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Nezamuldeen L, Jafri MS. Boolean Modeling of Biological Network Applied to Protein-Protein Interaction Network of Autism Patients. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:606. [PMID: 39194544 DOI: 10.3390/biology13080606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Cellular molecules interact with one another in a structured manner, defining a regulatory network topology that describes cellular mechanisms. Genetic mutations alter these networks' pathways, generating complex disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Boolean models have assisted in understanding biological system dynamics since Kauffman's 1969 discovery, and various analytical tools for regulatory networks have been developed. This study examined the protein-protein interaction network created in our previous publication of four ASD patients using the SPIDDOR R package, a Boolean model-based method. The aim is to examine how patients' genetic variations in INTS6L, USP9X, RSK4, FGF5, FLNA, SUMF1, and IDS affect mTOR and Wnt cell signaling convergence. The Boolean network analysis revealed abnormal activation levels of essential proteins such as β-catenin, MTORC1, RPS6, eIF4E, Cadherin, and SMAD. These proteins affect gene expression, translation, cell adhesion, shape, and migration. Patients 1 and 2 showed consistent patterns of increased β-catenin activity and decreased MTORC1, RPS6, and eIF4E activity. However, patient 2 had an independent decrease in Cadherin and SMAD activity due to the FLNA mutation. Patients 3 and 4 have an abnormal activation of the mTOR pathway, which includes the MTORC1, RPS6, and eIF4E genes. The shared mTOR pathway behavior in these patients is explained by a shared mutation in two closely related proteins (SUMF1 and IDS). Diverse activities in β-catenin, MTORC1, RPS6, eIF4E, Cadherin, and SMAD contributed to the reported phenotype in these individuals. Furthermore, it unveiled the potential therapeutic options that could be suggested to these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Nezamuldeen
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohsin Saleet Jafri
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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2
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Priya, Yadav N, Anand S, Banerjee J, Tripathi M, Chandra PS, Dixit AB. The multifaceted role of Wnt canonical signalling in neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, and hyperexcitability in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Neuropharmacology 2024; 251:109942. [PMID: 38570066 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109942] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterised by unprovoked, repetitive seizures caused by abnormal neuronal firing. The Wnt/β-Catenin signalling pathway is involved in seizure-induced neurogenesis, aberrant neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, and hyperexcitability associated with epileptic disorder. Wnt/β-Catenin signalling is crucial for early brain development processes including neuronal patterning, synapse formation, and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) regulation. Disruption of molecular networks such as Wnt/β-catenin signalling in epilepsy could offer encouraging anti-epileptogenic targets. So, with a better understanding of the canonical Wnt/-Catenin pathway, we highlight in this review the important elements of Wnt/-Catenin signalling specifically in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (MTLE) for potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya
- Dr. B.R Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Nitin Yadav
- Dr. B.R Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Sneha Anand
- Dr. B.R Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Jyotirmoy Banerjee
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Manjari Tripathi
- Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - P Sarat Chandra
- Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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3
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Gao J, Lu Y, Luo Y, Duan X, Chen P, Zhang X, Wu X, Qiu M, Shen W. β-Catenin and SOX2 Interaction Regulate Visual Experience-Dependent Cell Homeostasis in the Developing Xenopus Thalamus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13593. [PMID: 37686400 PMCID: PMC10488257 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In the vertebrate brain, sensory experience plays a crucial role in shaping thalamocortical connections for visual processing. However, it is still not clear how visual experience influences tissue homeostasis and neurogenesis in the developing thalamus. Here, we reported that the majority of SOX2-positive cells in the thalamus are differentiated neurons that receive visual inputs as early as stage 47 Xenopus. Visual deprivation (VD) for 2 days shifts the neurogenic balance toward proliferation at the expense of differentiation, which is accompanied by a reduction in nuclear-accumulated β-catenin in SOX2-positive neurons. The knockdown of β-catenin decreases the expression of SOX2 and increases the number of progenitor cells. Coimmunoprecipitation studies reveal the evolutionary conservation of strong interactions between β-catenin and SOX2. These findings indicate that β-catenin interacts with SOX2 to maintain homeostatic neurogenesis during thalamus development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanmei Gao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
- College of Life and Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yufang Lu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Yuhao Luo
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Xinyi Duan
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Peiyao Chen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Xiaohua Wu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Mengsheng Qiu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
- College of Life and Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wanhua Shen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
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4
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Qureshi HM, Mekbib KY, Allington G, Elsamadicy AA, Duy PQ, Kundishora AJ, Jin SC, Kahle KT. Familial and syndromic forms of arachnoid cyst implicate genetic factors in disease pathogenesis. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:3012-3025. [PMID: 35851401 PMCID: PMC10388392 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac257] [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: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Arachnoid cysts (ACs) are the most common space-occupying lesions in the human brain and present significant challenges for clinical management. While most cases of ACs are sporadic, nearly 40 familial forms have been reported. Moreover, ACs are seen with increased frequency in multiple Mendelian syndromes, including Chudley-McCullough syndrome, acrocallosal syndrome, and autosomal recessive primary ciliary dyskinesia. These findings suggest that genetic factors contribute to AC pathogenesis. However, traditional linkage and segregation approaches have been limited in their ability to identify causative genes for ACs because the disease is genetically heterogeneous and often presents asymptomatically and sporadically. Here, we comprehensively review theories of AC pathogenesis, the genetic evidence for AC formation, and discuss a different approach to AC genomics that could help elucidate this perplexing lesion and shed light on the associated neurodevelopmental phenotypes seen in a significant subset of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanya M Qureshi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Kedous Y Mekbib
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Garrett Allington
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Aladine A Elsamadicy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Phan Q Duy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Adam J Kundishora
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Sheng Chih Jin
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Kristopher T Kahle
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, United States
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5
