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Cooper JN, Mittal J, Sangadi A, Klassen DL, King AM, Zalta M, Mittal R, Eshraghi AA. Landscape of NRXN1 Gene Variants in Phenotypic Manifestations of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2067. [PMID: 38610832 PMCID: PMC11012327 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13072067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication challenges and repetitive behaviors. Recent research has increasingly focused on the genetic underpinnings of ASD, with the Neurexin 1 (NRXN1) gene emerging as a key player. This comprehensive systematic review elucidates the contribution of NRXN1 gene variants in the pathophysiology of ASD. Methods: The protocol for this systematic review was designed a priori and was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023450418). A risk of bias analysis was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. We examined various studies that link NRXN1 gene disruptions with ASD, discussing both the genotypic variability and the resulting phenotypic expressions. Results: Within this review, there was marked heterogeneity observed in ASD genotypic and phenotypic manifestations among individuals with NRXN1 mutations. The presence of NRXN1 mutations in this population emphasizes the gene's role in synaptic function and neural connectivity. Conclusion: This review not only highlights the role of NRXN1 in the pathophysiology of ASD but also highlights the need for further research to unravel the complex genetic underpinnings of the disorder. A better knowledge about the multifaceted role of NRXN1 in ASD can provide crucial insights into the neurobiological foundations of autism and pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimee N. Cooper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
- School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Jeenu Mittal
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Akhila Sangadi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Delany L. Klassen
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Ava M. King
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Max Zalta
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Rahul Mittal
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Adrien A. Eshraghi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Davidson EA, Holingue C, Jimenez-Gomez A, Dallman JE, Moshiree B. Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Genetically Defined Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Semin Neurol 2023; 43:645-660. [PMID: 37586397 PMCID: PMC10895389 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1771460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in most forms of neurodevelopment disorders (NDDs) such as in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The current patient-reported outcome measures with validated questionnaires used in the general population of children without NDDS cannot be used in the autistic individuals. We explore here the multifactorial pathophysiology of ASD and the role of genetics and the environment in this disease spectrum and focus instead on possible diagnostics that could provide future objective insight into the connection of the gut-brain-microbiome in this disease entity. We provide our own data from both humans and a zebrafish model of ASD called Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. We hope that this review highlights the gaps in our current knowledge on many of these profound NDDs and that it provides a future framework upon which clinicians and researchers can build and network with other interested multidisciplinary specialties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Calliope Holingue
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Andres Jimenez-Gomez
- Neuroscience Center, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Hollywood, Florida
- Department of Child Neurology, Florida Atlantic University Stiles - Nicholson Brain Institute, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Julia E. Dallman
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Miami, Florida
| | - Baharak Moshiree
- Atrium Health, Wake Forest Medical University, Charlotte, North Carolina
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Naudhani S, Ahmad A, Khan Bazai F, Pervez MT, Zafar A, Shah SA, Raheem N, Baloch AH, Mushtaq M, Daud S. A Missense Pathogenic Variant in a Conserved Region of CNTNAP2 Is Associated with Obesity, Seizures, and Language Impairment in a Pakistani Family. Mol Syndromol 2023; 14:293-302. [PMID: 37766826 PMCID: PMC10521233 DOI: 10.1159/000529427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In a consanguineous family, seven siblings born in three sibships showed a syndromic disorder characterized by obesity, seizures, and language impairment phenotypes, which appeared at early age or developed during early childhood. Methods By whole-exome sequencing and subsequent Sanger sequencing, a novel homozygous missense variant (c.3371 T>A [p.Ile1124Asn]) in exon 20 of the CNTNAP2 gene was identified. Results The pathogenic variant in this family is located within one of the laminin G-like 4 domains of CASPR2 and may cause loss of hydrophobic interactions of CASPR2 with its partner proteins. Single nucleotide and copy number variants in this gene have previously been related to Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, cortical dysplasia-focal epilepsy syndrome, schizophrenia, Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, and autism spectrum, attention deficit hyperactivity, and obsessive compulsive disorders. Yet, few studies described patients with CNTNAP2 variants showing diet-induced obesity. Conclusion This report expands the phenotypic spectrum of this rare syndrome and provides deeper insights by documenting the clinical features and genetic findings of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Naudhani
- Department of Biotechnology, BUITEMS, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Adeel Ahmad
- Continental Medical College and Hayat Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Fariya Khan Bazai
- Quetta Institute of Medical Sciences/Combined Military Hospital, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tariq Pervez
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Virtual University of Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Azqa Zafar
- Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sajjad Ali Shah
- Institute of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, Pakistan
| | | | - Abdul Hameed Baloch
- Department of Biotechnology, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS), Uthal, Pakistan
| | | | - Shakeela Daud
- Department of Biotechnology, BUITEMS, Quetta, Pakistan
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D'Onofrio G, Accogli A, Severino M, Caliskan H, Kokotović T, Blazekovic A, Jercic KG, Markovic S, Zigman T, Goran K, Barišić N, Duranovic V, Ban A, Borovecki F, Ramadža DP, Barić I, Fazeli W, Herkenrath P, Marini C, Vittorini R, Gowda V, Bouman A, Rocca C, Alkhawaja IA, Murtaza BN, Rehman MMU, Al Alam C, Nader G, Mancardi MM, Giacomini T, Srivastava S, Alvi JR, Tomoum H, Matricardi S, Iacomino M, Riva A, Scala M, Madia F, Pistorio A, Salpietro V, Minetti C, Rivière JB, Srour M, Efthymiou S, Maroofian R, Houlden H, Vernes SC, Zara F, Striano P, Nagy V. Genotype-phenotype correlation in contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP-2) developmental disorder. Hum Genet 2023; 142:909-925. [PMID: 37183190 PMCID: PMC10329570 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02552-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene encodes for CASPR2, a presynaptic type 1 transmembrane protein, involved in cell-cell adhesion and synaptic interactions. Biallelic CNTNAP2 loss has been associated with "Pitt-Hopkins-like syndrome-1" (MIM#610042), while the pathogenic role of heterozygous variants remains controversial. We report 22 novel patients harboring mono- (n = 2) and bi-allelic (n = 20) CNTNAP2 variants and carried out a literature review to characterize the genotype-phenotype correlation. Patients (M:F 14:8) were aged between 3 and 19 years and affected by global developmental delay (GDD) (n = 21), moderate to profound intellectual disability (n = 17) and epilepsy (n = 21). Seizures mainly started in the first two years of life (median 22.5 months). Antiseizure medications were successful in controlling the seizures in about two-thirds of the patients. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or other neuropsychiatric comorbidities were present in nine patients (40.9%). Nonspecific midline brain anomalies were noted in most patients while focal signal abnormalities in the temporal lobes were noted in three subjects. Genotype-phenotype correlation was performed by also including 50 previously published patients (15 mono- and 35 bi-allelic variants). Overall, GDD (p < 0.0001), epilepsy (p < 0.0001), hyporeflexia (p = 0.012), ASD (p = 0.009), language impairment (p = 0.020) and severe cognitive impairment (p = 0.031) were significantly associated with the presence of biallelic versus monoallelic variants. We have defined the main features associated with biallelic CNTNAP2 variants, as severe cognitive impairment, epilepsy and behavioral abnormalities. We propose CASPR2-deficiency neurodevelopmental disorder as an exclusively recessive disease while the contribution of heterozygous variants is less likely to follow an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca D'Onofrio
- Department of Neurosciences Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Accogli
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Specialized Medicine, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Haluk Caliskan
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tomislav Kokotović
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Vienna, Austria
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Antonela Blazekovic
- Department for Functional Genomics, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Kristina Gotovac Jercic
- Department for Functional Genomics, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Silvana Markovic
- Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital dr. Tomislav Bardek Koprivnica, Koprivnica, Croatia
| | - Tamara Zigman
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Center Zagreb and University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Krnjak Goran
- Department of Pediatrics, Varazdin General Hospital, Varazdin, Croatia
| | - Nina Barišić
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Center Zagreb and University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vlasta Duranovic
- Division of Neuropediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Zagre, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Ban
- Division of Neuropediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Zagre, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Fran Borovecki
- Department for Functional Genomics, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Danijela Petković Ramadža
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Center Zagreb and University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivo Barić
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Center Zagreb and University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Walid Fazeli
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter Herkenrath
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Carla Marini
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit Children's Hospital "G. Salesi" Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Roberta Vittorini
- Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Vykuntaraju Gowda
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bangalore, India
| | - Arjan Bouman
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Clarissa Rocca
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Issam Azmi Alkhawaja
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Pediatric Department, Albashir Hospital, Amman, Jordan
| | - Bibi Nazia Murtaza
- Department of Zoology, Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Malik Mujaddad Ur Rehman
- Department of Microbiology, Abbottabad University of Science and Technology KP, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Chadi Al Alam
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Gisele Nader
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maria Margherita Mancardi
- Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Clinical and Surgical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Epilepsy Center, EPICARE Reference Network, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Thea Giacomini
- Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Clinical and Surgical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Epilepsy Center, EPICARE Reference Network, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Siddharth Srivastava
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Javeria Raza Alvi
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Institute of Child Health, Children's Hospital Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hoda Tomoum
- Department of Pediatrics, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sara Matricardi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Michele Iacomino
- Unit of Medical Genetics-IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Antonella Riva
- Department of Neurosciences Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcello Scala
- Department of Neurosciences Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Madia
- Unit of Medical Genetics-IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Angela Pistorio
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Salpietro
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carlo Minetti
- Department of Neurosciences Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Jean-Baptiste Rivière
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
- Bioinformatics Platform, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Myriam Srour
- Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Stephanie Efthymiou
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Reza Maroofian
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sonja Catherine Vernes
- School of Biology, The University of St Andrews, Fife, UK
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Federico Zara
- Department of Neurosciences Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Department of Neurosciences Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy.
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Vanja Nagy
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Vienna, Austria.
