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Role of intracortical neuropil growth in the gyrification of the primate cerebral cortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2210967120. [PMID: 36574666 PMCID: PMC9910595 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210967120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The convolutions of the mammalian cerebral cortex allow the enlargement of its surface and addition of novel functional areas during evolution while minimizing expansion of the cranium. Cognitive neurodevelopmental disorders in humans, including microcephaly and lissencephaly, are often associated with impaired gyrification. In the classical model of gyrification, surface area is initially set by the number of radial units, and the forces driving cortical folding include neuronal growth, formation of neuropil, glial cell intercalation, and the patterned growth of subcortical white matter. An alternative model proposes that specified neurogenic hotspots in the outer subventricular zone (oSVZ) produce larger numbers of neurons that generate convexities in the cortex. This directly contradicts reports showing that cortical neurogenesis and settling of neurons into the cortical plate in primates, including humans, are completed well prior to the formation of secondary and tertiary gyri and indeed most primary gyri. In addition, during the main period of gyrification, the oSVZ produces mainly astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Here we describe how rapid growth of intracortical neuropil, addition of glial cells, and enlargement of subcortical white matter in primates are the primary forces responsible for the post-neurogenic expansion of the cortical surface and formation of gyri during fetal development. Using immunohistochemistry for markers of proliferation and glial and neuronal progenitors combined with transcriptomic analysis, we show that neurogenesis in the ventricular zone and oSVZ is phased out and transitions to gliogenesis prior to gyral development. In summary, our data support the classical model of gyrification and provide insight into the pathogenesis of congenital cortical malformations.
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2
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Wu J, Wang D, Yan L, Jia M, Zhang J, Han S, Han J, Wang J, Chen X, Zhang R. Associations of essential element serum concentrations with autism spectrum disorder. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:88962-88971. [PMID: 35842508 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21978-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This case-control study explored the associations between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the serum concentration of nine chemical elements in children. The study recruited 92 Chinese children with ASD and 103 typically developing individuals. Serum concentrations of nine chemical elements (calcium, iodine, iron, lithium, magnesium, potassium, selenium, strontium, and zinc) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). An unconditional logistic regression model was used to analyze the associations between the serum concentrations of the elements and the risk of ASD. After adjusting for confounders, the multivariate analysis results showed that zinc ≤ 837.70 ng/mL, potassium > 170.06 μg/mL, and strontium ≤ 52.46 ng/mL were associated with an increased risk of ASD, while selenium > 159.80 ng/mL was associated with a decreased risk of ASD. Furthermore, the degree of lithium and zinc deficiency was associated with ASD severity. The results indicated that metallomic profiles of some specific elements might play important roles in the development of ASD, a finding of scientific significance for understanding the etiology, and providing dietary guidance for certain ASD types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- Medical and Health Analysis Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Dongfang Wang
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lailai Yan
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Meixiang Jia
- Institute of Mental Health, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jishui Zhang
- Department of Neurology and Center of Rehabilitation, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100045, China
- National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China
| | - Songping Han
- Wuxi Shenpingxintai Medical Technology Co., Ltd, Jiangsu, Wuxi, 214000, China
| | - Jisheng Han
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xi Chen
- National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Rong Zhang
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
- Autism Research Center of Peking, University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
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3
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Sandoval KC, Thackray SE, Wong A, Niewinski N, Chipak C, Rehal S, Dyck RH. Lack of Vesicular Zinc Does Not Affect the Behavioral Phenotype of Polyinosinic:Polycytidylic Acid-Induced Maternal Immune Activation Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:769322. [PMID: 35273483 PMCID: PMC8902171 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.769322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Zinc is important in neural and synaptic development and neuronal transmission. Within the brain, zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) is essential for zinc uptake into vesicles. Loss of vesicular zinc has been shown to produce neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD)-like behavior, such as decreased social interaction and increased anxiety- and repetitive-like behavior. Maternal immune activation (MIA) has been identified as an environmental factor for NDDs, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia (SZ), in offspring, which occurs during pregnancy when the mother’s immune system reacts to the exposure to viruses or infectious diseases. In this study, we investigated the interaction effect of a genetic factor [ZnT3 knockout (KO) mice] and an environmental factor (MIA). We induced MIA in pregnant female (dams) mice during mid-gestation, using polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C), which mimics a viral infection. Male and female ZnT3 KO and wild-type (WT) offspring were tested in five behavioral paradigms: Ultrasonic Vocalizations (USVs) at postnatal day 9 (P9), Open Field Test, Marble Burying Test, three-Chamber Social Test, and Pre-pulse Inhibition (PPI) in adulthood (P60–75). Our results indicate that loss of vesicular zinc does not result in enhanced ASD- and SZ-like phenotype compared to WT, nor does it show a more pronounced phenotype in male ZnT3 KO compared to female ZnT3 KO. Finally, MIA offspring demonstrated an ASD- and SZ-like phenotype only in specific behavioral tests: increased calls emitted in USVs and fewer marbles buried. Our results suggest that there is no interaction between the loss of vesicular zinc and MIA induction in the susceptibility to developing an ASD- and SZ-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy Celina Sandoval