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Ryner RF, Derera ID, Armbruster M, Kansara A, Sommer ME, Pirone A, Noubary F, Jacob M, Dulla CG. Cortical Parvalbumin-Positive Interneuron Development and Function Are Altered in the APC Conditional Knockout Mouse Model of Infantile and Epileptic Spasms Syndrome. J Neurosci 2023; 43:1422-1440. [PMID: 36717229 PMCID: PMC9987578 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0572-22.2022] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Infantile and epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) is a childhood epilepsy syndrome characterized by infantile or late-onset spasms, abnormal neonatal EEG, and epilepsy. Few treatments exist for IESS, clinical outcomes are poor, and the molecular and circuit-level etiologies of IESS are not well understood. Multiple human IESS risk genes are linked to Wnt/β-catenin signaling, a pathway that controls developmental transcriptional programs and promotes glutamatergic excitation via β-catenin's role as a synaptic scaffold. We previously showed that deleting adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), a component of the β-catenin destruction complex, in excitatory neurons (APC cKO mice, APCfl/fl x CaMKIIαCre) increased β-catenin levels in developing glutamatergic neurons and led to infantile behavioral spasms, abnormal neonatal EEG, and adult epilepsy. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the development of GABAergic interneurons (INs) is disrupted in APC cKO male and female mice. IN dysfunction is implicated in human IESS, is a feature of other rodent models of IESS, and may contribute to the manifestation of spasms and seizures. We found that parvalbumin-positive INs (PV+ INs), an important source of cortical inhibition, were decreased in number, underwent disproportionate developmental apoptosis, and had altered dendrite morphology at P9, the peak of behavioral spasms. PV+ INs received excessive excitatory input, and their intrinsic ability to fire action potentials was reduced at all time points examined (P9, P14, P60). Subsequently, GABAergic transmission onto pyramidal neurons was uniquely altered in the somatosensory cortex of APC cKO mice at all ages, with both decreased IPSC input at P14 and enhanced IPSC input at P9 and P60. These results indicate that inhibitory circuit dysfunction occurs in APC cKOs and, along with known changes in excitation, may contribute to IESS-related phenotypes.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Infantile and epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) is a devastating epilepsy with limited treatment options and poor clinical outcomes. The molecular, cellular, and circuit disruptions that cause infantile spasms and seizures are largely unknown, but inhibitory GABAergic interneuron dysfunction has been implicated in rodent models of IESS and may contribute to human IESS. Here, we use a rodent model of IESS, the APC cKO mouse, in which β-catenin signaling is increased in excitatory neurons. This results in altered parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneuron development and GABAergic synaptic dysfunction throughout life, showing that pathology arising in excitatory neurons can initiate long-term interneuron dysfunction. Our findings further implicate GABAergic dysfunction in IESS, even when pathology is initiated in other neuronal types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael F Ryner
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
- Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
| | - Isabel D Derera
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
| | - Moritz Armbruster
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
| | - Anar Kansara
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
| | - Mary E Sommer
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
| | - Antonella Pirone
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
| | - Farzad Noubary
- Department of Health Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Michele Jacob
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
| | - Chris G Dulla
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
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6
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Caracci MO, Avila ME, Espinoza-Cavieres FA, López HR, Ugarte GD, De Ferrari GV. Wnt/β-Catenin-Dependent Transcription in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:764756. [PMID: 34858139 PMCID: PMC8632544 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.764756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by synaptic dysfunction and defects in dendritic spine morphology. In the past decade, an extensive list of genes associated with ASD has been identified by genome-wide sequencing initiatives. Several of these genes functionally converge in the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, a conserved cascade essential for stem cell pluripotency and cell fate decisions during development. Here, we review current information regarding the transcriptional program of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in ASD. First, we discuss that Wnt/β-catenin gain and loss of function studies recapitulate brain developmental abnormalities associated with ASD. Second, transcriptomic approaches using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) cells, featuring mutations in high confidence ASD genes, reveal a significant dysregulation in the expression of Wnt signaling components. Finally, we focus on the activity of chromatin-remodeling proteins and transcription factors considered high confidence ASD genes, including CHD8, ARID1B, ADNP, and TBR1, that regulate Wnt/β-catenin-dependent transcriptional activity in multiple cell types, including pyramidal neurons, interneurons and oligodendrocytes, cells which are becoming increasingly relevant in the study of ASD. We conclude that the level of Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation could explain the high phenotypical heterogeneity of ASD and be instrumental in the development of new diagnostics tools and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario O. Caracci
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel E. Avila
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Agronomy, Nucleus of Applied Research in Veterinary and Agronomic Sciences (NIAVA), Institute of Natural Sciences, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisca A. Espinoza-Cavieres
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Héctor R. López
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Giorgia D. Ugarte
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Giancarlo V. De Ferrari
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
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7
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Zhan FX, Wang SG, Cao L. Advances in hyperekplexia and other startle syndromes. Neurol Sci 2021; 42:4095-4107. [PMID: 34379238 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05493-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Startle, a basic alerting reaction common to all mammals, is described as a sudden involuntary movement of the body evoked by all kinds of sudden and unexpected stimulus. Startle syndromes are heterogeneous groups of disorders with abnormal and exaggerated responses to startling events, including hyperekplexia, stimulus-induced disorders, and neuropsychiatric startle syndromes. Hyperekplexia can be attributed to a genetic, idiopathic, or symptomatic cause. Excluding secondary factors, hereditary hyperekplexia, a rare neurogenetic disorder with highly genetic heterogeneity, is characterized by neonatal hypertonia, exaggerated startle response provoked by the sudden external stimuli, and followed by a short period of general stiffness. It mainly arises from defects of inhibitory glycinergic neurotransmission. GLRA1 is the major pathogenic gene of hereditary hyperekplexia, along with many other genes involved in the function of glycinergic inhibitory synapses. While about 40% of patients remain negative genetic findings. Clonazepam, which can specifically upgrade the GABARA1 chloride channels, is the main and most effective administration for hereditary hyperekplexia patients. In this review, with the aim at enhancing the recognition and prompting potential treatment for hyperekplexia, we focused on discussing the advances in hereditary hyperekplexia genetics and the expound progress in pathogenic mechanisms of the glycinergic-synapse-related pathway and then followed by a brief overview of other common startle syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Xia Zhan
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yi Shan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Shi-Ge Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yi Shan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Li Cao
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yi Shan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China.
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8
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Martínez M, Inestrosa NC. The transcriptional landscape of Alzheimer's disease and its association with Wnt signaling pathway. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 128:454-466. [PMID: 34224789 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological disorder primarily affecting the elderly. The disease manifests as progressive deterioration in cognitive functions, leading to a loss of autonomy. The identification of transcriptional changes in susceptible signaling pathways has provided clues to the origin and progression of AD and has pinpointed synapse loss as the prominent event in early stages of the disease. Synapse failure represents a key pathological correlate of cognitive decline in patients. Genetics and transcriptomics studies have also identified novel genes, processes, and pathways associated with AD. This evidence suggests that a deficiency in Wnt signaling pathway contributes to AD pathogenesis by inducing synaptic dysfunction and neuronal degeneration. In the adult nervous system, Wnt signaling plays a crucial role in synaptic physiology, modulating the synaptic vesicle cycle, trafficking neurotransmitter receptors, and modulating the expression of different genes associated with these processes. In this review, we describe the general transcriptional landscape associated with AD, specifically transcriptional changes associated with the Wnt signaling pathway and their effects in the context of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milka Martínez
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE UC), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nibaldo C Inestrosa
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE UC), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile.