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
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Benítez-Burraco A, Jiménez-Romero MS, Fernández-Urquiza M. Delving into the Genetic Causes of Language Impairment in a Case of Partial Deletion of NRXN1. Mol Syndromol 2023; 13:496-510. [PMID: 36660026 PMCID: PMC9843585 DOI: 10.1159/000524710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Copy-number variations (CNVs) impacting on small DNA stretches and associated with language deficits provide a unique window to the role played by specific genes in language function. Methods We report in detail on the cognitive, language, and genetic features of a girl bearing a small deletion (0.186 Mb) in the 2p16.3 region, arr[hg19] 2p16.3(50761778_50947729)×1, affecting exons 3-7 of NRXN1, a neurexin-coding gene previously related to schizophrenia, autism (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorder, and intellectual disability (ID). Results The proband exhibits many of the features commonly found in subjects with deletions of NRXN1, like ASD-like traits (including ritualized behaviors, disordered sensory aspects, social disturbances, and impaired theory of mind), ADHD symptoms, moderate ID, and impaired speech and language. Regarding this latter aspect, we observed altered speech production, underdeveloped phonological awareness, minimal syntax, serious shortage of active vocabulary, impaired receptive language, and inappropriate pragmatic behavior (including lack of metapragmatic awareness and communicative use of gaze). Microarray analyses point to the dysregulation of several genes important for language function in the girl compared to her healthy parents. Discussion Although some basic cognitive deficit - such as the impairment of executive function - might contribute to the language problems exhibited by the proband, molecular evidence suggests that they might result, to a great extent, from the abnormal expression of genes directly related to language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Benítez-Burraco
- Department of Spanish, Linguistics, and Theory of Literature (Linguistics), University of Seville, Seville, Spain,*Antonio Benítez-Burraco,
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Ochneva A, Zorkina Y, Abramova O, Pavlova O, Ushakova V, Morozova A, Zubkov E, Pavlov K, Gurina O, Chekhonin V. Protein Misfolding and Aggregation in the Brain: Common Pathogenetic Pathways in Neurodegenerative and Mental Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214498. [PMID: 36430976 PMCID: PMC9695177 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mental disorders represent common brain diseases characterized by substantial impairments of social and cognitive functions. The neurobiological causes and mechanisms of psychopathologies still have not been definitively determined. Various forms of brain proteinopathies, which include a disruption of protein conformations and the formation of protein aggregates in brain tissues, may be a possible cause behind the development of psychiatric disorders. Proteinopathies are known to be the main cause of neurodegeneration, but much less attention is given to the role of protein impairments in psychiatric disorders' pathogenesis, such as depression and schizophrenia. For this reason, the aim of this review was to discuss the potential contribution of protein illnesses in the development of psychopathologies. The first part of the review describes the possible mechanisms of disruption to protein folding and aggregation in the cell: endoplasmic reticulum stress, dysfunction of chaperone proteins, altered mitochondrial function, and impaired autophagy processes. The second part of the review addresses the known proteins whose aggregation in brain tissue has been observed in psychiatric disorders (amyloid, tau protein, α-synuclein, DISC-1, disbindin-1, CRMP1, SNAP25, TRIOBP, NPAS3, GluA1, FABP, and ankyrin-G).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Ochneva
- Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
- Healthcare Department, Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alexeev of Moscow, 117152 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-915-670-39-35
| | - Yana Zorkina
- Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
- Healthcare Department, Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alexeev of Moscow, 117152 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga Abramova
- Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
- Healthcare Department, Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alexeev of Moscow, 117152 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga Pavlova
- Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
| | - Valeriya Ushakova
- Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
- Healthcare Department, Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alexeev of Moscow, 117152 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna Morozova
- Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
- Healthcare Department, Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alexeev of Moscow, 117152 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugene Zubkov
- Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
| | - Konstantin Pavlov
- Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
- Healthcare Department, Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alexeev of Moscow, 117152 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga Gurina
- Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir Chekhonin
- Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Medical Nanobiotechnology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, Leninskiy Avenue 4, 119049 Moscow, Russia
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Pourtavakoli A, Ghafouri-Fard S. Calcium signaling in neurodevelopment and pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:10811-10823. [PMID: 35857176 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07775-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) covers a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with complex genetic background. Several genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, copy number variations and single nucleotide polymorphisms have been reported that cause ASD or modify its phenotype. Among signaling pathways that influence pathogenesis of ASD, calcium signaling has a prominent effect. METHODS We searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases with key words "Calcium signaling" and "Autism spectrum disorder". CONCLUSION This type of signaling has essential roles in the cell physiology. Endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria are the key organelles involved in this signaling. It is vastly accepted that organellar disorders intensely influence the central nervous system (CNS). Several lines of evidence indicate alterations in the function of calcium channels in polygenic disorders affecting CNS. In the current review, we describe the role of calcium signaling in normal function of CNS and pathophysiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Pourtavakoli
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Badshah N, Mattison KA, Ahmad S, Chopra P, Johnston HR, Ahmad S, Khan SH, Sarwar MT, Cutler DJ, Taylor M, Vadlamani G, Zwick ME, Escayg A. Novel Missense CNTNAP2 Variant Identified in Two Consanguineous Pakistani Families With Developmental Delay, Epilepsy, Intellectual Disability, and Aggressive Behavior. Front Neurol 2022; 13:918022. [PMID: 35911904 PMCID: PMC9329621 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.918022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the genetic analysis of two consanguineous pedigrees of Pakistani ancestry in which two siblings in each family exhibited developmental delay, epilepsy, intellectual disability and aggressive behavior. Whole-genome sequencing was performed in Family 1, and we identified ~80,000 variants located in regions of homozygosity. Of these, 615 variants had a minor allele frequency ≤ 0.001, and 21 variants had CADD scores ≥ 15. Four homozygous exonic variants were identified in both affected siblings: PDZD7 (c.1348_1350delGAG, p.Glu450del), ALG6 (c.1033G>C, p.Glu345Gln), RBM20 (c.1587C>G, p.Ser529Arg), and CNTNAP2 (c.785G>A, p.Gly228Arg). Sanger sequencing revealed co-segregation of the PDZD7, RBM20, and CNTNAP2 variants with disease in Family 1. Pathogenic variants in PDZD7 and RBM20 are associated with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss and autosomal dominant dilated cardiomyopathy, respectively, suggesting that these variants are unlikely likely to contribute to the clinical presentation. Gene panel analysis was performed on the two affected siblings in Family 2, and they were found to also be homozygous for the p.Gly228Arg CNTNAP2 variant. Together these families provide a LOD score 2.9 toward p.Gly228Arg CNTNAP2 being a completely penetrant recessive cause of this disease. The clinical presentation of the affected siblings in both families is also consistent with previous reports from individuals with homozygous CNTNAP2 variants where at least one allele was a nonsense variant, frameshift or small deletion. Our data suggests that homozygous CNTNAP2 missense variants can also contribute to disease, thereby expanding the genetic landscape of CNTNAP2 dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Badshah
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Kari A. Mattison
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sohail Ahmad
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Pankaj Chopra
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Shakoor Ahmad
- Department of Animal Health, University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Sher Hayat Khan
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tahir Sarwar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - David J. Cutler
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Micheal Taylor
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Gayatri Vadlamani
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Michael E. Zwick
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Andrew Escayg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- *Correspondence: Andrew Escayg
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9
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Ji F, Zhu X, Liao H, Ouyang L, Huang Y, Syeda MZ, Ying S. New Era of Mapping and Understanding Common Fragile Sites: An Updated Review on Origin of Chromosome Fragility. Front Genet 2022; 13:906957. [PMID: 35669181 PMCID: PMC9164283 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.906957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Common fragile sites (CFSs) are specific genomic loci prone to forming gaps or breakages upon replication perturbation, which correlate well with chromosomal rearrangement and copy number variation. CFSs have been actively studied due to their important pathophysiological relevance in different diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders. The genetic locations and sequences of CFSs are crucial to understanding the origin of such unstable sites, which require reliable mapping and characterizing approaches. In this review, we will inspect the evolving techniques for CFSs mapping, especially genome-wide mapping and sequencing of CFSs based on current knowledge of CFSs. We will also revisit the well-established hypotheses on the origin of CFSs fragility, incorporating novel findings from the comprehensive analysis of finely mapped CFSs regarding their locations, sequences, and replication/transcription, etc. This review will present the most up-to-date picture of CFSs and, potentially, a new framework for future research of CFSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Ji
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China.,Department of Pharmacology and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinli Zhu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongwei Liao
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China.,Department of Pharmacology and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liujian Ouyang
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yingfei Huang
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Madiha Zahra Syeda
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Songmin Ying
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China.,Department of Pharmacology and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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10
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Shiota Y, Hirosawa T, Yoshimura Y, Tanaka S, Hasegawa C, Iwasaki S, An KM, Soma D, Sano M, Yokoyama S, Kikuchi M. A common variant of CNTNAP2 is associated with sub-threshold autistic traits and intellectual disability. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260548. [PMID: 34898614 PMCID: PMC8668106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Sub-threshold autistic traits are common in the general population. Children with sub-threshold autistic traits have difficulties with social adaptation. Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) is associated with the development of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs2710102 (G/A) of CNTNAP2 is suggested to contribute to sub-threshold social impairments and intellectual disabilities. We recruited 67 children with Autistic disorder (AD) (49 boys, 18 girls, aged 38–98 months) and 57 typically developing (TD) children (34 boys, 23 girls, aged 53–90 months). We assessed the participants’ intelligence and social reciprocity using the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), respectively. Genomic DNA was extracted from the buccal mucosa and genotyped for rs2710102. A chi-square test revealed a significant association between genotype and group [χ2(2) = 6.56, p = 0.038]. When a co-dominant model was assumed, the results from linear regression models demonstrated that TD children with A-carriers (AA + AG) presented higher SRS T-scores [t(55) = 2.11, p = 0.039] and lower simultaneous processing scale scores of K-ABC [t(55) = -2.19, p = 0.032] than those with GG homozygotes. These associations were not significant in children with ASD. TD children with the rs2710102 A-allele may have more sub-threshold autistic traits than those with GG homozygotes, reflected in higher SRS scores and lower simultaneous processing scale scores. These results support the use of genetic evidence to detect sub-threshold autistic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Shiota
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Kanazawa, Japan
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Tetsu Hirosawa
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Kanazawa, Japan
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Yuko Yoshimura
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Kanazawa, Japan
- Institute of Human and Social Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Sanae Tanaka
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Kanazawa, Japan
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Chiaki Hasegawa
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Sumie Iwasaki
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kyung-min An
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Kanazawa, Japan
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Daiki Soma
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Masuhiko Sano
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shigeru Yokoyama
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Kanazawa, Japan
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Kikuchi