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sarah E. Thackray
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Alison Wong
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Nicole Niewinski
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Colten Chipak
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Suhkjinder Rehal
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Richard H. Dyck
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- *Correspondence: Richard H. Dyck,
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4
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Zhang Y, Fang X, Ascota L, Li L, Guerra L, Vega A, Salinas A, Gonzalez A, Garza C, Tsin A, Hell JW, Ames JB. Zinc-chelating postsynaptic density-95 N-terminus impairs its palmitoyl modification. Protein Sci 2021; 30:2246-2257. [PMID: 34538002 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Chemical synaptic transmission represents the most sophisticated dynamic process and is highly regulated with optimized neurotransmitter balance. Imbalanced transmitters can lead to transmission impairments, for example, intracellular zinc accumulation is a hallmark of degenerating neurons. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) is a primary postsynaptic membrane-associated protein and the major scaffolding component in the excitatory postsynaptic densities, which performs substantial functions in synaptic development and maturation. Its membrane association induced by palmitoylation contributes largely to its regulatory functions at postsynaptic sites. Unlike other structural domains in PSD-95, the N-terminal region (PSD-95NT) is flexible and interacts with various targets, which modulates its palmitoylation of two cysteines (C3/C5) and glutamate receptor distributions in postsynaptic densities. PSD-95NT contains a putative zinc-binding motif (C2H2) with undiscovered functions. This study is the first effort to investigate the interaction between Zn2+ and PSD-95NT. The NMR titration of 15 N-labeled PSD-95NT by ZnCl2 was performed and demonstrated Zn2+ binds to PSD-95NT with a binding affinity (Kd ) in the micromolar range. The zinc binding was confirmed by fluorescence and mutagenesis assays, indicating two cysteines and two histidines (H24, H28) are critical residues for the binding. These results suggested the concentration-dependent zinc binding is likely to influence PSD-95 palmitoylation since the binding site overlaps the palmitoylation sites, which was verified by the mimic PSD-95 palmitoyl modification and intact cell palmitoylation assays. This study reveals zinc as a novel modulator for PSD-95 postsynaptic membrane association by chelating its N-terminal region, indicative of its importance in postsynaptic signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghong Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA
| | - Xiaoqian Fang
- Department of Molecular Science, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA
| | - Luis Ascota
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA.,Department of Molecular Science, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA
| | - Libo Li
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA.,Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Technology of College of Heilongjiang Province, College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Lili Guerra
- Department of Molecular Science, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA
| | - Audrey Vega
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA
| | - Amanda Salinas
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA
| | - Andrea Gonzalez
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA
| | - Claudia Garza
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew Tsin
- Department of Molecular Science, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA
| | - Johannes W Hell
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - James B Ames
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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5
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Westmark CJ. Consumption of Breast Milk Is Associated with Decreased Prevalence of Autism in Fragile X Syndrome. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13061785. [PMID: 34073785 PMCID: PMC8225095 DOI: 10.3390/nu13061785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Breastfeeding is associated with numerous health benefits, but early life nutrition has not been specifically studied in the neurodevelopmental disorder fragile X syndrome (FXS). Herein, I evaluate associations between the consumption of breast milk during infancy and the prevalence of autism, allergies, diabetes, gastrointestinal (GI) problems and seizures in FXS. The study design was a retrospective survey of families enrolled in the Fragile X Online Registry and Accessible Research Database (FORWARD). There was a 1.7-fold reduction in the prevalence of autism in FXS participants who were fed breast milk for 12 months or longer. There were strong negative correlations between increased time the infant was fed breast milk and the prevalence of autism and seizures and moderate negative correlations with the prevalence of GI problems and allergies. However, participants reporting GI problems or allergies commenced these comorbidities significantly earlier than those not fed breast milk. Parsing the data by sex indicated that males exclusively fed breast milk exhibited decreased prevalence of GI problems and allergies. These data suggest that long-term or exclusive use of breast milk is associated with reduced prevalence of key comorbidities in FXS, although breast milk is associated with the earlier development of GI problems and allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara J. Westmark