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9
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The Wnt/ β-Catenin Pathway Regulated Cytokines for Pathological Neuropathic Pain in Chronic Compression of Dorsal Root Ganglion Model. Neural Plast 2021; 2021:6680192. [PMID: 33959159 PMCID: PMC8075704 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6680192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is one of the important challenges in the clinic. Although a lot of research has been done on neuropathic pain (NP), the molecular mechanism is still elusive. We aimed to investigate whether the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was involved in NP caused by sustaining dorsal root ganglion (DRG) compression with the chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion model (CCD). Our RNA sequencing results showed that several genes related to the Wnt pathway have changed in DRG and spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) after CCD surgery. Therefore, we detected the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in DRG and SCDH and found active β-catenin significantly upregulated in DRG and SCDH 1 day after CCD surgery and peaked on days 7-14. Immunofluorescence results also confirmed nuclear translocalization of active β-catenin in DRG and SCDH. Additionally, rats had obvious mechanical induced pain after CCD surgery and the pain was significantly alleviated after the application of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor XAV939. Furthermore, we found that the levels of proinflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were significantly elevated in CCD rat serum, while the levels of them were correspondingly decreased after the Wnt/β-catenin pathway being inhibited. The results of Spearman correlation coefficient analysis showed that the levels of TNF-α and IL-18 were negatively correlated with the mechanical withdrawal thresholds (MWT) after CCD surgery. Collectively, our findings suggest that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of NP and may be an effective target for the treatment of NP.
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10
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Inestrosa NC, Tapia-Rojas C, Cerpa W, Cisternas P, Zolezzi JM. WNT Signaling Is a Key Player in Alzheimer's Disease. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 269:357-382. [PMID: 34486097 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The cellular processes regulated by WNT signaling have been mainly studied during embryonic development and cancer. In the last two decades, the role of WNT in the adult central nervous system has been the focus of interest in our laboratory. In this chapter, we will be summarized β-catenin-dependent and -independent WNT pathways, then we will be revised WNT signaling function at the pre- and post-synaptic level. Concerning Alzheimer's disease (AD) initially, we found that WNT/β-catenin signaling activation exerts a neuroprotective mechanism against the amyloid β (Αβ) peptide toxicity. Later, we found that WNT/β-catenin participates in Tau phosphorylation and in learning and memory. In the last years, we demonstrated that WNT/β-catenin signaling is instrumental in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and that WNT/β-catenin dysfunction results in Aβ production and aggregation. We highlight the importance of WNT/β-catenin signaling dysfunction in the onset of AD and propose that the loss of WNT/β-catenin signaling is a triggering factor of AD. The WNT pathway is therefore positioned as a therapeutic target for AD and could be a valid concept for improving AD therapy. We think that metabolism and inflammation will be relevant when defining future research in the context of WNT signaling and the neurodegeneration associated with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nibaldo C Inestrosa
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE UC), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. .,Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile.
| | - Cheril Tapia-Rojas
- Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad de San Sebastián, Sede Los Leones, Santiago, Chile
| | - Waldo Cerpa
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE UC), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Pedro Cisternas
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE UC), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de O´Higgins, Rancagua, Chile
| | - Juan M Zolezzi
- Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile
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11
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Lipiec MA, Bem J, Koziński K, Chakraborty C, Urban-Ciećko J, Zajkowski T, Dąbrowski M, Szewczyk ŁM, Toval A, Ferran JL, Nagalski A, Wiśniewska MB. TCF7L2 regulates postmitotic differentiation programmes and excitability patterns in the thalamus. Development 2020; 147:dev.190181. [PMID: 32675279 PMCID: PMC7473649 DOI: 10.1242/dev.190181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal phenotypes are controlled by terminal selector transcription factors in invertebrates, but only a few examples of such regulators have been provided in vertebrates. We hypothesised that TCF7L2 regulates different stages of postmitotic differentiation in the thalamus, and functions as a thalamic terminal selector. To investigate this hypothesis, we used complete and conditional knockouts of Tcf7l2 in mice. The connectivity and clustering of neurons were disrupted in the thalamo-habenular region in Tcf7l2-/- embryos. The expression of subregional thalamic and habenular transcription factors was lost and region-specific cell migration and axon guidance genes were downregulated. In mice with a postnatal Tcf7l2 knockout, the induction of genes that confer thalamic terminal electrophysiological features was impaired. Many of these genes proved to be direct targets of TCF7L2. The role of TCF7L2 in terminal selection was functionally confirmed by impaired firing modes in thalamic neurons in the mutant mice. These data corroborate the existence of master regulators in the vertebrate brain that control stage-specific genetic programmes and regional subroutines, maintain regional transcriptional network during embryonic development, and induce terminal selection postnatally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Andrzej Lipiec
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.,Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Bem
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamil Koziński
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Chaitali Chakraborty
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Tomasz Zajkowski
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Dąbrowski
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Pasteur 3, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Angel Toval
- Department of Human Anatomy and Psychobiology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia and IMIB-Arrixaca Institute, Campus de la Salud, 30120 El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - José Luis Ferran
- Department of Human Anatomy and Psychobiology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia and IMIB-Arrixaca Institute, Campus de la Salud, 30120 El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Andrzej Nagalski
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
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12
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Deng ZF, Zheng HL, Chen JG, Luo Y, Xu JF, Zhao G, Lu JJ, Li HH, Gao SQ, Zhang DZ, Zhu LQ, Zhang YH, Wang F. miR-214-3p Targets β-Catenin to Regulate Depressive-like Behaviors Induced by Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Mice. Cereb Cortex 2020. [PMID: 29522177 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
β-Catenin has been implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD), which is associated with synaptic plasticity and dendritic arborization. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small noncoding RNAs containing about 22 nucleotides and involved in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological process, but their roles in MDD remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the expression and function of miRNAs in the mouse model of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS). The regulation of β-catenin by selected miRNA was validated by silico prediction, target gene luciferase reporter assay, and transfection experiment in neurons. We demonstrated that the levels of miR-214-3p, which targets β-catenin transcripts were significantly increased in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of CSDS mice. Antagomir-214-3p, a neutralizing inhibitor of miR-214-3p, increased the levels of β-catenin and reversed the depressive-like behavior in CSDS mice. Meanwhile, antagomir-214-3p increased the amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) and the number of dendritic spines in mPFC of CSDS mice, which may be related to the elevated expression of cldn1. Furthermore, intranasal administered antagomir-214-3p also significantly increased the level of β-catenin and reversed the depressive-like behaviors in CSDS mice. These results may represent a new therapeutic target for MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Fang Deng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui-Ling Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian-Guo Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.,The Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, China.,The Collaborative-Innovation Center for Brain Science, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun-Feng Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Pancreatic Disease Institute, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia-Jing Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hou-Hong Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuang-Qi Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Deng-Zheng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling-Qiang Zhu
- The Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong-Hui Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.,The Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, China.,The Collaborative-Innovation Center for Brain Science, Wuhan, China
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13