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Kanazawa, Japan
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
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11
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Mittal R, Kumar A, Ladda R, Mainali G, Aliu E. Pitt Hopkins-Like Syndrome 1 with Novel CNTNAP2 Mutation in Siblings. Child Neurol Open 2021; 8:2329048X211055330. [PMID: 34778490 PMCID: PMC8586170 DOI: 10.1177/2329048x211055330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pitt Hopkins-like syndrome 1 (PTHLS1, OMIM # 610042) is an ultra-rare autosomal recessive condition with a prevalence of <1/1,000,000. Intragenic deletions of CNTNAP2 has been implicated in PTHLS1, however to our knowledge a compound heterozygous deletion of exon 4 and a c.1977_1989del13; p.V660Ffsx9 frameshift variant have not been published previously. In this case report, the proband is a seven year old female with PTHLS1, developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, focal epilepsy, hypotonia, refractory errors, strabismus, and obstructive sleep apnea. Whole exome sequencing analysis revealed biallelic pathogenic variants of the CNTNAP2 gene. Proband has a three year old sister who has who has a similar phenotype including, developmental delay, epilepsy, gait abnormality, refractory errors, strabismus. Family variants were tested and she shared the same CNTNAP2 variants as her sister. The sisters described highlight two novel variants leading to PTHLS1. Genetic workup is essential in identification and management guidance in these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rea Mittal
- Penn State Health College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
| | - Ashutosh Kumar
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn State Health College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
| | - Roger Ladda
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Health College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
| | - Gayatra Mainali
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn State Health College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
| | - Ermal Aliu
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Health College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
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12
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Tosca L, Drévillon L, Mouka A, Lecerf L, Briand A, Ortonne V, Benoit V, Brisset S, Van Maldergem L, Laudouar Q, Heide S, Goossens M, Giurgea I, Tachdjian G, Métay C. Two new cases of interstitial 7q35q36.1 deletion including CNTNAP2 and KMT2C. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2021; 9:e1645. [PMID: 34582124 PMCID: PMC8606216 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Terminal deletions of the long arm of chromosome 7 are well known and frequently associated with syndromic holoprosencephaly due to the involvement of the SHH (aliases HHG1, SMMCI, TPT, TPTPS, and MCOPCB5) gene region. However, interstitial deletions including CNTNAP2 (aliases Caspr2, KIAA0868, and NRXN4) and excluding the SHH region are less common. Methods We report the clinical and molecular characterization associated with pure 7q35 and 7q35q36.1 deletion in two unrelated patients as detected by oligonucleotide‐based array‐CGH analysis. Results The common clinical features were abnormal maternal serum screening during first‐trimester pregnancy, low occipitofrontal circumference at birth, hypotonia, abnormal feet, developmental delay, impaired language development, generalized seizures, hyperactive behavior, friendly personality, and cranio‐facial dysmorphism. Both deletions occurred de novo and sequencing of CNTNAP2, a candidate gene for epilepsy and autism showed absence of mutation on the contralateral allele. Conclusion Combined haploinsufficiency of GALNTL5 (alias GalNAc‐T5L), CUL1, SSPO (aliases SCO‐spondin, KIAA0543, and FLJ36112), AOC1(alias DAO), RHEB, and especially KMT2C (alias KIAA1506 and HALR) with monoallelic disruption of CNTNAP2 may explain neurologic abnormalities, hypotonia, and exostoses. Haploinsufficiency of PRKAG2 (aliases AAKG, AAKG2, H91620p, WPWS, and CMH6) and KCNH2 (aliases Kv11.1, HERG, and erg1) genes may be responsible of long QT syndrome observed for one patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Tosca
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Loïc Drévillon
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Aurélie Mouka
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Laure Lecerf
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique, AP-HP. Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U955, Créteil, France.,Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Est, Créteil, France
| | - Audrey Briand
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique, AP-HP. Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Valérie Ortonne
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique, AP-HP. Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Virginie Benoit
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Sophie Brisset
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | | | - Quitterie Laudouar
- Service de Réanimation Néonatale, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Solveig Heide
- UF Génétique Clinique, AP-HP. Sorbonne Université, Hôpital universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Michel Goossens
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique, AP-HP. Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Irina Giurgea
- Département de Génétique Médicale, INSERM Childhood Genetic Diseases, AP-HP. Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - Gérard Tachdjian
- Service d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, AP-HP. Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Corinne Métay
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique, AP-HP. Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
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13
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Avazzadeh S, Quinlan LR, Reilly J, McDonagh K, Jalali A, Wang Y, McInerney V, Krawczyk J, Ding Y, Fitzgerald J, O'Sullivan M, Forman EB, Lynch SA, Ennis S, Feerick N, Reilly R, Li W, Shen X, Yang G, Lu Y, Peeters H, Dockery P, O'Brien T, Shen S, Gallagher L. NRXN1α +/- is associated with increased excitability in ASD iPSC-derived neurons. BMC Neurosci 2021; 22:56. [PMID: 34525970 PMCID: PMC8442436 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-021-00661-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background NRXN1 deletions are identified as one of major rare risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. ASD has 30% co-morbidity with epilepsy, and the latter is associated with excessive neuronal firing. NRXN1 encodes hundreds of presynaptic neuro-adhesion proteins categorized as NRXN1α/β/γ. Previous studies on cultured cells show that the short NRXN1β primarily exerts excitation effect, whereas the long NRXN1α which is more commonly deleted in patients involves in both excitation and inhibition. However, patient-derived models are essential for understanding functional consequences of NRXN1α deletions in human neurons. We recently derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from five controls and three ASD patients carrying NRXN1α+/- and showed increased calcium transients in patient neurons. Methods In this study we investigated the electrophysiological properties of iPSC-derived cortical neurons in control and ASD patients carrying NRXN1α+/- using patch clamping. Whole genome RNA sequencing was carried out to further understand the potential underlying molecular mechanism. Results NRXN1α+/- cortical neurons were shown to display larger sodium currents, higher AP amplitude and accelerated depolarization time. RNASeq analyses revealed transcriptomic changes with significant upregulation glutamatergic synapse and ion channels/transporter activity including voltage-gated potassium channels (GRIN1, GRIN3B, SLC17A6, CACNG3, CACNA1A, SHANK1), which are likely to couple with the increased excitability in NRXN1α+/- cortical neurons. Conclusions Together with recent evidence of increased calcium transients, our results showed that human NRXN1α+/- isoform deletions altered neuronal excitability and non-synaptic function, and NRXN1α+/- patient iPSCs may be used as an ASD model for therapeutic development with calcium transients and excitability as readouts. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12868-021-00661-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Avazzadeh
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | - Leo R Quinlan
- Physiology and Cellular Physiology Research Laboratory, School of Medicine, CÚRAM SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Jamie Reilly
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | - Katya McDonagh
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | | | - Yanqin Wang
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland.,Department of Physiology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Veronica McInerney
- HRB Clinical Research Facility, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Janusz Krawczyk
- Department of Haematology, Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland
| | - Yicheng Ding
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | | | - Matthew O'Sullivan
- Trinity Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eva B Forman
- Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sally A Lynch
- Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Clinical Genetics, OLCHC, Dublin 12, Ireland
| | - Sean Ennis
- School of Medicine and Medical Science, UCD Academic Centre On Rare Diseases, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh Feerick
- Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Richard Reilly
- Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Weidong Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Shen
- School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Guangming Yang
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yin Lu
- College of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hilde Peeters
- Centre for Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Dockery
- Centre for Microscopy and Imaging, Anatomy, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Timothy O'Brien
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | - Sanbing Shen
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland. .,FutureNeuro Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, D02, Ireland.
| | - Louise Gallagher
- Trinity Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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14
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James DM, Davidson EA, Yanes J, Moshiree B, Dallman JE. The Gut-Brain-Microbiome Axis and Its Link to Autism: Emerging Insights and the Potential of Zebrafish Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:662916. [PMID: 33937265 PMCID: PMC8081961 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.662916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Research involving autism spectrum disorder (ASD) most frequently focuses on its key diagnostic criteria: restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, altered sensory perception, and communication impairments. These core criteria, however, are often accompanied by numerous comorbidities, many of which result in severe negative impacts on quality of life, including seizures, epilepsy, sleep disturbance, hypotonia, and GI distress. While ASD is a clinically heterogeneous disorder, gastrointestinal (GI) distress is among the most prevalent co-occurring symptom complex, manifesting in upward of 70% of all individuals with ASD. Consistent with this high prevalence, over a dozen family foundations that represent genetically distinct, molecularly defined forms of ASD have identified GI symptoms as an understudied area with significant negative impacts on quality of life for both individuals and their caregivers. Moreover, GI symptoms are also correlated with more pronounced irritability, social withdrawal, stereotypy, hyperactivity, and sleep disturbances, suggesting that they may exacerbate the defining behavioral symptoms of ASD. Despite these facts (and to the detriment of the community), GI distress remains largely unaddressed by ASD research and is frequently regarded as a symptomatic outcome rather than a potential contributory factor to the behavioral symptoms. Allowing for examination of both ASD's impact on the central nervous system (CNS) as well as its impact on the GI tract and the associated microbiome, the zebrafish has recently emerged as a powerful tool to study ASD. This is in no small part due to the advantages zebrafish present as a model system: their precocious development, their small transparent larval form, and their parallels with humans in genetics and physiology. While ASD research centered on the CNS has leveraged these advantages, there has been a critical lack of GI-centric ASD research in zebrafish models, making a holistic view of the gut-brain-microbiome axis incomplete. Similarly, high-throughput ASD drug screens have recently been developed but primarily focus on CNS and behavioral impacts while potential GI impacts have not been investigated. In this review, we aim to explore the great promise of the zebrafish model for elucidating the roles of the gut-brain-microbiome axis in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M. James
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | | | - Julio Yanes
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Baharak Moshiree
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Julia E. Dallman
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
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15
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El-Ansary A, Zayed N, Al-Ayadhi L, Qasem H, Anwar M, Meguid NA, Bhat RS, Doşa MD, Chirumbolo S, Bjørklund G. GABA synaptopathy promotes the elevation of caspases 3 and 9 as pro-apoptotic markers in Egyptian patients with autism spectrum disorder. Acta Neurol Belg 2021; 121:489-501. [PMID: 31673995 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-019-01226-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by reduced social communication as well as repetitive behaviors. Many studies have proved that defective synapses in ASD influence how neurons in the brain connect and communicate with each other. Synaptopathies arise from alterations that affecting the integrity and/or functionality of synapses and can contribute to synaptic pathologies. This study investigated the GABA levels in plasma being an inhibitory neurotransmitter, caspase 3 and 9 as pro-apoptotic proteins in 20 ASD children and 20 neurotypical controls using the ELISA technique. Analysis of receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) of the data that was obtained to evaluate the diagnostic value of the aforementioned evaluated biomarkers. Pearson's correlations and multiple regressions between the measured variables were also done. While GABA level was reduced in ASD patients, levels of caspases 3 and 9 were significantly higher when compared to neurotypical control participants. ROC and predictiveness curves showed that caspases 3, caspases 9, and GABA might be utilized as predictive markers in autism diagnosis. The present study indicates that the presence of GABAergic dysfunction promotes apoptosis in Egyptian ASD children. The obtained GABA synaptopathies and their connection with apoptosis can both relate to neuronal excitation, and imbalance of the inhibition system, which can be used as reliable predictive biomarkers for ASD.
