASD missense mutations in vivo, and found that they impaired PV+ CIN development. Together, these data reveal that reduced CNTNAP2 function impairs PV+ CINs, a cell type with important roles in regulating cortical circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Vogt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kathleen K A Cho
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Samantha M Shelton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anirban Paul
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Z Josh Huang
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Vikaas S Sohal
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - John L R Rubenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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47
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Liang W, Zhang J, Saint-Martin M, Xu F, Noraz N, Liu J, Honnorat J, Liu H. Structural mapping of hot spots within human CASPR2 discoidin domain for autoantibody recognition. J Autoimmun 2018; 96:168-177. [PMID: 30337146 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2018.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has showed that anti-CASPR2 autoantibodies occur in a long list of neurological immune disorders including limbic encephalitis (LE). Belonging to the well-known neurexin superfamily, CASPR2 has been suggested to be a central node in the molecular networks controlling neurodevelopment. Distinct from other subfamilies in the neurexin superfamily, the CASPR subfamily features a unique discoidin (Disc) domain. As revealed by our and others' recent studies, CASPR2 Disc domain bears a major epitope for autoantibodies. However, structural information on CASPR2 recognition by autoantibodies has been lacking. Here, we report the crystal structure of human CASPR2 Disc domain at a high resolution of 1.31 Å, which is the first atomic-resolution structure of the CASPR subfamily members. The Disc domain adopts a total β structure and folds into a distorted jellyroll-like barrel with a conserved disulfide-bond interlocking its N- and C-termini. Defined by four loops and located in one end of the barrel, the "loop-tip surface" is totally polar and easily available for protein docking. Based on structure-guided epitope prediction, we generated nine mutants and evaluated their binding to autoantibodies of cerebrospinal fluid from twelve patients with limbic encephalitis. The quadruple mutant G69N/A71S/S77N/D78R impaired CASPR2 binding to autoantibodies from eleven LE patients, which indicates that the loop L1 in the Disc domain bears hot spots for autoantibody interaction. Structural mapping of autoepitopes within human CASPR2 Disc domain sheds light on how autoantibodies could sequester CASPR2 ectodomain and antagonize its functionalities in the pathogenic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Junying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Margaux Saint-Martin
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France; INSERM U1217-CNRS UMR5310, NeuroMyoGene Institute, Lyon, France; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, France
| | - Fei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Nelly Noraz
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France; INSERM U1217-CNRS UMR5310, NeuroMyoGene Institute, Lyon, France; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, France
| | - Jianmei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jérôme Honnorat
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France; INSERM U1217-CNRS UMR5310, NeuroMyoGene Institute, Lyon, France; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, France.
| | - Heli Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China.
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48
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Altered Auditory Processing, Filtering, and Reactivity in the Cntnap2 Knock-Out Rat Model for Neurodevelopmental Disorders. J Neurosci 2018; 38:8588-8604. [PMID: 30126973 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0759-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory processing, and auditory processing in particular, is altered in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The typical maturation of the auditory system is perturbed in these individuals during early development, which may underlie altered auditory reactivity that persists in later life. Of the many genes that regulate the auditory system development, loss-of-function mutations in the CNTNAP2 gene are strongly associated with language processing deficits and ASD. Therefore, using a novel Cntnap2 knock-out rat model, we tested the impact of Cntnap2 loss on auditory processing, filtering, and reactivity throughout development and young adulthood in male and female animals. Although hearing thresholds were not altered in Cntnap2 knock-out animals, we found a reduction in response amplitudes and a delay in response latency of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) in juvenile Cntnap2 knock-out rats compared with age-matched controls. Amplitudes and latency of the ABR largely normalized by adulthood, indicating a delayed maturation of auditory processing pathways in Cntnap2 knock-out rats. Despite the reduced ABR amplitudes, adolescent Cntnap2 knock-out animals displayed increased startle reactivity accompanied by disruptions in sensory filtering and sensorimotor gating across various conditions, most of which persisted in adulthood. All of these observations show striking parallels to disruptions reported in ASD. Our results also imply that developmental disruptions of sensory signal processing are associated with persistent changes in neural circuitries responsible for implicit auditory evoked behavior, emphasizing the need for interventions that target sensory processing disruptions early during development in ASD.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This is the first study of brainstem auditory processing in a novel knock-out rat model with very high construct and face validity for autism spectrum disorders. Electrophysiological and behavioral measures of implicit auditory-evoked responses were systematically taken across developmental stages. Auditory processing, filtering, and reactivity disruptions show striking similarities to observations in autism. We also show for the first time that, whereas auditory brainstem responses normalize by adulthood, disruptions in brainstem-mediated auditory-evoked behavior persist. This indicates that early developmental perturbations in sensory processing can cause permanent maladaptive changes in circuitries responsible for auditory reactivity, underlining the importance for interventions early during development aiming at normalizing sensory processing.
