A Family-Based Association Study of CYP11A1 and CYP11B1 Gene Polymorphisms With Autism in Chinese Trios

Placenta-specific CYP11A1 overexpression lead to autism-like symptom in offspring with altered steroid hormone biosynthesis in the placenta-brain axis and rescued by vitamin D intervention

Alterations in steroid hormone regulation have been implicated in the etiology and progression of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), with the enzyme cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1 (CYP11A1)-a key catalyst in cholesterol side-chain cleavage, prominently expressed in the adrenal glands, ovaries, testes, and placenta-standing at the forefront of these investigations. The potential link between aberrations in placental Cyp11a1 expression and the resultant neurodevelopmental disorders, along with the mechanisms underpinning such associations, remains inadequately delineated. In this study, we employed a placental trophoblast-specific Cyp11a1 Hipp11 (H11) knock-in murine model to dissect the phenotypic manifestations within the placenta and progeny, thereby elucidating the underlying mechanistic pathways. Behavioral analyses revealed a diminution in social interaction capabilities alongside an augmented anxiety phenotype, as evidenced by open field and elevated plus maze assessments; both phenotypes were ameliorated after vitamin D3 supplementation. Electrophysiological assays underscored the augmented inhibition of paired-pulse facilitation, indicating impaired neuroplasticity in Cyp11a1 H11-modified mice. An elevation in progesterone concentrations was noted, alongside a significant upregulation of Th1-related cytokines (IL-6 and TNFα) across the plasma, placental, and frontal cortex-a pathological state mitigable through vitamin D3 intervention. Western blotting revealed a vitamin D-mediated rectification of vitamin D receptor and PGC-1α expression dysregulations. Immunofluorescence assays revealed microglial activation in the knock-in model, which was reversible upon vitamin D3 treatment. In conclusion, Cyp11a1 overexpression in the placenta recapitulated an autism-like phenotype in murine models, and vitamin D3 administration effectively ameliorated the resultant neurobehavioral and neuroinflammatory derangements. This study substantiates the application of Cyp11a1 as a biomarker in prenatal diagnostics and posits that prenatal vitamin D3 supplementation is a viable prophylactic measure against perturbations in steroid hormone metabolism associated with ASD pathogenesis.

CYP11B1 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to ischemic stroke in a Chinese Han population

Objectives

Ischemic stroke (IS) is the major cause of death and disability. While previous studies confirmed that CYP11B1 is closely associated with IS, the present study aimed to analyze the impact of CYP11B1 gene polymorphisms on the IS susceptibility.

Methods

The present study genotyped six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (including rs4736312, rs5017238, rs5301, rs5283, rs6410, and rs4534) of CYP11B1 in peripheral blood samples from IS and control populations. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between the SNPs and IS risk. The multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) method was used to determine the roles of SNP–SNP interactions in IS.

Results

The present study showed that rs5283 was associated with an increased susceptibility to IS [odds ratio (OR) 1.81, p = 0.012]. On the contrary, rs6410 had a protective influence on IS risk (OR 0.56, p = 0.020). Stratified analyses indicated that rs5283 could enhance the risk of IS in subjects aged >63 years (OR 2.41, p = 0.011), of female gender (OR 3.31, p = 0.001), that do not smoke (OR 1.64, p = 0.005), and with hypertension (OR 2.07, p = 0.003). Whereas, rs6410 was related to a lower susceptibility to IS in subjects aged >63 years (OR 0.43, p = 0.032), of female gender (OR 0.30, p = 0.006), do not smoke (OR 0.42, p = 0.017), and with hypertension (OR 0.52, p = 0.022). Besides, rs4736312 reduced the IS susceptibility in non-smokers (OR 0.69, p = 0.031). Rs4534 had a risk-decreasing impact on IS in non-drinking (OR 0.54, p = 0.016). Moreover, the results of the MDR analysis corroborate that the best prediction model for IS was rs5283.

Conclusion

This study revealed that CYP11B1 gene polymorphisms strongly correlated with IS in the Chinese Han population.