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; ; Tel.: +1-608-262-9730
- Molecular & Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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6
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Liu SH, Shi XJ, Fan FC, Cheng Y. Peripheral blood neurotrophic factor levels in children with autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15. [PMID: 33420109 PMCID: PMC7794512 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79080-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that abnormal regulation of neurotrophic factors is involved in the etiology and pathogenesis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, clinical data on neurotrophic factor levels in children with ASD were inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of peripheral blood neurotrophic factors levels in children with ASD, and quantitatively summarized the clinical data of peripheral blood neurotrophic factors in ASD children and healthy controls. A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science identified 31 studies with 2627 ASD children and 4418 healthy controls to be included in the meta-analysis. The results of random effect meta-analysis showed that the peripheral blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Hedges’ g = 0.302; 95% CI = 0.014 to 0.591; P = 0.040) , nerve growth factor (Hedges’ g = 0.395; 95% CI = 0.104 to 0.686; P = 0.008) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (Hedges’ g = 0.097; 95% CI = 0.018 to 0.175; P = 0.016) in children with ASD were significantly higher than that of healthy controls, whereas blood neurotrophin-3 (Hedges’ g = − 0.795; 95% CI = − 1.723 to 0.134; P = 0.093) and neurotrophin-4 (Hedges’ g = 0.182; 95% CI = − 0.285 to 0.650; P = 0.445) levels did not show significant differences between cases and controls. Taken together, these results clarified circulating neurotrophic factor profile in children with ASD, strengthening clinical evidence of neurotrophic factor aberrations in children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Han Liu
- Center On Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, 27 South Zhongguancun Avenue, Zhongguancun South St, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xiao-Jie Shi
- Center On Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, 27 South Zhongguancun Avenue, Zhongguancun South St, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Fang-Cheng Fan
- Center On Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, 27 South Zhongguancun Avenue, Zhongguancun South St, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yong Cheng
- Center On Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, 27 South Zhongguancun Avenue, Zhongguancun South St, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China.
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7
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Wu X, Li W, Zheng Y. Recent Progress on Relevant microRNAs in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165904. [PMID: 32824515 PMCID: PMC7460584 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose pathogenesis is unclear and is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. The microRNAs (miRNAs) are a kind of single-stranded non-coding RNA with 20-22 nucleotides, which normally inhibit their target mRNAs at a post-transcriptional level. miRNAs are involved in almost all biological processes and are closely related to ASD and many other diseases. In this review, we summarize relevant miRNAs in ASD, and analyze dysregulated miRNAs in brain tissues and body fluids of ASD patients, which may contribute to the pathogenesis and diagnosis of ASD.
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8
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Thiffault I, Atherton A, Heese BA, T Abdelmoity A, Pawar K, Farrow E, Zellmer L, Miller N, Soden S, Saunders C. Pathogenic variants in KPTN gene identified by clinical whole-genome sequencing. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud 2020; 6:mcs.a003970. [PMID: 32358097 PMCID: PMC7304362 DOI: 10.1101/mcs.a003970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Status epilepticus is not rare in critically ill intensive care unit patients, but its diagnosis is often delayed or missed. The mortality for convulsive status epilepticus is dependent on the underlying aetiologies and the age of the patients and thus varies from study to study. In this context, effective molecular diagnosis in a pediatric patient with a genetically heterogeneous phenotype is essential. Homozygous or compound heterozygous variants in KPTN have been recently associated with a syndrome typified by macrocephaly, neurodevelopmental delay, and seizures. We describe a comprehensive investigation of a 9-yr-old male patient who was admitted to the intensive care unit, with focal epilepsy, static encephalopathy, autism spectrum disorder, and macrocephaly of unknown etiology, who died of status epilepticus. Clinical whole-genome sequencing revealed compound heterozygous variants in the KPTN gene. The first variant is a previously characterized 18-bp in-frame duplication (c.714_731dup) in exon 8, resulting in the protein change p.Met241_Gln246dup. The second variant, c.394 + 1G > A, affects the splice junction of exon 3. These results are consistent with a diagnosis of autosomal recessive KPTN-related disease. This is the fourth clinical report for KPTN deficiency, providing further evidence of a wider range of severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Thiffault
- Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospitals, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.,University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA
| | - Andrea Atherton
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA
| | - Bryce A Heese
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA
| | - Ahmed T Abdelmoity
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA