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16
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Mary L, Nourisson E, Feger C, Laugel V, Chaigne D, Keren B, Afenjar A, Billette T, Trost D, Cieuta-Walti C, Gerard B, Piton A, Schaefer E. Pathogenic variants in KCNQ2 cause intellectual deficiency without epilepsy: Broadening the phenotypic spectrum of a potassium channelopathy. Am J Med Genet A 2021; 185:1803-1815. [PMID: 33754465 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing (HTS) improved the molecular diagnosis in individuals with intellectual deficiency (ID) and helped to broaden the phenotype of previously known disease-causing genes. We report herein four unrelated patients with isolated ID, carriers of a likely pathogenic variant in KCNQ2, a gene usually implicated in benign familial neonatal seizures (BFNS) or early onset epileptic encephalopathy (EOEE). Patients were diagnosed by targeted HTS or exome sequencing. Pathogenicity of the variants was assessed by multiple in silico tools. Patients' ID ranged from mild to severe with predominance of speech disturbance and autistic features. Three of the four variants disrupted the same amino acid. Compiling all the pathogenic variants previously reported, we observed a strong overlap between variants causing EOEE, isolated ID, and BFNS and an important intra-familial phenotypic variability, although missense variants in the voltage-sensing domain and the pore are significantly associated to EOEE (p < 0.01, Fisher test). Thus, pathogenic variants in KCNQ2 can be associated with isolated ID. We did not highlight strong related genotype-phenotype correlations in KCNQ2-related disorders. A second genetic hit, a burden of rare variants, or other extrinsic factors may explain such a phenotypic variability. However, it is of interest to study encephalopathy genes in non-epileptic ID patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Mary
- Laboratoire de Diagnostic Génétique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elsa Nourisson
- Laboratoire de Diagnostic Génétique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Claire Feger
- Laboratoire de Diagnostic Génétique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Vincent Laugel
- Service de Neuropédiatrie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Denys Chaigne
- Service de Neuropédiatrie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Boris Keren
- Département de Génétique, Centre de Référence des Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares, Groupe de Recherche Clinique "Déficiences Intellectuelles et Autisme," Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Université Paris 06), UMRS 1127, INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Afenjar
- Centre de Référence Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares, Département de Génétique et Embryologie Médicale, Hôpital Trousseau, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Thierry Billette
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Service de Neuropédiatrie, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Bénédicte Gerard
- Laboratoire de Diagnostic Génétique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Amélie Piton
- Laboratoire de Diagnostic Génétique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR-7104, Inserm U964, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elise Schaefer
- Service de Génétique Médicale, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Institut de Génétique Médicale d'Alsace, Strasbourg, France
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17
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Conti E, Retico A, Palumbo L, Spera G, Bosco P, Biagi L, Fiori S, Tosetti M, Cipriani P, Cioni G, Muratori F, Chilosi A, Calderoni S. Autism Spectrum Disorder and Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Early Language-Related Hallmarks across Structural MRI Study. J Pers Med 2020; 10:E275. [PMID: 33322765 PMCID: PMC7768516 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10040275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) are developmental disorders with distinct diagnostic criteria and different epidemiology. However, a common genetic background as well as overlapping clinical features between ASD and CAS have been recently reported. To date, brain structural language-related abnormalities have been detected in both the conditions, but no study directly compared young children with ASD, CAS and typical development (TD). In the current work, we aim: (i) to test the hypothesis that ASD and CAS display neurostructural differences in comparison with TD through morphometric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-based measures (ASD vs. TD and CAS vs. TD); (ii) to investigate early possible disease-specific brain structural patterns in the two clinical groups (ASD vs. CAS); (iii) to evaluate predictive power of machine-learning (ML) techniques in differentiating the three samples (ASD, CAS, TD). We retrospectively analyzed the T1-weighted brain MRI scans of 68 children (age range: 34-74 months) grouped into three cohorts: (1) 26 children with ASD (mean age ± standard deviation: 56 ± 11 months); (2) 24 children with CAS (57 ± 10 months); (3) 18 children with TD (55 ± 13 months). Furthermore, a ML analysis based on a linear-kernel Support Vector Machine (SVM) was performed. All but one brain structures displayed significant higher volumes in both ASD and CAS children than TD peers. Specifically, ASD alterations involved fronto-temporal regions together with basal ganglia and cerebellum, while CAS alterations are more focused and shifted to frontal regions, suggesting a possible speech-related anomalies distribution. Caudate, superior temporal and hippocampus volumes directly distinguished the two conditions in terms of greater values in ASD compared to CAS. The ML analysis identified significant differences in brain features between ASD and TD children, whereas only some trends in the ML classification capability were detected in CAS as compared to TD peers. Similarly, the MRI structural underpinnings of two clinical groups were not significantly different when evaluated with linear-kernel SVM. Our results may represent the first step towards understanding shared and specific neural substrate in ASD and CAS conditions, which subsequently may contribute to early differential diagnosis and tailoring specific early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Conti
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Alessandra Retico
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Pisa Division, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.R.); (L.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Letizia Palumbo
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Pisa Division, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.R.); (L.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Giovanna Spera
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Pisa Division, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.R.); (L.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Paolo Bosco
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Laura Biagi
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Simona Fiori
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Michela Tosetti
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Paola Cipriani
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Muratori
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna Chilosi
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Sara Calderoni
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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18
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Ishizuka K, Yoshida T, Kawabata T, Imai A, Mori H, Kimura H, Inada T, Okahisa Y, Egawa J, Usami M, Kushima I, Morikawa M, Okada T, Ikeda M, Branko A, Mori D, Someya T, Iwata N, Ozaki N. Functional characterization of rare NRXN1 variants identified in autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. J Neurodev Disord 2020; 12:25. [PMID: 32942984 PMCID: PMC7496212 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-020-09325-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rare genetic variants contribute to the etiology of both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ). Most genetic studies limit their focus to likely gene-disrupting mutations because they are relatively easier to interpret their effects on the gene product. Interpretation of missense variants is also informative to some pathophysiological mechanisms of these neurodevelopmental disorders; however, their contribution has not been elucidated because of relatively small effects. Therefore, we characterized missense variants detected in NRXN1, a well-known neurodevelopmental disease-causing gene, from individuals with ASD and SCZ. Methods To discover rare variants with large effect size and to evaluate their role in the shared etiopathophysiology of ASD and SCZ, we sequenced NRXN1 coding exons with a sample comprising 562 Japanese ASD and SCZ patients, followed by a genetic association analysis in 4273 unrelated individuals. Impact of each missense variant detected here on cell surface expression, interaction with NLGN1, and synaptogenic activity was analyzed using an in vitro functional assay and in silico three-dimensional (3D) structural modeling. Results Through mutation screening, we regarded three ultra-rare missense variants (T737M, D772G, and R856W), all of which affected the LNS4 domain of NRXN1α isoform, as disease-associated variants. Diagnosis of individuals with T737M, D772G, and R856W was 1ASD and 1SCZ, 1ASD, and 1SCZ, respectively. We observed the following phenotypic and functional burden caused by each variant. (i) D772G and R856W carriers had more serious social disabilities than T737M carriers. (ii) In vitro assay showed reduced cell surface expression of NRXN1α by D772G and R856W mutations. In vitro functional analysis showed decreased NRXN1α-NLGN1 interaction of T737M and D772G mutants. (iii) In silico 3D structural modeling indicated that T737M and D772G mutations could destabilize the rod-shaped structure of LNS2-LNS5 domains, and D772G and R856W could disturb N-glycan conformations for the transport signal. Conclusions The combined data suggest that missense variants in NRXN1 could be associated with phenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders beyond the diagnosis of ASD and/or SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanako Ishizuka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 4668550, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Yoshida
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, 9300194, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kawabata
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, 5650871, Japan
| | - Ayako Imai
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, 9300194, Japan
| | - Hisashi Mori
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, 9300194, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kimura
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 4668550, Japan
| | - Toshiya Inada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 4668550, Japan
| | - Yuko Okahisa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, 7008558, Japan
| | - Jun Egawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, 9518510, Japan
| | - Masahide Usami
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Chiba, 2728516, Japan
| | - Itaru Kushima
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 4668550, Japan
| | - Mako Morikawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 4668550, Japan
| | - Takashi Okada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 4668550, Japan
| | - Masashi Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, 4701192, Japan
| | - Aleksic Branko
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 4668550, Japan
| | - Daisuke Mori
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 4668550, Japan. .,Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, 4668550, Japan.
| | - Toshiyuki Someya
- Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, 9518510, Japan
| | - Nakao Iwata
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, 4701192, Japan
| | - Norio Ozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 4668550, Japan
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19
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Beiranvandi F, Akouchekian M, Javadi GR, Darvish H. The association of CNTNAP2 rs2710102 and ENGRAILED-2 rs1861972 genes polymorphism and autism in Iranian population. Meta Gene 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2020.100664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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20
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Cosemans N, Vandenhove L, Vogels A, Devriendt K, Van Esch H, Van Buggenhout G, Olivié H, de Ravel T, Ortibus E, Legius E, Aerssens P, Breckpot J, R Vermeesch J, Shen S, Fitzgerald J, Gallagher L, Peeters H. The clinical relevance of intragenic NRXN1 deletions. J Med Genet 2020; 57:347-355. [PMID: 31932357 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2019-106448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intragenic NRXN1 deletions are susceptibility variants for neurodevelopmental disorders; however, their clinical interpretation is often unclear. Therefore, a literature study and an analysis of 43 previously unpublished deletions are provided. METHODS The literature cohort covered 629 heterozygous NRXN1 deletions: 148 in controls, 341 in probands and 140 in carrier relatives, and was used for clinical hypothesis testing. Exact breakpoint determination was performed for 43 in-house deletions. RESULTS The prevalence of exonic NRXN1 deletions in controls was ~1/3000 as compared with ~1/800 in patients with neurodevelopmental/neuropsychiatric disorders. The differential distribution of deletions across the gene between controls and probands allowed to distinguish distinct areas within the gene. Exon 6-24 deletions appeared only twice in over 100000 control individuals, had an estimated penetrance for neurodevelopmental disorders of 32.43%, a de novo rate of 50% and segregated mainly with intellectual disability (ID) and schizophrenia. In contrast, exon 1-5 deletions appeared in 20 control individuals, had an estimated penetrance of 12.59%, a de novo rate of 32.5% and were reported with a broad range of neurodevelopmental phenotypes. Exact breakpoint determination revealed six recurrent intron 5 deletions. CONCLUSION Exon 6-24 deletions have a high penetrance and are mainly associated with ID and schizophrenia. In contrast, the actual contribution of exon 1-5 deletions to a neurodevelopmental/neuropsychiatric disorder in an individual patient and family remains very difficult to assess. To enhance the clinical interpretation, this study provides practical considerations for counselling and an interactive table for comparing a deletion of interest with the available literature data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Cosemans
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Annick Vogels
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Hilde Van Esch
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Hilde Olivié
- Center for Developmental Disabilities Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomy de Ravel
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Els Ortibus
- Center for Developmental Disabilities Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eric Legius
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Sanbing Shen
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, BioMedical Sciences Building, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Louise Gallagher
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Hilde Peeters
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium .,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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21
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Falsaperla R, Pappalardo XG, Romano C, Marino SD, Corsello G, Ruggieri M, Parano E, Pavone P. Intronic Variant in CNTNAP2 Gene in a Boy With Remarkable Conduct Disorder, Minor Facial Features, Mild Intellectual Disability, and Seizures. Front Pediatr 2020; 8:550. [PMID: 33042910 PMCID: PMC7518065 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Mutations in the contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene (MIM#604569) encoding for CASPR2, a cell adhesion protein of the neurexin family, are known to be associated with autism, intellectual disability, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. A set of intronic deletions of CNTNAP2 gene has also been suggested to have a causative role in individuals with a wide phenotypic spectrum, including Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, cortical dysplasia-focal epilepsy syndrome, Tourette syndrome, language dysfunction, and abnormal behavioral manifestations. Case presentation: A 10-years-old boy was referred to the hospital with mild intellectual disability and language impairment. Moreover, the child exhibited minor facial features, epileptic seizures, and notable behavioral abnormalities including impulsivity, aggressivity, and hyperactivity suggestive of the diagnosis of disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorder (CD). Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) revealed a copy number variant (CNV) deletion in the first intron of CNTNAP2 gene inherited from a healthy father. Conclusions: A comprehensive description of the phenotypic features of the child is provided, revealing a distinct and remarkable alteration of social behavior not previously reported in individuals affected by disorders related to CNTNAP2 gene disruptions. A possible causative link between the deletion of a non-coding regulatory region and the symptoms presented by the boy has been advanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Falsaperla