Genetic variants in CYP11B1 influence the susceptibility to coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND

Genetic factors are important risk factors to develop coronary heart disease (CHD). In this study, we mainly explored whether CYP11B1 mutations influence CHD risk among Chinese Han population.

METHODS

Six variants were genotyped using Agena MassARRAY system from 509 CHD patients and 509 healthy controls. The correlations between CYP11B1 mutations and CHD risk were assessed using odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) by logistic regression. The haplotype analysis and were ultifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) were conducted.

RESULTS

In the overall analysis, CYP11B1 polymorphisms were not correlated with CHD susceptibility. In the stratified analysis, we found that rs5283, rs6410, and rs4534 are significantly associated with susceptibility to CHD dependent on age and gender (p < 0.05). Moreover, we also observed that rs5283 and rs4534 could affect diabetes/hypertension risk among CHD patients (p < 0.05). In addition, the C_rs4736312A_rs5017238C_rs5301G_rs5283T_rs6410C_rs4534 haplotype of CYP11B1 reduce the susceptibility to CHD (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that rs4534, rs6410 and rs5283 in CYP11B1 gene influence the susceptibility to CHD, which depend on age and gender.

Autism-Like Behavior in the Offspring of CYP11A1-Overexpressing Pregnant Rats

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) represent a complex group of neurodevelopmental disorders that are characterized by impaired social behavior and communication as well as repetitive behavior and restricted interests. Prenatal exposure to high levels of testosterone and preeclampsia are thought to be risk factors of ASD. We had previously reported that overexpression of the mitochondrial cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1) could lead to both preeclampsia-like symptoms and increased testosterone levels in pregnant rats. In this study, we investigated the association between high CYP11A1 levels in pregnant rats and autism-like behavior in their offspring. Timed-pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were injected with CYP11A1 gene-carrying adenoviruses on gestational day 8.5, and their offspring were then compared with those from timed-pregnant control SD rats. Compared with their control counterparts, the offspring of the CYP11A1-ovexpressing dams displayed more symptoms of anxiety and spent less time in social interactions and more time in self-grooming and rearing, all indicators of autism-like behavior. Sequencing of the transcriptome in primary microglia from the offspring of CYP11A1-overexpressing dams revealed that immune pathways were highly activated, and the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor genes were among the top differentially expressed genes. Using primary microglia cultures generated from neonatal rats, tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression was found to be elevated in the cells transfected with CYP11A1-carrying adenoviruses. Additionally, the offspring of CYP11A1-overexpressing dams displayed dysregulated GABAA receptor expression. Taken together, these results suggest that abnormal CYP11A1 gene expression in pregnant rats could lead to microglial immune activation and dysregulated GABAA receptor expression in their offspring and thereby anxiety and autism-related behavior. Our study suggests that the pathways regulated by CYP11A1 could be promising preventative and therapeutic targets for ASD.

Intracrine Regulation of Estrogen and Other Sex Steroid Levels in Endometrium and Non-gynecological Tissues; Pathology, Physiology, and Drug Discovery

Our understanding of the intracrine (or local) regulation of estrogen and other steroid synthesis and degradation expanded in the last decades, also thanks to recent technological advances in chromatography mass-spectrometry. Estrogen responsive tissues and organs are not passive receivers of the pool of steroids present in the blood but they can actively modify the intra-tissue steroid concentrations. This allows fine-tuning the exposure of responsive tissues and organs to estrogens and other steroids in order to best respond to the physiological needs of each specific organ. Deviations in such intracrine control can lead to unbalanced steroid hormone exposure and disturbances. Through a systematic bibliographic search on the expression of the intracrine enzymes in various tissues, this review gives an up-to-date view of the intracrine estrogen metabolisms, and to a lesser extent that of progestogens and androgens, in the lower female genital tract, including the physiological control of endometrial functions, receptivity, menopausal status and related pathological conditions. An overview of the intracrine regulation in extra gynecological tissues such as the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, brain, colon and bone is given. Current therapeutic approaches aimed at interfering with these metabolisms and future perspectives are discussed.