| | - Kailash Pawar
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA
| | - Emily Farrow
- Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.,University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA
| | - Lee Zellmer
- Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA
| | - Neil Miller
- Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA
| | - Sarah Soden
- Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.,University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA
| | - Carol Saunders
- Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospitals, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.,University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA
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9
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Di J, Li J, O’Hara B, Alberts I, Xiong L, Li J, Li X. The role of GABAergic neural circuits in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder. Int J Dev Neurosci 2020; 80:73-85. [DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Di
- Department of Neurology David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Pediatrics the Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Bruce O’Hara
- Department of Biology University of Kentucky Lexington KY USA
| | - Ian Alberts
- Department of Natural Sciences LaGuardia CCCUNY New York NY USA
| | - Lei Xiong
- Department of Clinical Medicine Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine Kunming P.R. China
| | - Jijun Li
- Department of Integrative Medicine on Pediatrics Shanghai Children’s Medical Center Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai P.R. China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Department of Neurochemistry New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities New York NY USA
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10
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Ning Z, Williams JM, Kumari R, Baranov PV, Moore T. Opposite Expression Patterns of Spry3 and p75NTR in Cerebellar Vermis Suggest a Male-Specific Mechanism of Autism Pathogenesis. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:416. [PMID: 31275178 PMCID: PMC6591651 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a genetically complex neurobehavioral disorder with a population prevalence of more than 1%. Cerebellar abnormalities, including Purkinje cell deficits in the vermis, are consistently reported, and rodent models of cerebellar dysfunction exhibit features analogous to human autism. We previously analyzed the regulation and expression of the pseudoautosomal region 2 gene SPRY3, which is adjacent to X chromosome-linked TMLHE, a known autism susceptibility gene. SPRY3 is a regulator of branching morphogenesis and is strongly expressed in Purkinje cells. We previously showed that mouse Spry3 is not expressed in cerebellar vermis lobules VI-VII and X, regions which exhibit significant Purkinje cell loss or abnormalities in autism. However, these lobules have relatively high expression of p75NTR, which encodes a neurotrophin receptor implicated in autism. We propose a mechanism whereby inappropriate SPRY3 expression in these lobules could interact with TrkB and p75NTR signaling pathways resulting in Purkinje cell pathology. We report preliminary characterization of X and Y chromosome-linked regulatory sequences upstream of SPRY3, which are polymorphic in the general population. We suggest that an OREG-annotated region on chromosome Yq12 ∼60 kb from SPRY3 acts as a silencer of Y-linked SPRY3 expression. Deletion of a β-satellite repeat, or alterations in chromatin structure in this region due to trans-acting factors, could affect the proposed silencing function, leading to reactivation and inappropriate expression of Y-linked SPRY3. This proposed male-specific mechanism could contribute to the male bias in autism prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Tom Moore
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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11
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Sweetman DU, O'Donnell SM, Lalor A, Grant T, Greaney H. Zinc and vitamin A deficiency in a cohort of children with autism spectrum disorder. Child Care Health Dev 2019; 45:380-386. [PMID: 30821006 DOI: 10.1111/cch.12655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Studies suggest that trace element and vitamin deficiencies are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Data describing the rates of vitamin and trace element deficiencies in the ASD population of the northwest of Ireland is lacking. We wished to determine the prevalence of zinc and vitamin A deficiency in the ASD population compared with controls within this geographical area. METHODS Parents of children aged 2-18 years with ASD were invited to participate in the study. The control group consisted of well children attending the paediatric department for routine blood sampling. Children on vitamin supplements were excluded from both ASD and control groups. Informed written consent was obtained prior to recruitment. Samples were analysed for zinc and vitamin A levels according to standardized laboratory procedures. RESULTS Seventy-four of the 150 children with ASD who were invited and 72 controls underwent blood sampling. Mean zinc and vitamin A levels were normal in both groups. There were significantly more males in the ASD group (88% versus 56%, p value < 0.001). The mean (SD) zinc level was not different between the groups (ASD 11.7 [1.7] versus control 11.6 [2.1] μmol/L, p value = 0.86). The mean (standard deviation) vitamin A level was higher in the ASD group (ASD 350.6 [82.6] versus 319.2 [82.8] μg/L, p value = 0.03), but this was likely confounded by age. CONCLUSION Children with ASD in the northwest of Ireland have mean zinc and vitamin A levels within the normal range. It is important that these findings are relayed to health professionals and to parents of children with ASD so that informed decisions on vitamin supplementation can be made.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Annette Lalor
- Department of Dietetics, Sligo Regional Hospital, Sligo, Ireland
| | - Tim Grant
- Biostatistics - CSTAR, School of Public Health and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Hilary Greaney