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Alexander JM, Pirone A, Jacob MH. Excessive β-Catenin in Excitatory Neurons Results in Reduced Social and Increased Repetitive Behaviors and Altered Expression of Multiple Genes Linked to Human Autism. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2020; 12:14. [PMID: 32296324 PMCID: PMC7136516 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2020.00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple human autism risk genes are predicted to converge on the β-catenin (β-cat)/Wnt pathway. However, direct tests to link β-cat up- or down-regulation with autism are largely lacking, and the associated pathophysiological changes are poorly defined. Here we identify excessive β-cat as a risk factor that causes expression changes in several genes relevant to human autism. Our studies utilize mouse lines with β-cat dysregulation in forebrain excitatory neurons, identified as cell types with a convergent expression of autism-linked genes in both human and mouse brains. We show that mice expressing excessive β-cat display behavioral and molecular changes, including decreased social interest, increased repetitive behaviors, reduced parvalbumin and altered expression levels of additional genes identified as potential risk factors for human autism. These behavioral and molecular phenotypes are averted by reducing β-cat in neurons predisposed by gene mutations to express elevated β-cat. Using next-generation sequencing of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), we identify 87 dysregulated genes that are shared between mouse lines with excessive β-cat and autism-like behaviors, but not mouse lines with reduced β-cat and normal social behavior. Our findings provide critical new insights into β-cat, Wnt pathway dysregulation in the brain causing behavioral phenotypes relevant to the disease and the molecular etiology which includes several human autism risk genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Michael Alexander
- Department of Neuroscience, Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Antonella Pirone
- Department of Neuroscience, Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Michele H Jacob
- Department of Neuroscience, Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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14
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Martinez M, Torres VI, Vio CP, Inestrosa NC. Canonical Wnt Signaling Modulates the Expression of Pre- and Postsynaptic Components in Different Temporal Patterns. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 57:1389-1404. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01785-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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15
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Cook IA, Congdon E, Krantz DE, Hunter AM, Coppola G, Hamilton SP, Leuchter AF. Time Course of Changes in Peripheral Blood Gene Expression During Medication Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder. Front Genet 2019; 10:870. [PMID: 31620172 PMCID: PMC6760033 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in gene expression (GE) during antidepressant treatment may increase understanding of the action of antidepressant medications and serve as biomarkers of efficacy. GE changes in peripheral blood are desirable because they can be assessed easily on multiple occasions during treatment. We report here on GE changes in 68 individuals who were treated for 8 weeks with either escitalopram alone, or escitalopram followed by bupropion. GE changes were assessed after 1, 2, and 8 weeks of treatment, with significant changes observed in 156, 121, and 585 peripheral blood gene transcripts, respectively. Thirty-one transcript changes were shared between the 1- and 8-week time points (seven upregulated, 24 downregulated). Differences were detected between the escitalopram- and bupropion-treated subjects, although there was no significant association between GE changes and clinical outcome. A subset of 18 genes overlapped with those previously identified as differentially expressed in subjects with MDD compared with healthy control subjects. There was statistically significant overlap between genes differentially expressed in the current and previous studies, with 10 genes overlapping in at least two previous studies. There was no enrichment for genes overexpressed in nervous system cell types, but there was a trend toward enrichment for genes in the WNT/β-catenin pathway in the anterior thalamus; three genes in this pathway showed differential expression in the present and in three previous studies. Our dataset and other similar studies will provide an important source of information about potential biomarkers of recovery and for potential dysregulation of GE in MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Cook
- Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering at Applied Science, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Eliza Congdon
- Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - David E Krantz
- Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Aimee M Hunter
- Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Steven P Hamilton
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Andrew F Leuchter
- Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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16
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Bem J, Brożko N, Chakraborty C, Lipiec MA, Koziński K, Nagalski A, Szewczyk ŁM, Wiśniewska MB. Wnt/β-catenin signaling in brain development and mental disorders: keeping TCF7L2 in mind. FEBS Lett 2019; 593:1654-1674. [PMID: 31218672 PMCID: PMC6772062 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Canonical Wnt signaling, which is transduced by β-catenin and lymphoid enhancer factor 1/T cell-specific transcription factors (LEF1/TCFs), regulates many aspects of metazoan development and tissue renewal. Although much evidence has associated canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling with mood disorders, the mechanistic links are still unknown. Many components of the canonical Wnt pathway are involved in cellular processes that are unrelated to classical canonical Wnt signaling, thus further blurring the picture. The present review critically evaluates the involvement of classical Wnt/β-catenin signaling in developmental processes that putatively underlie the pathology of mental illnesses. Particular attention is given to the roles of LEF1/TCFs, which have been discussed surprisingly rarely in this context. Highlighting recent discoveries, we propose that alterations in the activity of LEF1/TCFs, and particularly of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), result in defects previously associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, including imbalances in neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis, the functional disruption of thalamocortical circuitry and dysfunction of the habenula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Bem
- Centre of New TechnologiesUniversity of WarsawPoland
| | - Nikola Brożko
- Centre of New TechnologiesUniversity of WarsawPoland
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17
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Bem J, Brożko N, Chakraborty C, Lipiec MA, Koziński K, Nagalski A, Szewczyk ŁM, Wiśniewska MB. Wnt/β-catenin signaling in brain development and mental disorders: keeping TCF7L2 in mind. FEBS Lett 2019. [PMID: 31218672 DOI: 10.1002/1873−3468.13502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Canonical Wnt signaling, which is transduced by β-catenin and lymphoid enhancer factor 1/T cell-specific transcription factors (LEF1/TCFs), regulates many aspects of metazoan development and tissue renewal. Although much evidence has associated canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling with mood disorders, the mechanistic links are still unknown. Many components of the canonical Wnt pathway are involved in cellular processes that are unrelated to classical canonical Wnt signaling, thus further blurring the picture. The present review critically evaluates the involvement of classical Wnt/β-catenin signaling in developmental processes that putatively underlie the pathology of mental illnesses. Particular attention is given to the roles of LEF1/TCFs, which have been discussed surprisingly rarely in this context. Highlighting recent discoveries, we propose that alterations in the activity of LEF1/TCFs, and particularly of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), result in defects previously associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, including imbalances in neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis, the functional disruption of thalamocortical circuitry and dysfunction of the habenula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Bem
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nikola Brożko
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Kamil Koziński
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Poland
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18
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Wnt Signaling Pathways Are Dysregulated in Rat Female Cerebellum Following Early Methyl Donor Deficiency. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:892-906. [PMID: 29804229 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1128-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Gestational methyl donor (especially B9 and B12 vitamins) deficiency is involved in birth defects and brain development retardation. The underlying molecular mechanisms that are dysregulated still remain poorly understood, in particular in the cerebellum. As evidenced from previous data, females are more affected than males. In this study, we therefore took advantage of a validated rat nutritional model and performed a microarray analysis on female progeny cerebellum, in order to identify which genes and molecular pathways were disrupted in response to methyl donor deficiency. We found that cerebellum development is altered in female pups, with a decrease of the granular cell layer thickness at postnatal day 21. Furthermore, we investigated the involvement of the Wnt signaling pathway, a major molecular pathway involved in neuronal development and later on in synaptic assembly and neurotransmission processes. We found that Wnt canonical pathway was disrupted following early methyl donor deficiency and that neuronal targets were selectively enriched in the downregulated genes. These results could explain the structural brain defects previously observed and highlighted new genes and a new molecular pathway affected by nutritional methyl donor deprivation.