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49
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Saint-Martin M, Joubert B, Pellier-Monnin V, Pascual O, Noraz N, Honnorat J. Contactin-associated protein-like 2, a protein of the neurexin family involved in several human diseases. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 48:1906-1923. [PMID: 30028556 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2) is a cell adhesion protein of the neurexin family. Proteins of this family have been shown to play a role in the development of the nervous system, in synaptic functions, and in neurological diseases. Over recent years, CASPR2 function has gained an increasing interest as demonstrated by the growing number of publications. Here, we gather published data to comprehensively review CASPR2 functions within the nervous system in relation to CASPR2-related diseases in humans. On the one hand, studies on Cntnap2 (coding for CASPR2) knockout mice revealed its role during development, especially, in setting-up the inhibitory network. Consistent with this result, mutations in the CNTNAP2 gene coding for CASPR2 in human have been identified in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. On the other hand, CASPR2 was shown to play a role beyond development, in the localization of voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex that is composed of TAG-1, Kv1.1, and Kv1.2. This complex was found in several subcellular compartments essential for action potential propagation: the node of Ranvier, the axon initial segment, and the synapse. In line with a role of CASPR2 in the mature nervous system, neurological autoimmune diseases have been described in patients without neurodevelopmental disorders but with antibodies directed against CASPR2. These autoimmune diseases were of two types: central with memory disorders and temporal lobe seizures, or peripheral with muscular hyperactivity. Overall, we review the up-to-date knowledge on CASPR2 function and pinpoint confused or lacking information that will need further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Saint-Martin
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Bastien Joubert
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
| | - Véronique Pellier-Monnin
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Olivier Pascual
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Nelly Noraz
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Jérôme Honnorat
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
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50
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Lauber E, Filice F, Schwaller B. Dysregulation of Parvalbumin Expression in the Cntnap2-/- Mouse Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:262. [PMID: 30116174 PMCID: PMC6082962 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the complex and heterogeneous etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), identification of convergent pathways and/or common molecular endpoints in the pathophysiological processes of ASD development are highly needed in order to facilitate treatment approaches targeted at the core symptoms. We recently reported on decreased expression of the Ca2+-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) in three well-characterized ASD mouse models, Shank1-/-, Shank3B-/- and in utero VPA-exposed mice. Moreover, PV-deficient mice (PV+/- and PV-/-) were found to show behavioral impairments and neuroanatomical changes closely resembling those frequently found in human ASD individuals. Here, we combined a stereology-based approach with molecular biology methods to assess changes in the subpopulation of PV-expressing (Pvalb) interneurons in the recently characterized contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2-/-) knockout mouse model of ASD. The CNTNAP2 gene codes for a synaptic cell adhesion molecule involved in neurodevelopmental processes; mutations affecting the human CNTNAP2 locus are associated with human ASD core symptoms, in particular speech and language problems. We demonstrate that in Cntnap2-/- mice, no loss of Pvalb neurons is evident in ASD-associated brain regions including the striatum, somatosensory cortex (SSC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), shown by the unaltered number of Pvalb neurons ensheathed by VVA-positive perineuronal nets. However, the number of PV-immunoreactive (PV+) neurons and also PV protein levels were decreased in the striatum of Cntnap2-/- mice indicating that PV expression levels in some striatal Pvalb neurons dropped below the detection limit, yet without a loss of Pvalb neurons. No changes in PV+ neuron numbers were detected in the cortical regions investigated and also cortical PV expression levels were unaltered. Considering that Cntnap2 shows high expression levels in the striatum during human and mouse embryonic development and that the cortico-striato-thalamic circuitry is important for speech and language development, alterations in striatal PV expression and associated (homeostatic) adaptations are likely to play an important role in Cntnap2-/- mice and, assumingly, in human ASD patients with known Cntnap2 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel Lauber
- Anatomy Unit, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Federica Filice
- Anatomy Unit, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Beat Schwaller
- Anatomy Unit, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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