- Department of Paediatrics, Sligo Regional Hospital, Sligo, Ireland
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12
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Jeon SJ, Gonzales EL, Mabunga DFN, Valencia ST, Kim DG, Kim Y, Adil KJL, Shin D, Park D, Shin CY. Sex-specific Behavioral Features of Rodent Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Exp Neurobiol 2018; 27:321-343. [PMID: 30429643 PMCID: PMC6221834 DOI: 10.5607/en.2018.27.5.321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex is an important factor in understanding the clinical presentation, management, and developmental trajectory of children with neuropsychiatric disorders. While much is known about the clinical and neurobehavioral profiles of males with neuropsychiatric disorders, surprisingly little is known about females in this respect. Animal models may provide detailed mechanistic information about sex differences in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in terms of manifestation, disease progression, and development of therapeutic options. This review aims to widen our understanding of the role of sex in autism spectrum disorder, by summarizing and comparing behavioral characteristics of animal models. Our current understanding of how differences emerge in boys and girls with neuropsychiatric disorders is limited: Information derived from animal studies will stimulate future research on the role of biological maturation rates, sex hormones, sex-selective protective (or aggravating) factors and psychosocial factors, which are essential to devise sex precision medicine and to improve diagnostic accuracy. Moreover, there is a strong need of novel strategies to elucidate the major mechanisms leading to sex-specific autism features, as well as novel models or methods to examine these sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Jin Jeon
- Center for Neuroscience, Korea Institute of Science & Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea.,Department of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Edson Luck Gonzales
- Department of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Darine Froy N Mabunga
- Department of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Schley T Valencia
- Department of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Do Gyeong Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Yujeong Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Keremkleroo Jym L Adil
- Department of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Dongpil Shin
- Department of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Donghyun Park
- Department of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Chan Young Shin
- Department of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.,KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
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13
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Sensi SL, Granzotto A, Siotto M, Squitti R. Copper and Zinc Dysregulation in Alzheimer's Disease. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2018; 39:1049-1063. [PMID: 30352697 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of dementia. Despite a wealth of knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved in AD, current treatments have mainly focused on targeting amyloid β (Aβ) production, but have failed to show significant effects and efficacy. Therefore, a critical reconsideration of the multifactorial nature of the disease is needed. AD is a complex multifactorial disorder in which, along with Aβ and tau, the convergence of polygenic, epigenetic, environmental, vascular, and metabolic factors increases the global susceptibility to the disease and shapes its course. One of the cofactors converging on AD is the dysregulation of brain metals. In this review, we focus on the role of AD-related neurodegeneration and cognitive decline triggered by the imbalance of two endogenous metals: copper and zinc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano L Sensi
- Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine, CeSI-MeT, Chieti, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti-Pescara, Italy; Departments of Neurology and Pharmacology, Institute for Mind Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, USA.
| | - Alberto Granzotto
- Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine, CeSI-MeT, Chieti, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | | | - Rosanna Squitti
- IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
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14
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Esnafoglu E, Ayyıldız SN. Decreased levels of serum fibroblast growth factor-2 in children with autism spectrum disorder. Psychiatry Res 2017; 257:79-83. [PMID: 28734240 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2016] [Revised: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The neurodevelopment and functioning of the central nervous system, and especially the cerebral cortex, have basic importance to understand neuropsychiatric disorders like autism. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) plays a very important role in the development and functioning of the cortex. FGF-2 is related to developmental processes in the central nervous system such as neurogenesis, migration, differentiation and survival. This study researched the serum FGF-2 levels in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With this aim, 60 ASD children and 40 healthy controls were compared. We applied a sociodemographic form and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) to each subject with their family to assess the severity of autism. Additionally, all subjects had routine laboratory tests performed. Serum samples were studied with ELISA. The results found that serum FGF-2 levels were statistically significantly low in the patient group compared to the healthy control group (p value 0.003). Additionally there was a statistically significant negative correlation identified between serum FGF-2 levels and CARS score for all subjects (r = -0.300; p = 0.02). In conclusion, FGF-2 may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erman Esnafoglu
- Ordu University, Faculty of Medicine, Training and Research Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Ordu, Turkey.