- Unit of Neonatology, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, " Catania, Italy
| | - Xena Giada Pappalardo
- National Council of Research, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), Catania, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Catia Romano
- Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, " Catania, Italy
| | - Simona Domenica Marino
- Unit of Neonatology, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, " Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanni Corsello
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care "G. D'Alessandro, " University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Martino Ruggieri
- Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, " Catania, Italy
| | - Enrico Parano
- National Council of Research, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), Catania, Italy
| | - Piero Pavone
- Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, " Catania, Italy
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22
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Avazzadeh S, McDonagh K, Reilly J, Wang Y, Boomkamp SD, McInerney V, Krawczyk J, Fitzgerald J, Feerick N, O'Sullivan M, Jalali A, Forman EB, Lynch SA, Ennis S, Cosemans N, Peeters H, Dockery P, O'Brien T, Quinlan LR, Gallagher L, Shen S. Increased Ca 2+ signaling in NRXN1α +/- neurons derived from ASD induced pluripotent stem cells. Mol Autism 2019; 10:52. [PMID: 31893021 PMCID: PMC6937972 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0303-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a high co-morbidity of epilepsy and associated with hundreds of rare risk factors. NRXN1 deletion is among the commonest rare genetic factors shared by ASD, schizophrenia, intellectual disability, epilepsy, and developmental delay. However, how NRXN1 deletions lead to different clinical symptoms is unknown. Patient-derived cells are essential to investigate the functional consequences of NRXN1 lesions to human neurons in different diseases. Methods Skin biopsies were donated by five healthy donors and three ASD patients carrying NRXN1α+/− deletions. Seven control and six NRXN1α+/− iPSC lines were derived and differentiated into day 100 cortical excitatory neurons using dual SMAD inhibition. Calcium (Ca2+) imaging was performed using Fluo4-AM, and the properties of Ca2+ transients were compared between two groups of neurons. Transcriptome analysis was carried out to undercover molecular pathways associated with NRXN1α+/− neurons. Results NRXN1α+/− neurons were found to display altered calcium dynamics, with significantly increased frequency, duration, and amplitude of Ca2+ transients. Whole genome RNA sequencing also revealed altered ion transport and transporter activity, with upregulated voltage-gated calcium channels as one of the most significant pathways in NRXN1α+/− neurons identified by STRING and GSEA analyses. Conclusions This is the first report to show that human NRXN1α+/− neurons derived from ASD patients’ iPSCs present novel phenotypes of upregulated VGCCs and increased Ca2+ transients, which may facilitate the development of drug screening assays for the treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Avazzadeh
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
| | - Katya McDonagh
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
| | - Jamie Reilly
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
| | - Yanqin Wang
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland.,2Department of Physiology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Stephanie D Boomkamp
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
| | - Veronica McInerney
- 3HRB Clinical Research Facility, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Janusz Krawczyk
- 4Department of Haematology, Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Niamh Feerick
- 5School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Amirhossein Jalali
- 6School of Medicine, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Eva B Forman
- 7Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sally A Lynch
- Department of Clinical Genetics, OLCHC, Dublin 12, Ireland.,9Children's University Hospital, Temple St, Dublin, Ireland.,10Academic Center on Rare Diseases, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean Ennis
- 11UCD Academic Centre on Rare Diseases, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nele Cosemans
- 12Centre for Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hilde Peeters
- 10Academic Center on Rare Diseases, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Peter Dockery
- 13Centre for Microscopy and Imaging, Anatomy, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Timothy O'Brien
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
| | - Leo R Quinlan
- 14Physiology and Human Movement Laboratory, CÚRAM SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Sanbing Shen
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
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23
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Genetic mechanisms of regression in autism spectrum disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 102:208-220. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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24
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Castronovo P, Baccarin M, Ricciardello A, Picinelli C, Tomaiuolo P, Cucinotta F, Frittoli M, Lintas C, Sacco R, Persico AM. Phenotypic spectrum of NRXN1 mono- and bi-allelic deficiency: A systematic review. Clin Genet 2019; 97:125-137. [PMID: 30873608 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Neurexins are presynaptic cell adhesion molecules critically involved in synaptogenesis and vesicular neurotransmitter release. They are encoded by three genes (NRXN1-3), each yielding a longer alpha (α) and a shorter beta (β) transcript. Deletions spanning the promoter and the initial exons of the NRXN1 gene, located in chromosome 2p16.3, are associated with a variety of neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, neurological and neuropsychological phenotypes. We have performed a systematic review to define (a) the clinical phenotypes most associated with mono-allelic exonic NRXN1 deletions, and (b) the phenotypic features of NRXN1 bi-allelic deficiency due to compound heterozygous deletions/mutations. Clinically, three major conclusions can be drawn: (a) incomplete penetrance and pleiotropy do not allow reliable predictions of clinical outcome following prenatal detection of mono-allelic exonic NRXN1 deletions. Newborn carriers should undergo periodic neuro-behavioral observations for the timely detection of warning signs and the prescription of early behavioral intervention; (b) the presence of additional independent genetic risk factors should always be sought, as they may influence prognosis; (c) children with exonic NRXN1 deletions displaying early-onset, severe psychomotor delay in the context of a Pitt-Hopkins-like syndrome 2 phenotype, should undergo DNA sequencing of the spared NRXN1 allele in search for mutations or very small insertions/deletions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Castronovo
- Laboratory for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Mafalda Luce Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Laboratory for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Mafalda Luce Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Ricciardello
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Chiara Picinelli
- Laboratory for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Mafalda Luce Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Pasquale Tomaiuolo
- Laboratory for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Mafalda Luce Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Cucinotta
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Myriam Frittoli
- Laboratory for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Mafalda Luce Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Lintas
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacco
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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25
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Gao R, Zaccard CR, Shapiro LP, Dionisio LE, Martin-de-Saavedra MD, Piguel NH, Pratt CP, Horan KE, Penzes P. The CNTNAP2-CASK complex modulates GluA1 subcellular distribution in interneurons. Neurosci Lett 2019; 701:92-99. [PMID: 30779956 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
GABAergic interneurons are emerging as prominent substrates in the pathophysiology of multiple neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. Interneuron excitatory activity is influenced by 2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazol-4-yl) propanoic acid receptors (AMPARs), which in turn affects excitatory transmission in the central nervous system. Yet how dysregulation of interneuronal AMPARs distinctly contributes to the molecular underpinning of neurobiological disease is drastically underexplored. Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) is a neurexin-related adhesion molecule shown to mediate AMPAR subcellular distribution while calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) is a multi-functional scaffold involved with glutamate receptor trafficking. Mutations in both genes have overlapping disease associations, including autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, and epilepsy, thus suggesting converging perturbations of excitatory/inhibitory balance. Our lab has previously shown that CNTNAP2 stabilizes interneuron dendritic arbors through CASK and that CNTNAP2 regulates AMPAR subunit GluA1 trafficking in excitatory neurons. The interaction between these three proteins, however, has not been studied in interneurons. Using biochemical techniques, structured illumination microscopy (SIM) and shRNA technology, we first confirm that these three proteins interact in mouse brain, and then examined relationship between CNTNAP2, CASK and GluA1 in mature interneurons. Using SIM, we ascertain that a large fraction of endogenous CNTNAP2, CASK, and GluA1 molecules collectively colocalize together in a tripartite manner. Finally, individual knockdown of either CNTNAP2 or CASK similarly alter GluA1 levels and localization. These findings offer insight to molecular mechanisms underlying GluA1 regulation in interneurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoqi Gao
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Colleen R Zaccard
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Lauren P Shapiro
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Leonardo E Dionisio
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | | | - Nicolas H Piguel
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Christopher P Pratt
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Katherine E Horan
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Peter Penzes
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA; Northwestern University Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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26
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Kelleher E, Barry H, Cotter DR, Corvin A, Murphy KC. Autoantibodies and Psychosis. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2019; 44:85-123. [PMID: 31292938 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2019_90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Research into antibody-mediated disease, in response to immune dysfunction or to tumour development, has rapidly expanded in recent years. Antibodies binding to neuroreceptors can cause psychiatric features, including psychosis, in a minority of patients as well as neurological features. The responsiveness of some of these cases to immunotherapy supports the hypothesis that antibody-associated mechanisms play a role in the pathogenesis of psychotic diseases. The purpose of this chapter is to review autoantibodies that are most likely to be relevant for patients with psychotic symptoms. Herein, we describe receptor structure and mechanism of action, clinical and psychiatric features for the growing number of neuronal surface antibodies, including those to the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. The identification of a subgroup of patients with psychiatric features having antibody-mediated disease highlights the importance of considering the diagnosis, particularly in those patients presenting with a first episode of psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Kelleher
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Helen Barry
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David R Cotter
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aiden Corvin
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Kieran C Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
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27
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Comprehensive cross-disorder analyses of CNTNAP2 suggest it is unlikely to be a primary risk gene for psychiatric disorders. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007535. [PMID: 30586385 PMCID: PMC6324819 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene is a member of the neurexin superfamily. CNTNAP2 was first implicated in the cortical dysplasia-focal epilepsy (CDFE) syndrome, a recessive disease characterized by intellectual disability, epilepsy, language impairments and autistic features. Associated SNPs and heterozygous deletions in CNTNAP2 were subsequently reported in autism, schizophrenia and other psychiatric or neurological disorders. We aimed to comprehensively examine evidence for the role of CNTNAP2 in susceptibility to psychiatric disorders, by the analysis of multiple classes of genetic variation in large genomic datasets. In this study we used: i) summary statistics from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) GWAS for seven psychiatric disorders; ii) examined all reported CNTNAP2 structural variants in patients and controls; iii) performed cross-disorder analysis of functional or previously associated SNPs; and iv) conducted burden tests for pathogenic rare variants using sequencing data (4,483 ASD and 6,135 schizophrenia cases, and 13,042 controls). The distribution of CNVs across CNTNAP2 in psychiatric cases from previous reports was no different from controls of the database of genomic variants. Gene-based association testing did not implicate common variants in autism, schizophrenia or other psychiatric phenotypes. The association of proposed functional SNPs rs7794745 and rs2710102, reported to influence brain connectivity, was not replicated; nor did predicted functional SNPs yield significant results in meta-analysis across psychiatric disorders at either SNP-level or gene-level. Disrupting CNTNAP2 rare variant burden was not higher in autism or schizophrenia compared to controls. Finally, in a CNV mircroarray study of an extended bipolar disorder family with 5 affected relatives we previously identified a 131kb deletion in CNTNAP2 intron 1, removing a FOXP2 transcription factor binding site. Quantitative-PCR validation and segregation analysis of this CNV revealed imperfect segregation with BD. This large comprehensive study indicates that CNTNAP2 may not be a robust risk gene for psychiatric phenotypes. Genetic mutations that disrupt both copies of the CNTNAP2 gene lead to severe disease, characterized by profound intellectual disability, epilepsy, language difficulties and autistic traits, leading to the hypothesis that this gene may also be involved in autism given some overlapping clinical features with this disease. Indeed, several large DNA deletions affecting one of the two copies of CNTNAP2 were found in some patients with autism, and later also in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD and epilepsy, suggesting that this gene was implicated in several psychiatric or neurologic diseases. Other studies considered genetic sequence variations that are common in the general population, and suggested that two such sequence variations in CNTNAP2 predispose to psychiatric diseases by influencing the functionality and connectivity of the brain. To better understand the involvement of CNTNAP2 in risk of mental illness, we performed several genetic analyses using a series of large publicly available or in-house datasets, comprising many thousands of patients and controls. Furthermore, we report the deletion of one copy of CNTNAP2 in two patients with bipolar disorder and one unaffected relative from an extended family where five relatives were affected with this condition. Despite the previous consideration of CNTNAP2 as a strong candidate gene for autism or schizophrenia, we show little evidence across multiple classes of DNA variation, that CNTNAP2 is likely to play a major role in risk of psychiatric diseases.