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19
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Blum W, Pecze L, Rodriguez JW, Steinauer M, Schwaller B. Regulation of calretinin in malignant mesothelioma is mediated by septin 7 binding to the CALB2 promoter. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:475. [PMID: 29699512 PMCID: PMC5922012 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4385-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The calcium-binding protein calretinin (gene name: CALB2) is currently considered as the most sensitive and specific marker for the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma (MM). MM is a very aggressive tumor strongly linked to asbestos exposure and with no existing cure so far. The mechanisms of calretinin regulation, as well as its distinct function in MM are still poorly understood. Methods We searched for transcription factors binding to the CALB2 promoter and modulating calretinin expression. For this, DNA-binding assays followed by peptide shotgun-mass spectroscopy analyses were used. CALB2 promoter activity was assessed by dual-luciferase reporter assays. Furthermore, we analyzed the effects of CALB2 promoter-binding proteins by lentiviral-mediated overexpression or down-regulation of identified proteins in MM cells. The modulation of expression of such proteins by butyrate was determined by subsequent Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis of embryonic mouse lung tissue served to verify the simultaneous co-expression of calretinin and proteins interacting with the CALB2 promoter during early development. Finally, direct interactions of calretinin with target proteins were evidenced by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Results Septin 7 was identified as a butyrate-dependent transcription factor binding to a CALB2 promoter region containing butyrate-responsive elements (BRE) resulting in decreased calretinin expression. Accordingly, septin 7 overexpression decreased calretinin expression levels in MM cells. The regulation was found to operate bi-directionally, i.e. calretinin overexpression also decreased septin 7 levels. During murine embryonic development calretinin and septin 7 were found to be co-expressed in embryonic mesenchyme and undifferentiated mesothelial cells. In MM cells, calretinin and septin 7 colocalized during cytokinesis in distinct regions of the cleavage furrow and in the midbody region of mitotic cells. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed this co-localization to be the result of a direct interaction between calretinin and septin 7. Conclusions Our results demonstrate septin 7 not only serving as a “cytoskeletal” protein, but also as a transcription factor repressing calretinin expression. The negative regulation of calretinin by septin 7 and vice versa sheds new light on mechanisms possibly implicated in MM formation and identifies these proteins as transcriptional regulators and putative targets for MM therapy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4385-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Blum
- Anatomy, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Route Albert-Gockel 1, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - László Pecze
- Anatomy, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Route Albert-Gockel 1, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Martine Steinauer
- Anatomy, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Route Albert-Gockel 1, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Beat Schwaller
- Anatomy, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Route Albert-Gockel 1, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
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20
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Wnt/β-catenin signaling stimulates the expression and synaptic clustering of the autism-associated Neuroligin 3 gene. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:45. [PMID: 29503438 PMCID: PMC5835496 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0093-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic abnormalities have been described in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The cell-adhesion molecule Neuroligin-3 (Nlgn3) has an essential role in the function and maturation of synapses and NLGN3 ASD-associated mutations disrupt hippocampal and cortical function. Here we show that Wnt/β-catenin signaling increases Nlgn3 mRNA and protein levels in HT22 mouse hippocampal cells and primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons. We characterized the activity of mouse and rat Nlgn3 promoter constructs containing conserved putative T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancing factor (TCF/LEF)-binding elements (TBE) and found that their activity is significantly augmented in Wnt/β-catenin cell reporter assays. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays and site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that endogenous β-catenin binds to novel TBE consensus sequences in the Nlgn3 promoter. Moreover, activation of the signaling cascade increased Nlgn3 clustering and co- localization with the scaffold PSD-95 protein in dendritic processes of primary neurons. Our results directly link Wnt/β-catenin signaling to the transcription of the Nlgn3 gene and support a functional role for the signaling pathway in the dysregulation of excitatory/inhibitory neuronal activity, as is observed in animal models of ASD.
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21
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Oliva CA, Montecinos-Oliva C, Inestrosa NC. Wnt Signaling in the Central Nervous System: New Insights in Health and Disease. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2018; 153:81-130. [PMID: 29389523 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Since its discovery, Wnt signaling has been shown to be one of the most crucial morphogens in development and during the maturation of central nervous system. Its action is relevant during the establishment and maintenance of synaptic structure and neuronal function. In this chapter, we will discuss the most recent evidence on these aspects, and we will explore the evidence that involves Wnt signaling on other less known functions, such as in adult neurogenesis, in the generation of oscillatory neural rhythms, and in adult behavior. The dysfunction of Wnt signaling at different levels will be also discussed, in particular in those aspects that have been found to be linked with several neurodegenerative diseases and neurological disorders. Finally, we will address the possibility of Wnt signaling manipulation to treat those pathophysiological aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina A Oliva
- Center for Aging and Regeneration (CARE-UC), Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carla Montecinos-Oliva
- Center for Aging and Regeneration (CARE-UC), Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Nibaldo C Inestrosa
- Center for Aging and Regeneration (CARE-UC), Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Center for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Center of Excellence in Biomedicine of Magallanes (CEBIMA), University of Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile.