| | - Sema Nur Ayyıldız
- Ordu University, Faculty of Medicine, Training and Research Hospital, Department of Biochemistry, Ordu, Turkey
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15
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Sungur AÖ, Jochner MCE, Harb H, Kılıç A, Garn H, Schwarting RKW, Wöhr M. Aberrant cognitive phenotypes and altered hippocampal BDNF expression related to epigenetic modifications in mice lacking the post-synaptic scaffolding protein SHANK1: Implications for autism spectrum disorder. Hippocampus 2017; 27:906-919. [PMID: 28500650 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a class of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by persistent deficits in social communication/interaction, together with restricted/repetitive patterns of behavior. ASD is among the most heritable neuropsychiatric conditions, and while available evidence points to a complex set of genetic factors, the SHANK gene family has emerged as one of the most promising candidates. Here, we assessed ASD-related phenotypes with particular emphasis on social behavior and cognition in Shank1 mouse mutants in comparison to heterozygous and wildtype littermate controls across development in both sexes. While social approach behavior was evident in all experimental conditions and social recognition was only mildly affected by genotype, Shank1-/- null mutant mice were severely impaired in object recognition memory. This effect was particularly prominent in juveniles, not due to impairments in object discrimination, and replicated in independent mouse cohorts. At the neurobiological level, object recognition deficits were paralleled by increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein expression in the hippocampus of Shank1-/- mice; yet BDNF levels did not differ under baseline conditions. We therefore investigated changes in the epigenetic regulation of hippocampal BDNF expression and detected an enrichment of histone H3 acetylation at the Bdnf promoter1 in Shank1-/- mice, consistent with increased learning-associated BDNF. Together, our findings indicate that Shank1 deletions lead to an aberrant cognitive phenotype characterized by severe impairments in object recognition memory and increased hippocampal BDNF levels, possibly due to epigenetic modifications. This result supports the link between ASD and intellectual disability, and suggests epigenetic regulation as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Özge Sungur
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Magdalena C E Jochner
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Hani Harb
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry-Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ayşe Kılıç
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry-Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Holger Garn
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry-Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Rainer K W Schwarting
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Markus Wöhr
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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16
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Panduro A, Rivera-Iñiguez I, Sepulveda-Villegas M, Roman S. Genes, emotions and gut microbiota: The next frontier for the gastroenterologist. World J Gastroenterol 2017; 23:3030-3042. [PMID: 28533660 PMCID: PMC5423040 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i17.3030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Most medical specialties including the field of gastroenterology are mainly aimed at treating diseases rather than preventing them. Genomic medicine studies the health/disease process based on the interaction of the human genes with the environment. The gastrointestinal (GI) system is an ideal model to analyze the interaction between our genes, emotions and the gut microbiota. Based on the current knowledge, this mini-review aims to provide an integrated synopsis of this interaction to achieve a better understanding of the GI disorders related to bad eating habits and stress-related disease. Since human beings are the result of an evolutionary process, many biological processes such as instincts, emotions and behavior are interconnected to guarantee survival. Nourishment is a physiological need triggered by the instinct of survival to satisfy the body’s energy demands. The brain-gut axis comprises a tightly connected neural-neuroendocrine circuitry between the hunger-satiety center, the dopaminergic reward system involved in the pleasure of eating and the gut microbiota that regulates which food we eat and emotions. However, genetic variations and the consumption of high-sugar and high-fat diets have overridden this energy/pleasure neurocircuitry to the point of addiction of several foodstuffs. Consequently, a gut dysbiosis generates inflammation and a negative emotional state may lead to chronic diseases. Balancing this altered processes to regain health may involve personalized-medicine and genome-based strategies. Thus, an integrated approach based on the understanding of the gene-emotions-gut microbiota interaction is the next frontier that awaits the gastroenterologist to prevent and treat GI disorders associated with obesity and negative emotions.
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17
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Extracerebral Dysfunction in Animal Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. ADVANCES IN ANATOMY, EMBRYOLOGY, AND CELL BIOLOGY 2017; 224:159-187. [PMID: 28551756 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-52498-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Genetic factors might be largely responsible for the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that alone or in combination with specific environmental risk factors trigger the pathology. Multiple mutations identified in ASD patients that impair synaptic function in the central nervous system are well studied in animal models. How these mutations might interact with other risk factors is not fully understood though. Additionally, how systems outside of the brain are altered in the context of ASD is an emerging area of research. Extracerebral influences on the physiology could begin in utero and contribute to changes in the brain and in the development of other body systems and further lead to epigenetic changes. Therefore, multiple recent studies have aimed at elucidating the role of gene-environment interactions in ASD. Here we provide an overview on the extracerebral systems that might play an important associative role in ASD and review evidence regarding the potential roles of inflammation, trace metals, metabolism, genetic susceptibility, enteric nervous system function and the microbiota of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract on the development of endophenotypes in animal models of ASD. By influencing environmental conditions, it might be possible to reduce or limit the severity of ASD pathology.