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28
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Brignell A, St John M, Boys A, Bruce A, Dinale C, Pigdon L, Hildebrand MS, Amor DJ, Morgan AT. Characterization of speech and language phenotype in children with NRXN1 deletions. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2018; 177:700-708. [PMID: 30358070 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurexin 1 gene (NRXN1) deletions are associated with several neurodevelopmental disorders. Communication difficulties have been reported, yet no study has examined specific speech and language features of individuals with NRXN1 deletions. Here, we characterized speech and language phenotypes in 21 children (14 families), aged 1.8-17 years, with NRXN1 deletions. Deletions ranged from 74 to 702 kb and consisted mostly of either exons 1-3 or 1-5. Speech sound disorders were frequent (69%), although few were severe. The majority (57%) of children had difficulty with receptive and/or expressive language, although no homogeneous profiles of deficit were seen across semantic, morphological, or grammatical systems. Social language difficulties were seen in over half the sample (53%). All but two individuals with language difficulties also had intellectual disability/developmental delay. Overall, while speech and language difficulties were common, there was substantial heterogeneity in the severity and type of difficulties observed and no striking communication phenotype was seen. Rather, the speech and language deficits are likely part of broader concomitant neurodevelopmental profiles (e.g., intellectual disability, social skill deficits). Nevertheless, given the high rate of affectedness, it is important speech/language development is assessed so interventions can be applied during childhood in a targeted and timely manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Brignell
- Speech and Language, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Miya St John
- Speech and Language, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amber Boys
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amanda Bruce
- Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Carla Dinale
- Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lauren Pigdon
- Speech and Language, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael S Hildebrand
- Department of Medicine, Austin Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Amor
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Angela T Morgan
- Speech and Language, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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29
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Rizzo A, Alfei E, Zibordi F, Saletti V, Zorzi G, Freri E, Estienne M, Girgenti V, D'Arrigo S, Esposito S, Buldrini B, Moroni I, Milani D, Granata T, Ardissone A, Eoli M, Molteni B, Bigoni S, Pantaleoni C, Nardocci N, Sciacca FL. The noncoding RNA AK127244 in 2p16.3 locus: A new susceptibility region for neuropsychiatric disorders. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2018; 177:557-562. [PMID: 30105822 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The presence of redundant copy number variants (CNVs) in groups of patients with neurological diseases suggests that these variants could have pathogenic effect. We have collected array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) data of about 2,500 patients affected by neurocognitive disorders and we observed that CNVs in 2p16.3 locus were as frequent as those in 15q11.2, being both the most frequent unbalances in our cohort of patients. Focusing to 2p16.3 region, unbalances involving NRXN1 coding region have been already associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, although with incomplete penetrance, but little is known about CNVs located proximal to the gene, in the long noncoding RNA AK127244. We found that, in our cohort of patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, the frequency of CNVs involving AK127244 was comparable to that of NRXN1 gene. Patients carrying 2p16.3 unbalances shared some common clinical characteristics regardless NRXN1 and AK127244 CNVs localization, suggesting that the AK127244 long noncoding RNA could be involved in neurocognitive disease with the same effect of NRXN1 unbalances. AK127244 as well as NRXN1 unbalances seem to have a particular influence on language development, behavior or mood, according with the topographic correlation between NRXN1 expression and prefrontal cortex functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Rizzo
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology and Medical Genetics, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Alfei
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Zibordi
- Child Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Saletti
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanna Zorzi
- Child Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Freri
- Child Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Estienne
- Child Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Vita Girgenti
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology and Medical Genetics, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano D'Arrigo
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Esposito
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Buldrini
- UOL of Medical Genetics, Ferrara University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Isabella Moroni
- Child Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Donatella Milani
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Granata
- Child Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Ardissone
- Child Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marica Eoli
- Unit of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Bruna Molteni
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Bigoni
- UOL of Medical Genetics, Ferrara University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Pantaleoni
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Nardo Nardocci
- Child Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Luisa Sciacca
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology and Medical Genetics, Foundation IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
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30
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Gao R, Piguel NH, Melendez-Zaidi AE, Martin-de-Saavedra MD, Yoon S, Forrest MP, Myczek K, Zhang G, Russell TA, Csernansky JG, Surmeier DJ, Penzes P. CNTNAP2 stabilizes interneuron dendritic arbors through CASK. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:1832-1850. [PMID: 29610457 PMCID: PMC6168441 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0027-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Contactin associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) has emerged as a prominent susceptibility gene implicated in multiple complex neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), and schizophrenia (SCZ). The presence of seizure comorbidity in many of these cases, as well as inhibitory neuron dysfunction in Cntnap2 knockout (KO) mice, suggests CNTNAP2 may be crucial for proper inhibitory network function. However, underlying cellular mechanisms are unclear. Here we show that cultured Cntnap2 KO mouse neurons exhibit an inhibitory neuron-specific simplification of the dendritic tree. These alterations can be replicated by acute knockdown of CNTNAP2 in mature wild-type (WT) neurons and are caused by faulty dendrite stabilization rather than outgrowth. Using structured illumination microscopy (SIM) and stimulated-emission depletion microscopy (STED), two super-resolution imaging techniques, we uncovered relationships between nanoscale CNTNAP2 protein localization and dendrite arborization patterns. Employing yeast two-hybrid screening, biochemical analysis, in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA), SIM, and phenotype rescue, we show that these effects are mediated at the membrane by the interaction of CNTNAP2's C-terminus with calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK), another ASD/ID risk gene. Finally, we show that adult Cntnap2 KO mice have reduced interneuron dendritic length and branching in particular cortical regions, as well as decreased CASK levels in the cortical membrane fraction. Taken together, our data reveal an interneuron-specific mechanism for dendrite stabilization that may provide a cellular mechanism for inhibitory circuit dysfunction in CNTNAP2-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoqi Gao
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Nicolas H Piguel
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | | | | | - Sehyoun Yoon
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Marc P Forrest
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Kristoffer Myczek
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Gefei Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Theron A Russell
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - John G Csernansky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - D James Surmeier
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Peter Penzes
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
- Northwestern University, Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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31
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Saint-Martin M, Joubert B, Pellier-Monnin V, Pascual O, Noraz N, Honnorat J. Contactin-associated protein-like 2, a protein of the neurexin family involved in several human diseases. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 48:1906-1923. [PMID: 30028556 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2) is a cell adhesion protein of the neurexin family. Proteins of this family have been shown to play a role in the development of the nervous system, in synaptic functions, and in neurological diseases. Over recent years, CASPR2 function has gained an increasing interest as demonstrated by the growing number of publications. Here, we gather published data to comprehensively review CASPR2 functions within the nervous system in relation to CASPR2-related diseases in humans. On the one hand, studies on Cntnap2 (coding for CASPR2) knockout mice revealed its role during development, especially, in setting-up the inhibitory network. Consistent with this result, mutations in the CNTNAP2 gene coding for CASPR2 in human have been identified in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. On the other hand, CASPR2 was shown to play a role beyond development, in the localization of voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex that is composed of TAG-1, Kv1.1, and Kv1.2. This complex was found in several subcellular compartments essential for action potential propagation: the node of Ranvier, the axon initial segment, and the synapse. In line with a role of CASPR2 in the mature nervous system, neurological autoimmune diseases have been described in patients without neurodevelopmental disorders but with antibodies directed against CASPR2. These autoimmune diseases were of two types: central with memory disorders and temporal lobe seizures, or peripheral with muscular hyperactivity. Overall, we review the up-to-date knowledge on CASPR2 function and pinpoint confused or lacking information that will need further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Saint-Martin
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Bastien Joubert
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
| | - Véronique Pellier-Monnin
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Olivier Pascual
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Nelly Noraz
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Jérôme Honnorat
- Institut NeuroMyoGene INSERM U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
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32
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Kukekova AV, Johnson JL, Xiang X, Feng S, Liu S, Rando HM, Kharlamova AV, Herbeck Y, Serdyukova NA, Xiong Z, Beklemischeva V, Koepfli KP, Gulevich RG, Vladimirova AV, Hekman JP, Perelman PL, Graphodatsky AS, O'Brien SJ, Wang X, Clark AG, Acland GM, Trut LN, Zhang G. Red fox genome assembly identifies genomic regions associated with tame and aggressive behaviours. Nat Ecol Evol 2018; 2:1479-1491. [PMID: 30082739 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0611-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Strains of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with markedly different behavioural phenotypes have been developed in the famous long-term selective breeding programme known as the Russian farm-fox experiment. Here we sequenced and assembled the red fox genome and re-sequenced a subset of foxes from the tame, aggressive and conventional farm-bred populations to identify genomic regions associated with the response to selection for behaviour. Analysis of the re-sequenced genomes identified 103 regions with either significantly decreased heterozygosity in one of the three populations or increased divergence between the populations. A strong positional candidate gene for tame behaviour was highlighted: SorCS1, which encodes the main trafficking protein for AMPA glutamate receptors and neurexins and suggests a role for synaptic plasticity in fox domestication. Other regions identified as likely to have been under selection in foxes include genes implicated in human neurological disorders, mouse behaviour and dog domestication. The fox represents a powerful model for the genetic analysis of affiliative and aggressive behaviours that can benefit genetic studies of behaviour in dogs and other mammals, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Kukekova
- Animal Sciences Department, College of ACES, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, IL, USA.