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22
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Lee BD, Gonzalez S, Villa E, Camarillo C, Rodriguez M, Yao Y, Guo W, Flores D, Jerez A, Raventos H, Ontiveros A, Nicolini H, Escamilla M. A genome-wide quantitative trait locus (QTL) linkage scan of NEO personality factors in Latino families segregating bipolar disorder. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2017; 174:683-690. [PMID: 28556497 PMCID: PMC5597458 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Personality traits have been suggested as potential endophenotypes for Bipolar Disorder (BP), as they can be quantitatively measured and show correlations with BP. The present study utilized data from 2,745 individuals from 686 extended pedigrees originally ascertained for having multiplex cases of BP (963 cases of BPI or schizoaffective BP). Subjects were assessed with the NEO Personality Inventory, Revised (NEO PI-R) and genotyped using the Illumina HumanLinkage-24 Bead Chip, with an average genetic coverage of 0.67 cM. Two point linkage scores were calculated for each trait as a quantitative variable using SOLAR (Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines). Suggestive evidence for linkage was found for neuroticism at 1q32.1 (LOD = 2.52), 6q23.3 (2.32), 16p12 (2.79), extraversion at 4p15.3 (2.33), agreeableness at 4q31.1 (2.37), 5q34 (2.80), 7q31.1 (2.56), 16q22 (2.52), and conscientiousness at 4q31.1 (2.50). Each of the above traits have been shown to be correlated with the broad BP phenotype in this same sample. In addition, for the trait of openness, we found significant evidence of linkage to chromosome 3p24.3 (rs336610, LOD = 4.75) and suggestive evidence at 1q43 (2.74), 5q35.1 (3.03), 11q14.3 (2.61), 11q21 (2.30), and 19q13.1 (2.52). These findings support previous linkage findings of the openness trait to chromosome 19q13 and the agreeableness trait to 4q31 and identify a number of new loci for personality endophenotypes related to bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung Dae Lee
- Center of Excellence for Neurosciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Suzanne Gonzalez
- Center of Excellence for Neurosciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas
| | - Erika Villa
- Center of Excellence for Neurosciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas
| | - Cynthia Camarillo
- Center of Excellence for Neurosciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas
| | - Marco Rodriguez
- Center of Excellence for Neurosciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas
| | - Yin Yao
- Unit on Statistical Genomics, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wei Guo
- Unit on Statistical Genomics, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Deborah Flores
- Los Angeles Biomedical Research Center at Harbor, University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance, California
| | - Alvaro Jerez
- Centro Internacional de Trastornos Afectivos y de la Conducta Adictiva, Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Henriette Raventos
- Centro de Investigacion en Biologia Celular y Molecular y Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Alfonso Ontiveros
- Instituto de Informacion e InvestigaciónenSalud Mental AC, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | - Humberto Nicolini
- Grupo de Estudios Medicos y Familiares Carracci, S.C., Mexico, D.F., Mexico,Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genomica, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | - Michael Escamilla
- Center of Excellence for Neurosciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas,Department of Psychiatry, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas,Correspondence to: Michael Escamilla, MD, Department of Psychiatry Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Texas Tech University Health Science Center 4800 Alberta El Paso, TX 79905, USA,
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23
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García-Velázquez L, Arias C. The emerging role of Wnt signaling dysregulation in the understanding and modification of age-associated diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2017. [PMID: 28624530 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Wnt signaling is a highly conserved pathway that participates in multiple aspects of cellular function during development and in adults. In particular, this pathway has been implicated in cell fate determination, proliferation and cell polarity establishment. In the brain, it contributes to synapse formation, axonal remodeling, dendrite outgrowth, synaptic activity, neurogenesis and behavioral plasticity. The expression and distribution of Wnt components in different organs vary with age, which may have important implications for preserving tissue homeostasis. The dysregulation of Wnt signaling has been implicated in age-associated diseases, such as cancer and some neurodegenerative conditions. This is a relevant research topic, as an important research avenue for therapeutic targeting of the Wnt pathway in regenerative medicine has recently been opened. In this review, we discuss the recent findings on the regulation of Wnt components during aging, particularly in brain functioning, and the implications of Wnt signaling in age-related diseases.
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Early Transcriptional Changes Induced by Wnt/ β-Catenin Signaling in Hippocampal Neurons. Neural Plast 2016; 2016:4672841. [PMID: 28116168 PMCID: PMC5223035 DOI: 10.1155/2016/4672841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling modulates brain development and function and its deregulation underlies pathological changes occurring in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. Since one of the main effects of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is the modulation of target genes, in the present work we examined global transcriptional changes induced by short-term Wnt3a treatment (4 h) in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons. RNAseq experiments allowed the identification of 170 differentially expressed genes, including known Wnt/β-catenin target genes such as Notum, Axin2, and Lef1, as well as novel potential candidates Fam84a, Stk32a, and Itga9. Main biological processes enriched with differentially expressed genes included neural precursor (GO:0061364, p-adjusted = 2.5 × 10−7), forebrain development (GO:0030900, p-adjusted = 7.3 × 10−7), and stem cell differentiation (GO:0048863 p-adjusted = 7.3 × 10−7). Likewise, following activation of the signaling cascade, the expression of a significant number of genes with transcription factor activity (GO:0043565, p-adjusted = 4.1 × 10−6) was induced. We also studied molecular networks enriched upon Wnt3a activation and detected three highly significant expression modules involved in glycerolipid metabolic process (GO:0046486, p-adjusted = 4.5 × 10−19), learning or memory (GO:0007611, p-adjusted = 4.0 × 10−5), and neurotransmitter secretion (GO:0007269, p-adjusted = 5.3 × 10−12). Our results indicate that Wnt/β-catenin mediated transcription controls multiple biological processes related to neuronal structure and activity that are affected in synaptic dysfunction disorders.
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Misztal K, Brozko N, Nagalski A, Szewczyk LM, Krolak M, Brzozowska K, Kuznicki J, Wisniewska MB. TCF7L2 mediates the cellular and behavioral response to chronic lithium treatment in animal models. Neuropharmacology 2016; 113:490-501. [PMID: 27793772 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism of lithium's therapeutic action remains obscure, hindering the discovery of safer treatments for bipolar disorder. Lithium can act as an inhibitor of the kinase GSK3α/β, which in turn negatively regulates β-catenin, a co-activator of LEF1/TCF transcription factors. However, unclear is whether therapeutic levels of lithium activate β-catenin in the brain, and whether this activation could have a therapeutic significance. To address this issue we chronically treated mice with lithium. Although the level of non-phospho-β-catenin increased in all of the brain areas examined, β-catenin translocated into cellular nuclei only in the thalamus. Similar results were obtained when thalamic and cortical neurons were treated with a therapeutically relevant concentration of lithium in vitro. We tested if TCF7L2, a member of LEF1/TCF family that is highly expressed in the thalamus, facilitated the activation of β-catenin. Silencing of Tcf7l2 in thalamic neurons prevented β-catenin from entering the nucleus, even when the cells were treated with lithium. Conversely, when Tcf7l2 was ectopically expressed in cortical neurons, β-catenin shifted to the nucleus, and lithium augmented this process. Lastly, we silenced tcf7l2 in zebrafish and exposed them to lithium for 3 days, to evaluate whether TCF7L2 is involved in the behavioral response. Lithium decreased the dark-induced activity of control zebrafish, whereas the activity of zebrafish with tcf7l2 knockdown was unaltered. We conclude that therapeutic levels of lithium activate β-catenin selectively in thalamic neurons. This effect is determined by the presence of TCF7L2, and potentially contributes to the therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Misztal
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nikola Brozko
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Warsaw, Poland; University of Warsaw, Centre of New Technologies, Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Poland; Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Nagalski
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Warsaw, Poland; University of Warsaw, Centre of New Technologies, Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Poland
| | - Lukasz M Szewczyk
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Warsaw, Poland; Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Krolak
- University of Warsaw, College of Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Brzozowska
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Warsaw, Poland; University of Warsaw, Centre of New Technologies, Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Poland; Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jacek Kuznicki
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta B Wisniewska
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Warsaw, Poland; University of Warsaw, Centre of New Technologies, Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Poland.