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18
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Ilie A, Gao AYL, Reid J, Boucher A, McEwan C, Barrière H, Lukacs GL, McKinney RA, Orlowski J. A Christianson syndrome-linked deletion mutation (∆(287)ES(288)) in SLC9A6 disrupts recycling endosomal function and elicits neurodegeneration and cell death. Mol Neurodegener 2016; 11:63. [PMID: 27590723 PMCID: PMC5010692 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-016-0129-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Christianson Syndrome, a recently identified X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder, is caused by mutations in the human gene SLC9A6 encoding the recycling endosomal alkali cation/proton exchanger NHE6. The patients have pronounced limitations in cognitive ability, motor skills and adaptive behaviour. However, the mechanistic basis for this disorder is poorly understood as few of the more than 20 mutations identified thus far have been studied in detail. Methods Here, we examined the molecular and cellular consequences of a 6 base-pair deletion of amino acids Glu287 and Ser288 (∆ES) in the predicted seventh transmembrane helix of human NHE6 expressed in established cell lines (CHO/AP-1, HeLa and neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y) and primary cultures of mouse hippocampal neurons by measuring levels of protein expression, stability, membrane trafficking, endosomal function and cell viability. Results In the cell lines, immunoblot analyses showed that the nascent mutant protein was properly synthesized and assembled as a homodimer, but its oligosaccharide maturation and half-life were markedly reduced compared to wild-type (WT) and correlated with enhanced ubiquitination leading to both proteasomal and lysosomal degradation. Despite this instability, a measurable fraction of the transporter was correctly sorted to the plasma membrane. However, the rates of clathrin-mediated endocytosis of the ∆ES mutant as well as uptake of companion vesicular cargo, such as the ligand-bound transferrin receptor, were significantly reduced and correlated with excessive endosomal acidification. Notably, ectopic expression of ∆ES but not WT induced apoptosis when examined in AP-1 cells. Similarly, in transfected primary cultures of mouse hippocampal neurons, membrane trafficking of the ∆ES mutant was impaired and elicited marked reductions in total dendritic length, area and arborization, and triggered apoptotic cell death. Conclusions These results suggest that loss-of-function mutations in NHE6 disrupt recycling endosomal function and trafficking of cargo which ultimately leads to neuronal degeneration and cell death in Christianson Syndrome. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13024-016-0129-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Ilie
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Bellini Life Sciences Bldg., Rm, 166, 3649 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Andy Y L Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jonathan Reid
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Bellini Life Sciences Bldg., Rm, 166, 3649 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Annie Boucher
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Bellini Life Sciences Bldg., Rm, 166, 3649 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Cassandra McEwan
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Bellini Life Sciences Bldg., Rm, 166, 3649 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Hervé Barrière
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Bellini Life Sciences Bldg., Rm, 166, 3649 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Gergely L Lukacs
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Bellini Life Sciences Bldg., Rm, 166, 3649 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - R Anne McKinney
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - John Orlowski
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Bellini Life Sciences Bldg., Rm, 166, 3649 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada.
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19
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Webb SJ, Garrison MM, Bernier R, McClintic AM, King BH, Mourad PD. Severity of ASD symptoms and their correlation with the presence of copy number variations and exposure to first trimester ultrasound. Autism Res 2016; 10:472-484. [PMID: 27582229 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Current research suggests that incidence and heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms may arise through a variety of exogenous and/or endogenous factors. While subject to routine clinical practice and generally considered safe, there exists speculation, though no human data, that diagnostic ultrasound may also contribute to ASD severity, supported by experimental evidence that exposure to ultrasound early in gestation could perturb brain development and alter behavior. Here we explored a modified triple hit hypothesis [Williams & Casanova, ] to assay for a possible relationship between the severity of ASD symptoms and (1) ultrasound exposure (2) during the first trimester of pregnancy in fetuses with a (3) genetic predisposition to ASD. We did so using retrospective analysis of data from the SSC (Simon's Simplex Collection) autism genetic repository funded by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative. We found that male children with ASD, copy number variations (CNVs), and exposure to first trimester ultrasound had significantly decreased non-verbal IQ and increased repetitive behaviors relative to male children with ASD, with CNVs, and no ultrasound. These data suggest that heterogeneity in ASD symptoms may result, at least in part, from exposure to diagnostic ultrasound during early prenatal development of children with specific genetic vulnerabilities. These results also add weight to on-going concerns expressed by the FDA about non-medical use of diagnostic ultrasound during pregnancy. Autism Res 2017, 10: 472-484. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Jane Webb
- Center on Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.,Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Neurological Surgery, Seattle, Washington
| | - Michelle M Garrison
- Center on Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.,Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Neurological Surgery, Seattle, Washington
| | - Raphael Bernier
- Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Neurological Surgery, Seattle, Washington
| | - Abbi M McClintic
- Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Neurological Surgery, Seattle, Washington