| | - Jennifer L Johnson
- Animal Sciences Department, College of ACES, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Xueyan Xiang
- China National Genebank, BGI -Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shaohong Feng
- China National Genebank, BGI -Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shiping Liu
- China National Genebank, BGI -Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Halie M Rando
- Animal Sciences Department, College of ACES, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Anastasiya V Kharlamova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yury Herbeck
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Natalya A Serdyukova
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Zijun Xiong
- China National Genebank, BGI -Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Violetta Beklemischeva
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington DC, USA.,Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Rimma G Gulevich
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Anastasiya V Vladimirova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Jessica P Hekman
- Animal Sciences Department, College of ACES, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, IL, USA.,The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Polina L Perelman
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Aleksander S Graphodatsky
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Stephen J O'Brien
- Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Andrew G Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Gregory M Acland
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Lyudmila N Trut
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Guojie Zhang
- China National Genebank, BGI -Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China. .,Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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33
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Eissa N, Al-Houqani M, Sadeq A, Ojha SK, Sasse A, Sadek B. Current Enlightenment About Etiology and Pharmacological Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:304. [PMID: 29867317 PMCID: PMC5964170 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental brain disorder characterized by two core behavioral symptoms, namely impairments in social communication and restricted/repetitive behavior. The molecular mechanisms underlying ASD are not well understood. Recent genetic as well as non-genetic animal models contributed significantly in understanding the pathophysiology of ASD, as they establish autism-like behavior in mice and rats. Among the genetic causes, several chromosomal mutations including duplications or deletions could be possible causative factors of ASD. In addition, the biochemical basis suggests that several brain neurotransmitters, e.g., dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), acetylcholine (ACh), glutamate (Glu) and histamine (HA) participate in the onset and progression of ASD. Despite of convincible understanding, risperidone and aripiprazole are the only two drugs available clinically for improving behavioral symptoms of ASD following approval by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Till date, up to our knowledge there is no other drug approved for clinical usage specifically for ASD symptoms. However, many novel drug candidates and classes of compounds are underway for ASD at different phases of preclinical and clinical drug development. In this review, the diversity of numerous aetiological factors and the alterations in variety of neurotransmitter generation, release and function linked to ASD are discussed with focus on drugs currently used to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms related to ASD. The review also highlights the clinical development of drugs with emphasis on their pharmacological targets aiming at improving core symptoms in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nermin Eissa
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Al-Houqani
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Adel Sadeq
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shreesh K. Ojha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Astrid Sasse
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Bassem Sadek
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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34
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Goodspeed K, Newsom C, Morris MA, Powell C, Evans P, Golla S. Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome: A Review of Current Literature, Clinical Approach, and 23-Patient Case Series. J Child Neurol 2018; 33:233-244. [PMID: 29318938 PMCID: PMC5922265 DOI: 10.1177/0883073817750490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a rare, genetic disorder caused by a molecular variant of TCF4 which is involved in embryologic neuronal differentiation. PTHS is characterized by syndromic facies, psychomotor delay, and intellectual disability. Other associated features include early-onset myopia, seizures, constipation, and hyperventilation-apneic spells. Many also meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Here the authors present a series of 23 PTHS patients with molecularly confirmed TCF4 variants and describe 3 unique individuals. The first carries a small deletion but does not exhibit the typical facial features nor the typical pattern of developmental delay. The second exhibits typical facial features, but has attained more advanced motor and verbal skills than other reported cases to date. The third displays typical features of PTHS, however inherited a large chromosomal duplication involving TCF4 from his unaffected father with somatic mosaicism. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first chromosomal duplication case reported to date.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cassandra Newsom
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
- Children’s Health Dallas
| | | | | | - Patricia Evans
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
- Children’s Health Dallas
| | - Sailaja Golla
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
- Children’s Health Dallas
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35
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Rodenas-Cuadrado PM, Mengede J, Baas L, Devanna P, Schmid TA, Yartsev M, Firzlaff U, Vernes SC. Mapping the distribution of language related genes FoxP1, FoxP2, and CntnaP2 in the brains of vocal learning bat species. J Comp Neurol 2018; 526:1235-1266. [PMID: 29297931 PMCID: PMC5900884 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Genes including FOXP2, FOXP1, and CNTNAP2, have been implicated in human speech and language phenotypes, pointing to a role in the development of normal language‐related circuitry in the brain. Although speech and language are unique to humans a comparative approach is possible by addressing language‐relevant traits in animal systems. One such trait, vocal learning, represents an essential component of human spoken language, and is shared by cetaceans, pinnipeds, elephants, some birds and bats. Given their vocal learning abilities, gregarious nature, and reliance on vocalizations for social communication and navigation, bats represent an intriguing mammalian system in which to explore language‐relevant genes. We used immunohistochemistry to detail the distribution of FoxP2, FoxP1, and Cntnap2 proteins, accompanied by detailed cytoarchitectural histology in the brains of two vocal learning bat species; Phyllostomus discolor and Rousettus aegyptiacus. We show widespread expression of these genes, similar to what has been previously observed in other species, including humans. A striking difference was observed in the adult P. discolor bat, which showed low levels of FoxP2 expression in the cortex that contrasted with patterns found in rodents and nonhuman primates. We created an online, open‐access database within which all data can be browsed, searched, and high resolution images viewed to single cell resolution. The data presented herein reveal regions of interest in the bat brain and provide new opportunities to address the role of these language‐related genes in complex vocal‐motor and vocal learning behaviors in a mammalian model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M Rodenas-Cuadrado
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, 6500 AH, The Netherlands
| | - Janine Mengede
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, 6500 AH, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Baas
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, 6500 AH, The Netherlands
| | - Paolo Devanna
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, 6500 AH, The Netherlands
| | - Tobias A Schmid
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720
| | - Michael Yartsev
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720.,Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, 306 University of California, Berkeley, California, 94720
| | - Uwe Firzlaff
- Department Tierwissenschaften, Lehrstuhl für Zoologie, TU München, München, 85354, Germany
| | - Sonja C Vernes
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, 6500 AH, The Netherlands.,Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Nijmegen, 6525 EN, The Netherlands
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36
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Kasem E, Kurihara T, Tabuchi K. Neurexins and neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurosci Res 2017; 127:53-60. [PMID: 29221905 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Revised: 09/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Neurexins are a family of presynaptic single-pass transmembrane proteins that act as synaptic organizers in mammals. The neurexins consist of three genes (NRXN1, NRXN2, and NRXN3), each of which produces a longer α- and shorter β-form. Genomic alterations in NRXN genes have been identified in a wide variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), schizophrenia, intellectual disability (ID), and addiction. Remarkably, a bi-allelic deficiency of NRXN1 was recently linked to Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. The fact that some mono-allelic functional variants of NRXNs are also found in healthy controls indicates that other genetic or environmental factors affect the penetrance of NRXN deficiency. In this review, we summarize the common research methods and representative results of human genetic studies that have implicated NRXN variants in various neuropsychiatric disorders. We also summarize studies of rodent models with NRXN deficiencies that complement our knowledge of human genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enas Kasem
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621 Japan
| | - Taiga Kurihara
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621 Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Tabuchi
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621 Japan; Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan.
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37
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Ibrahim H, Al Jasser AN, Khan SA, Tlili KG. A rare case of autoimmune limbic encephalitis: an uncharted territory! ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 22:292-297. [PMID: 29057855 PMCID: PMC5946379 DOI: 10.17712/nsj.2017.4.20170150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune encephalitis is rare. Several auto- antibodies are described in autoimmune encephalitis. We describe a case of autoimmune limbic encephalitis associated with positive voltage gated potassium channel (VGKC) antibodies and positive leucine-rich glioma inactivated protein 1 antibodies (LGI1). A 33-year-old Saudi housewife, she presented with 2 months history of cognitive deterioration and recurrent left facio-brachial dystonic seizures followed by generalized tonic clonic seizures. At times the seizures are preceded by rising epigastric aura and shortness of breath. The neurological examination was normal apart from upgoing left plantar reflex. She had borderline IQ of 76 with impaired verbal fluency and impaired visual and verbal memory. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed right mesial temporal non-enhancing lesion. Cerebrospinal fluid examination was positive for LGI1 and VGKC. Optimal seizure control was achieved with immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hatim Ibrahim
- Department of Neurology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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38
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Abstract
Ever since initial suggestions that instability at common fragile sites (CFSs) could be responsible for chromosome rearrangements in cancers, CFSs and associated genes have been the subject of numerous studies, leading to questions and controversies about their role and importance in cancer. It is now clear that CFSs are not frequently involved in translocations or other cancer-associated recurrent gross chromosome rearrangements. However, recent studies have provided new insights into the mechanisms of CFS instability, their effect on genome instability, and their role in generating focal copy number alterations that affect the genomic landscape of many cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Glover
- Department of Human Genetics; the Department of Pathology; and the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Thomas E Wilson
- Department of Human Genetics; and the Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Martin F Arlt
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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39
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Sakurai T. The role of cell adhesion molecules in brain wiring and neuropsychiatric disorders. Mol Cell Neurosci 2017; 81:4-11. [PMID: 27561442 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in the nervous system have long been a research focus, but many mice lacking CAMs show very subtle phenotypes, giving an impression that CAMs may not be major players in constructing the nervous system. However, recent human genetic studies suggest CAM involvement in many neuropsychiatric disorders, implicating that they must have significant functions in nervous system development, namely in circuitry formation. As CAMs can provide specificity through their molecular interactions, this review summarizes possible mechanisms on how alterations of CAMs can result in neuropsychiatric disorders through circuitry modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Sakurai
- Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
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40
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Abstract
Intragenic deletions of the contactin-associated protein-like 2 gene (CNTNAP2) have been found in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, intellectual disability (ID), obsessive compulsive disorder, cortical dysplasia-focal epilepsy syndrome, autism, schizophrenia, Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, stuttering, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A variety of molecular mechanisms, such as loss of transcription factor binding sites and perturbation of penetrance and expressivity, have been proposed to account for the phenotypic variability resulting from CNTNAP2 mutations. Deletions of both CNTNAP2 alleles produced truncated proteins lacking the transmembrane or some of the extracellular domains, or no protein at all. This observation can be extended to heterozygous intragenic deletions by assuming that such deletion-containing alleles lead to expression of a Caspr2 protein lacking one or several extracellular domains. Such altered forms of Capr2 proteins will lack the ability to bridge the intercellular space between neurons by binding to partners, such as CNTN1, CNTN2, DLG1, and DLG4. This presumed effect of intragenic deletions of CNTNAP2, and possibly other genes involved in connecting neuronal cells, represents a molecular basis for the postulated neuronal hypoconnectivity in autism and probably other neurodevelopmental disorders, including epilepsy, ID, language impairments and schizophrenia. Thus, CNTNAP2 may represent a paradigmatic case of a gene functioning as a node in a genetic and cellular network governing brain development and acquisition of higher cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Poot
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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41
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Lu Z, Reddy MVVVS, Liu J, Kalichava A, Liu J, Zhang L, Chen F, Wang Y, Holthauzen LMF, White MA, Seshadrinathan S, Zhong X, Ren G, Rudenko G. Molecular Architecture of Contactin-associated Protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) and Its Interaction with Contactin 2 (CNTN2). J Biol Chem 2016; 291:24133-24147. [PMID: 27621318 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.748236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) is a large multidomain neuronal adhesion molecule implicated in a number of neurological disorders, including epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and language delay. We reveal here by electron microscopy that the architecture of CNTNAP2 is composed of a large, medium, and small lobe that flex with respect to each other. Using epitope labeling and fragments, we assign the F58C, L1, and L2 domains to the large lobe, the FBG and L3 domains to the middle lobe, and the L4 domain to the small lobe of the CNTNAP2 molecular envelope. Our data reveal that CNTNAP2 has a very different architecture compared with neurexin 1α, a fellow member of the neurexin superfamily and a prototype, suggesting that CNTNAP2 uses a different strategy to integrate into the synaptic protein network. We show that the ectodomains of CNTNAP2 and contactin 2 (CNTN2) bind directly and specifically, with low nanomolar affinity. We show further that mutations in CNTNAP2 implicated in autism spectrum disorder are not segregated but are distributed over the whole ectodomain. The molecular shape and dimensions of CNTNAP2 place constraints on how CNTNAP2 integrates in the cleft of axo-glial and neuronal contact sites and how it functions as an organizing and adhesive molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoyang Lu