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Nagalski A, Kozinski K, Wisniewska MB. Metabolic pathways in the periphery and brain: Contribution to mental disorders? Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2016; 80:19-30. [PMID: 27644152 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2016.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The association between mental disorders and diabetes has a long history. Recent large-scale, well-controlled epidemiological studies confirmed a link between diabetes and psychiatric illnesses. The scope of this review is to summarize our current understanding of this relationship from a molecular perspective. We first discuss the potential contribution of diabetes-associated metabolic impairments to the etiology of mental conditions. Then, we focus on possible shared molecular risk factors and mechanisms. Simple comorbidity, shared susceptibility loci, and common pathophysiological processes in diabetes and mental illnesses have changed our traditional way of thinking about mental illness. We conclude that schizophrenia and affective disorders are not limited to an imbalance in dopaminergic and serotoninergic neurotransmission in the brain. They are also systemic disorders that can be considered, to some extent, as metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Nagalski
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamil Kozinski
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta B Wisniewska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.
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Fujiwara N, Cave JW. Partial Conservation between Mice and Humans in Olfactory Bulb Interneuron Transcription Factor Codes. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:337. [PMID: 27489533 PMCID: PMC4951497 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian main olfactory bulb (OB) has a large population of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons that contains several subtypes defined by the co-expression other neurotransmitters and calcium binding proteins. The three most commonly studied OB interneuron subtypes co-express either Calretinin, Calbindin, or Tyrosine hydroxylase (Th). Combinations of transcription factors used to specify the phenotype of progenitors are referred to as transcription factor codes, and the current understanding of transcription factor codes that specify OB inhibitory neuron phenotypes are largely based on studies in mice. The conservation of these transcription factor codes in the human OB, however, has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to establish whether transcription factor codes in OB interneurons are conserved between mice and humans. This study compared the co-expression of Foxp2, Meis2, Pax6, and Sp8 transcription factors with Calretinin, Calbindin, or Th in human and mouse OB interneurons. This analysis found strong conservation of Calretinin co-expression with Sp8 and Meis2 as well as Th co-expression with Pax6 and Meis2. This analysis also showed that selective Foxp2 co-expression with Calbindin was conserved between mice and humans, which suggests Foxp2 is a novel determinant of the OB Calbindin interneuron phenotype. Together, the findings in this study provide insight into the conservation of transcription codes for OB interneuron phenotypes between humans and mice, as well as reveal some important differences between the species. This advance in our understanding of transcription factor codes in OB interneurons provides an important complement to the codes that have been established for other regions within the mammalian central nervous system, such as the cortex and spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Fujiwara
- Burke Medical Research Institute White Plains, NY, USA
| | - John W Cave
- Burke Medical Research InstituteWhite Plains, NY, USA; The Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell MedicineNew York, NY, USA
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Nagalski A, Puelles L, Dabrowski M, Wegierski T, Kuznicki J, Wisniewska MB. Molecular anatomy of the thalamic complex and the underlying transcription factors. Brain Struct Funct 2016; 221:2493-510. [PMID: 25963709 PMCID: PMC4884203 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-015-1052-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Thalamocortical loops have been implicated in the control of higher-order cognitive functions, but advances in our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of neocortical organization have not been accompanied by similar analyses in the thalamus. Using expression-based correlation maps and the manual mapping of mouse and human datasets available in the Allen Brain Atlas, we identified a few individual regions and several sets of molecularly related nuclei that partially overlap with the classic grouping that is based on topographical localization and thalamocortical connections. These new molecular divisions of the adult thalamic complex are defined by the combinatorial expression of Tcf7l2, Lef1, Gbx2, Prox1, Pou4f1, Esrrg, and Six3 transcription factor genes. Further in silico and experimental analyses provided the evidence that TCF7L2 might be a pan-thalamic specifier. These results provide substantial insights into the "molecular logic" that underlies organization of the thalamic complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Nagalski
- Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, 02-109, Poland
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, 00-927, Poland
| | - Luis Puelles
- Department of Human Anatomy, University of Murcia and IMIB, Murcia, 30071, Spain
| | - Michal Dabrowski
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center of Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, 02-093, Poland
| | - Tomasz Wegierski
- Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, 02-109, Poland
| | - Jacek Kuznicki
- Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, 02-109, Poland
| | - Marta B Wisniewska
- Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, 02-109, Poland.
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, 00-927, Poland.
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Winczewska-Wiktor A, Badura-Stronka M, Monies-Nowicka A, Nowicki MM, Steinborn B, Latos-Bieleńska A, Monies D. A de novo CTNNB1 nonsense mutation associated with syndromic atypical hyperekplexia, microcephaly and intellectual disability: a case report. BMC Neurol 2016; 16:35. [PMID: 26968164 PMCID: PMC4788907 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-016-0554-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In addition to its role in cell adhesion and gene expression in the canonical Wingless/integrated Wnt signaling pathway, β-catenin also regulates genes that underlie the transmission of nerve impulses. Mutations of CTNNB1 (β-catenin) have recently been described in patients with a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders (intellectual disability, microcephaly and other syndromic features). We for the first time associate CTNNB1 mutation with hyperekplexia identifying it as an additional candidate for consideration in patients with startle syndrome. Case presentation We describe an 11 year old male Polish patient with a de novo nonsense mutation in CTNNB1 who in addition to the major features of CTNNB1-related syndrome including intellectual disability and microcephaly, exhibited hyperekplexia and apraxia of upward gaze. The patient became symptomatic at the age of 20 months exhibiting delayed speech and psychomotor development. Social and emotional development was normal but mild hyperactivity was noted. Episodic falls when startled by noise or touch were observed from the age of 8.5 years, progressively increasing but never with loss of consciousness. Targeted gene panel next generation sequencing (NGS) and patient-parents trio analysis revealed a heterozygous de novo nonsense mutation in exon 3 of CTNNB1 identifying a novel association of β-catenin with hyperekplexia. Conclusion We report for the first time a clear association of mutation in CTNNB1 with an atypical syndromic heperekplexia expanding the phenotype of CTNNB1-related syndrome. Consequently CTNNB1 should be added to the growing list of genes to be considered as a cause of startle disease or syndromic hyperekplexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Winczewska-Wiktor
- Chair and Department of Child Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Magdalena Badura-Stronka
- Chair and Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. Rokietnicka 8, 60-608, Poznań, Poland.
| | | | | | - Barbara Steinborn
- Chair and Department of Child Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Anna Latos-Bieleńska
- Chair and Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. Rokietnicka 8, 60-608, Poznań, Poland
| | - Dorota Monies
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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The Wnt effector transcription factor 7-like 2 positively regulates oligodendrocyte differentiation in a manner independent of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. J Neurosci 2015; 35:5007-22. [PMID: 25810530 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4787-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic or pharmacological activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibits oligodendrocyte differentiation. Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7l2), also known as TCF4, is a Wnt effector induced transiently in the oligodendroglial lineage. A well accepted dogma is that TCF7l2 inhibits oligodendrocyte differentiation through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. We report that TCF7l2 is upregulated transiently in postmitotic, newly differentiated oligodendrocytes. Using in vivo gene conditional ablation, we found surprisingly that TCF7l2 positively regulates neonatal and postnatal mouse oligodendrocyte differentiation during developmental myelination and remyelination in a manner independent of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We also reveal a novel role of TCF7l2 in repressing a bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway that is known to inhibit oligodendrocyte differentiation. Thus, our study provides novel data justifying therapeutic attempts to enhance, rather than inhibit, TCF7l2 signaling to overcome arrested oligodendroglial differentiation in multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases.
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Ge MM, Hu F, Lou ZY, Xue W, Yu H, Xu L, Liu ZH, Xu Y, Chen XT, Wang HL. Role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the protective effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate on lead-induced impairments of spine formation in the hippocampus of rats. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra00315f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) may significantly reverse Pb-related spine damage in developing rats by increasing the expression of Wnt7a and the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Meng Ge
- School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering
- Hefei University of Technology
- Hefei
- China
| | - Fan Hu
- School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering
- Hefei University of Technology
- Hefei
- China
| | - Zhi-Yi Lou
- School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering
- Hefei University of Technology
- Hefei
- China
| | - Weizhen Xue
- School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering
- Hefei University of Technology
- Hefei
- China
| | - Hang Yu
- School of Pharmacy
- Anhui Medical University
- Hefei
- China
| | - Li Xu
- School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering
- Hefei University of Technology
- Hefei
- China
| | - Zhi-Hua Liu
- School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering
- Hefei University of Technology
- Hefei
- China
| | - Yi Xu
- School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering
- Hefei University of Technology
- Hefei
- China
| | | | - Hui-Li Wang
- School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering
- Hefei University of Technology
- Hefei
- China
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Schwaller B. Calretinin: from a "simple" Ca(2+) buffer to a multifunctional protein implicated in many biological processes. Front Neuroanat 2014; 8:3. [PMID: 24550787 PMCID: PMC3913827 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2014.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The hexa-EF-hand Ca(2+)-binding protein calretinin (CR) is predominantly expressed in specific neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system. However, CR expression is also observed in non-neuronal cells, e.g., during embryonic development and in mesothelioma cells. Of the 6 EF-hand domains, 5 are functional; the first 4 domains form 2 pairs showing high cooperativity within a pair that results in non-linear modulation of intracellular Ca(2+) signals by CR. EF-hand domain 5 has a low affinity and represents the identified interaction site with CR-binding partners present in mouse cerebellar granule cells. CR binding to other targets including the pore-forming α1 subunit of the Ca(2+) channel Ca V 2.1, as well as to huntingtin indicates additional Ca(2+) sensor functions besides the well-known Ca(2+)-buffering functions. The absence of CR in cerebellar granule cells of CR(-/-) mice results in increased excitability and altered firing of Purkinje cells and promotes cerebellar 160-Hz oscillations impairing motor coordination. The putative role of CR in neuroprotection is still highly discussed. Altogether, CR emerges as a multi-functional protein also associated with development, i.e., cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beat Schwaller
- Anatomy, Department of Medicine, University of FribourgFribourg, Switzerland
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Oliva CA, Vargas JY, Inestrosa NC. Wnts in adult brain: from synaptic plasticity to cognitive deficiencies. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:224. [PMID: 24348327 PMCID: PMC3847898 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 11/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
During development of the central nervous system the Wnt signaling pathway has been implicated in a wide spectrum of physiological processes, including neuronal connectivity and synapse formation. Wnt proteins and components of the Wnt pathway are expressed in the brain since early development to the adult life, however, little is known about its role in mature synapses. Here, we review evidences indicating that Wnt proteins participate in the remodeling of pre- and post-synaptic regions, thus modulating synaptic function. We include the most recent data in the literature showing that Wnts are constantly released in the brain to maintain the basal neural activity. Also, we review the evidences that involve components of the Wnt pathway in the development of neurological and mental disorders, including a special emphasis on in vivo studies that relate behavioral abnormalities to deficiencies in Wnt signaling. Finally, we include the evidences that support a neuroprotective role of Wnt proteins in Alzheimer’s disease. We postulate that deregulation in Wnt signaling might have a fundamental role in the origin of neurological diseases, by altering the synaptic function at stages where the phenotype is not yet established but when the cognitive decline starts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina A Oliva
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago, Chile ; Departamento de Biologïa Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago, Chile
| | - Jessica Y Vargas
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago, Chile ; Departamento de Biologïa Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago, Chile
| | - Nibaldo C Inestrosa
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago, Chile ; Departamento de Biologïa Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago, Chile
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Astori S, Wimmer RD, Lüthi A. Manipulating sleep spindles – expanding views on sleep, memory, and disease. Trends Neurosci 2013; 36:738-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2013.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Revised: 09/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Wisniewska MB. Physiological role of β-catenin/TCF signaling in neurons of the adult brain. Neurochem Res 2013; 38:1144-55. [PMID: 23377854 PMCID: PMC3653035 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-013-0980-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2012] [Revised: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 01/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin pathway, the effectors of which are transcription factors of the LEF1/TCF family, is primarily associated with development. Strikingly, however, some of the genes of the pathway are schizophrenia susceptibility genes, and the proteins that are often mutated in neurodegenerative diseases have the ability to regulate β-catenin levels. If impairment of this pathway indeed leads to these pathologies, then it likely plays a physiological role in the adult brain. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on this subject. The involvement of β-catenin and LEF1/TCF factors in adult neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and the function of thalamic neurons are discussed. The data are still very preliminary and often based on circumstantial or indirect evidence. Further research might help to understand the etiology of the aforementioned pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta B Wisniewska
- Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, ul. Ks. Trojdena 4, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland.
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