- From the Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720.,the Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Frontier Institute of Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - M V V V Sekhar Reddy
- the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.,the Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics and
| | - Jianfang Liu
- From the Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720
| | - Ana Kalichava
- the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.,the Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics and
| | - Jiankang Liu
- the Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Frontier Institute of Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- From the Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720
| | - Fang Chen
- the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Yun Wang
- the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | | | - Mark A White
- the Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics and.,the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, and
| | - Suchithra Seshadrinathan
- the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.,the Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics and
| | - Xiaoying Zhong
- the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.,the Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics and
| | - Gang Ren
- From the Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720,
| | - Gabby Rudenko
- the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, .,the Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics and
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42
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Murphy E, Benítez-Burraco A. Language deficits in schizophrenia and autism as related oscillatory connectomopathies: An evolutionary account. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 83:742-764. [PMID: 27475632 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterised by marked language deficits, but it is not clear how these arise from gene mutations associated with the disorders. Our goal is to narrow the gap between SZ and ASD and, ultimately, give support to the view that they represent abnormal (but related) ontogenetic itineraries for the human faculty of language. We will focus on the distinctive oscillatory profiles of the SZ and ASD brains, in turn using these insights to refine our understanding of how the brain implements linguistic computations by exploring a novel model of linguistic feature-set composition. We will argue that brain rhythms constitute the best route to interpreting language deficits in both conditions and mapping them to neural dysfunction and risk alleles of the genes. Importantly, candidate genes for SZ and ASD are overrepresented among the gene sets believed to be important for language evolution. This translational effort may help develop an understanding of the aetiology of SZ and ASD and their high prevalence among modern populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot Murphy
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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43
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Smogavec M, Cleall A, Hoyer J, Lederer D, Nassogne MC, Palmer EE, Deprez M, Benoit V, Maystadt I, Noakes C, Leal A, Shaw M, Gecz J, Raymond L, Reis A, Shears D, Brockmann K, Zweier C. Eight further individuals with intellectual disability and epilepsy carrying bi-allelic CNTNAP2 aberrations allow delineation of the mutational and phenotypic spectrum. J Med Genet 2016; 53:820-827. [PMID: 27439707 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2016-103880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterozygous copy number variants (CNVs) or sequence variants in the contactin-associated protein 2 gene CNTNAP2 have been discussed as risk factors for a wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Bi-allelic aberrations in this gene are causative for an autosomal-recessive disorder with epilepsy, severe intellectual disability (ID) and cortical dysplasia (CDFES). As the number of reported individuals is still limited, we aimed at a further characterisation of the full mutational and clinical spectrum. METHODS Targeted sequencing, chromosomal microarray analysis or multigene panel sequencing was performed in individuals with severe ID and epilepsy. RESULTS We identified homozygous mutations, compound heterozygous CNVs or CNVs and mutations in CNTNAP2 in eight individuals from six unrelated families. All aberrations were inherited from healthy, heterozygous parents and are predicted to be deleterious for protein function. Epilepsy occurred in all affected individuals with onset in the first 3.5 years of life. Further common aspects were ID (severe in 6/8), regression of speech development (5/8) and behavioural anomalies (7/8). Interestingly, cognitive impairment in one of two affected brothers was, in comparison, relatively mild with good speech and simple writing abilities. Cortical dysplasia that was previously reported in CDFES was not present in MRIs of six individuals and only suspected in one. CONCLUSIONS By identifying novel homozygous or compound heterozygous, deleterious CNVs and mutations in eight individuals from six unrelated families with moderate-to-severe ID, early onset epilepsy and behavioural anomalies, we considerably broaden the mutational and clinical spectrum associated with bi-allelic aberrations in CNTNAP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateja Smogavec
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alison Cleall
- Oxford Genetics Laboratories, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Juliane Hoyer
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Damien Lederer
- Centre de Génétique Humaine, Institut de Pathologie et Génétique, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Marie-Cécile Nassogne
- Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Elizabeth E Palmer
- GOLD (Genetics of Learning and Disability) Service, Hunter Genetics, Waratah, New South Wales, Australia.,University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marie Deprez
- Centre de Génétique Humaine, Institut de Pathologie et Génétique, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Valérie Benoit
- Centre de Génétique Humaine, Institut de Pathologie et Génétique, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Maystadt
- Centre de Génétique Humaine, Institut de Pathologie et Génétique, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Noakes
- Oxford Genetics Laboratories, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Alejandro Leal
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.,Section of Genetics and Biotechnology, School of Biology and Neuroscience Research Center, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Marie Shaw
- School of Medicine, and the Robinson Research Institute, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jozef Gecz
- School of Medicine, and the Robinson Research Institute, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Lucy Raymond
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - André Reis
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Deborah Shears
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Knut Brockmann
- Interdisciplinary Pediatric Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities and Severe Chronic Disorders, University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christiane Zweier
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
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Abstract
Neurexin 1 (NRXN1), a presynaptic cell adhesion molecule, is implicated in several neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by synaptic dysfunction including autism, intellectual disability and schizophrenia. To gain insight into NRXN1's involvement in human cortical development we used quantitative real-time PCR to examine the expression trajectories of NRXN1, and its predominant isoforms, NRXN1-α and NRXN1-β, in prefrontal cortex from fetal stages to aging. In addition, we investigated whether prefrontal cortical expression levels of NRXN1 transcripts are altered in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in comparison with non-psychiatric control subjects. We observed that all three NRXN1 transcripts were highly expressed during human fetal cortical development, markedly increasing with gestational age. In the postnatal dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, expression levels were negatively correlated with age, peaking at birth until ~3 years of age, after which levels declined markedly to be stable across the lifespan. NRXN1-β expression was modestly but significantly elevated in the brains of patients with schizophrenia compared with non-psychiatric controls, whereas NRXN1-α expression was increased in bipolar disorder. These data provide novel evidence that NRXN1 expression is highest in human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during critical developmental windows relevant to the onset and diagnosis of a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, and that NRXN1 expression may be differentially altered in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Oikonomakis V, Kosma K, Mitrakos A, Sofocleous C, Pervanidou P, Syrmou A, Pampanos A, Psoni S, Fryssira H, Kanavakis E, Kitsiou-Tzeli S, Tzetis M. Recurrent copy number variations as risk factors for autism spectrum disorders: analysis of the clinical implications. Clin Genet 2016; 89:708-18. [PMID: 26777411 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Revised: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) is currently considered a first-tier diagnostic assay for the investigation of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental delay and intellectual disability of unknown etiology. High-resolution arrays were utilized for the identification of copy number variations (CNVs) in 195 ASD patients of Greek origin (126 males, 69 females). CMA resulted in the detection of 65 CNVs, excluding the known polymorphic copy number polymorphisms also found in the Database of Genomic Variants, for 51/195 patients (26.1%). Parental DNA testing in 20/51 patients revealed that 17 CNVs were de novo, 6 paternal and 3 of maternal origin. The majority of the 65 CNVs were deletions (66.1%), of which 5 on the X-chromosome while the duplications, of which 7 on the X-chromosome, were rarer (22/65, 33.8%). Fifty-one CNVs from a total of 65, reported for our cohort of ASD patients, were of diagnostic significance and well described in the literature while 14 CNVs (8 losses, 6 gains) were characterized as variants of unknown significance and need further investigation. Among the 51 patients, 39 carried one CNV, 10 carried two CNVs and 2 carried three CNVs. The use of CMA, its clinical validity and utility was assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Oikonomakis
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - K Kosma
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - A Mitrakos
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - C Sofocleous
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Research Institute for the Study of Genetic and Malignant Diseases in Childhood, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - P Pervanidou
- 1st Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - A Syrmou
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - A Pampanos
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Genetics, "Alexandra" University Maternal Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - S Psoni
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - H Fryssira
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - E Kanavakis
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Research Institute for the Study of Genetic and Malignant Diseases in Childhood, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - S Kitsiou-Tzeli
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - M Tzetis
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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46
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Characterisation of CASPR2 deficiency disorder--a syndrome involving autism, epilepsy and language impairment. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2016; 17:8. [PMID: 26843181 PMCID: PMC4739328 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-016-0272-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background Heterozygous mutations in CNTNAP2 have been identified in patients with a range of complex phenotypes including intellectual disability, autism and schizophrenia. However heterozygous CNTNAP2 mutations are also found in the normal population. Conversely, homozygous mutations are rare in patient populations and have not been found in any unaffected individuals. Case presentation We describe a consanguineous family carrying a deletion in CNTNAP2 predicted to abolish function of its protein product, CASPR2. Homozygous family members display epilepsy, facial dysmorphisms, severe intellectual disability and impaired language. We compared these patients with previously reported individuals carrying homozygous mutations in CNTNAP2 and identified a highly recognisable phenotype. Conclusions We propose that CASPR2 loss produces a syndrome involving early-onset refractory epilepsy, intellectual disability, language impairment and autistic features that can be recognized as CASPR2 deficiency disorder. Further screening for homozygous patients meeting these criteria, together with detailed phenotypic and molecular investigations will be crucial for understanding the contribution of CNTNAP2 to normal and disrupted development.
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Rasmussen MB, Kreiborg S, Jensen P, Bak M, Mang Y, Lodahl M, Budtz-Jørgensen E, Tommerup N, Tranebjærg L, Rendtorff ND. Phenotypic subregions within the split-hand/foot malformation 1 locus. Hum Genet 2016; 135:345-57. [DOI: 10.1007/s00439-016-1635-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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48
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Kazdoba TM, Leach PT, Crawley JN. Behavioral phenotypes of genetic mouse models of autism. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 15:7-26. [PMID: 26403076 PMCID: PMC4775274 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
More than a hundred de novo single gene mutations and copy-number variants have been implicated in autism, each occurring in a small subset of cases. Mutant mouse models with syntenic mutations offer research tools to gain an understanding of the role of each gene in modulating biological and behavioral phenotypes relevant to autism. Knockout, knockin and transgenic mice incorporating risk gene mutations detected in autism spectrum disorder and comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders are now widely available. At present, autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed solely by behavioral criteria. We developed a constellation of mouse behavioral assays designed to maximize face validity to the types of social deficits and repetitive behaviors that are central to an autism diagnosis. Mouse behavioral assays for associated symptoms of autism, which include cognitive inflexibility, anxiety, hyperactivity, and unusual reactivity to sensory stimuli, are frequently included in the phenotypic analyses. Over the past 10 years, we and many other laboratories around the world have employed these and additional behavioral tests to phenotype a large number of mutant mouse models of autism. In this review, we highlight mouse models with mutations in genes that have been identified as risk genes for autism, which work through synaptic mechanisms and through the mTOR signaling pathway. Robust, replicated autism-relevant behavioral outcomes in a genetic mouse model lend credence to a causal role for specific gene contributions and downstream biological mechanisms in the etiology of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. M. Kazdoba
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - P. T. Leach
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - J. N. Crawley
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
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Closing the translational gap between mutant mouse models and the clinical reality of psychotic illness. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 58:19-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Revised: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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50
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A de novo microdeletion in NRXN1 in a Dutch patient with mild intellectual disability, microcephaly and gonadal dysgenesis. Genet Res (Camb) 2015; 97:e19. [PMID: 26438105 DOI: 10.1017/s001667231500021x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
This report is regarding a Dutch female with microcephaly, mild intellectual disability (ID), gonadal dysgenesis and dysmorphic facial features with synophrys. Upon genotyping, an ~455 kb de novo deletion encompassing the first exon of NRXN1 was found. Bidirectional sequencing of the coding exons of the NRXN1 alpha isoform was subsequently performed to investigate the possibility of a pathogenic mutation on the other allele, but we could not find any other mutation. Previously, many heterozygous mutations as well as microdeletions in NRXN1 were shown to be associated with ID, autism, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric and psychotic disorders. Our results are in agreement with other reports that show that NRXN1 deletions can lead to ID, microcephaly and mild dysmorphic features. However, this is the first report of gonadal dysgenesis being associated with such deletions. It is not clear whether there is a causal relationship between the NRXN1 deletion and gonadal dysgenesis, but it is of interest that the FSHR gene, which encodes the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor causative correlation that is mutated in ovarian dysgenesis, is located proximal to the NRXN1 gene. Given that most of the females carrying NRXN1 deletions have been diagnosed at a prepubertal age, gynecologic screening of female carriers of a NRXN1 deletion is warranted.
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