| | - Bryan H King
- Center on Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Pierre D Mourad
- Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Neurological Surgery, Seattle, Washington.,Division of Engineering and Mathematics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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20
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Lim CS, Kim H, Yu NK, Kang SJ, Kim T, Ko HG, Lee J, Yang JE, Ryu HH, Park T, Gim J, Nam HJ, Baek SH, Wegener S, Schmitz D, Boeckers TM, Lee MG, Kim E, Lee JH, Lee YS, Kaang BK. Enhancing inhibitory synaptic function reverses spatial memory deficits in Shank2 mutant mice. Neuropharmacology 2016; 112:104-112. [PMID: 27544825 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.08.016] [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: 06/14/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disorders that cause variable and heterogeneous phenotypes across three behavioral domains such as atypical social behavior, disrupted communications, and highly restricted and repetitive behaviors. In addition to these core symptoms, other neurological abnormalities are associated with ASD, including intellectual disability (ID). However, the molecular etiology underlying these behavioral heterogeneities in ASD is unclear. Mutations in SHANK2 genes are associated with ASD and ID. Interestingly, two lines of Shank2 knockout mice (e6-7 KO and e7 KO) showed shared and distinct phenotypes. Here, we found that the expression levels of Gabra2, as well as of GABA receptor-mediated inhibitory neurotransmission, are reduced in Shank2 e6-7, but not in e7 KO mice compared with their own wild type littermates. Furthermore, treatment of Shank2 e6-7 KO mice with an allosteric modulator for the GABAA receptor reverses spatial memory deficits, indicating that reduced inhibitory neurotransmission may cause memory deficits in Shank2 e6-7 KO mice. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Ionotropic glutamate receptors'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chae-Seok Lim
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Hyopil Kim
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Nam-Kyung Yu
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Sukjae Joshua Kang
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - TaeHyun Kim
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Hyoung-Gon Ko
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Jaehyun Lee
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Yang
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Hyun-Hee Ryu
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, South Korea; Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Taesung Park
- Department of Statistics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Jungsoo Gim
- Department of Statistics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Hye Jin Nam
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Genetics, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Sung Hee Baek
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Genetics, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Stephanie Wegener
- Neuroscience Research Center, Cluster of Excellence NeuroCure, Charite, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dietmar Schmitz
- Neuroscience Research Center, Cluster of Excellence NeuroCure, Charite, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Min Goo Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, South Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Jae-Hyung Lee
- Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Maxillofacial Biomedical Engineering, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, South Korea.
| | - Yong-Seok Lee
- Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.
| | - Bong-Kiun Kaang
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
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21
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Yoo MH, Kim TY, Yoon YH, Koh JY. Autism phenotypes in ZnT3 null mice: Involvement of zinc dyshomeostasis, MMP-9 activation and BDNF upregulation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28548. [PMID: 27352957 PMCID: PMC4926223 DOI: 10.1038/srep28548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the role of synaptic zinc in the ASD pathogenesis, we examined zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) null mice. At 4–5 weeks of age, male but not female ZnT3 null mice exhibited autistic-like behaviors. Cortical volume and neurite density were significantly greater in male ZnT3 null mice than in WT mice. In male ZnT3 null mice, consistent with enhanced neurotrophic stimuli, the level of BDNF as well as activity of MMP-9 was increased. Consistent with known roles for MMPs in BDNF upregulation, 2.5-week treatment with minocycline, an MMP inhibitor, significantly attenuated BDNF levels as well as megalencephaly and autistic-like behaviors. Although the ZnT3 null state removed synaptic zinc, it rather increased free zinc in the cytosol of brain cells, which appeared to increase MMP-9 activity and BDNF levels. The present results suggest that zinc dyshomeostasis during the critical period of brain development may be a possible contributing mechanism for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Heui Yoo
- Neural Injury Research Lab, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea
| | - Tae-Youn Kim
- Neural Injury Research Lab, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea
| | - Young Hee Yoon
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea
| | - Jae-Young Koh
- Neural Injury Research Lab, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea.,Department of Neurology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea
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22
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Grabrucker S, Boeckers TM, Grabrucker AM. Gender Dependent Evaluation of Autism like Behavior in Mice Exposed to Prenatal Zinc Deficiency. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:37. [PMID: 26973485 PMCID: PMC4776245 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc deficiency has recently been linked to the etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) as environmental risk factor. With an estimated 17% of the world population being at risk of zinc deficiency, especially zinc deficiency during pregnancy might be a common occurrence, also in industrialized nations. On molecular level, zinc deficiency has been shown to affect a signaling pathway at glutamatergic synapses that has previously been identified through genetic mutations in ASD patients, the Neurexin-Neuroligin-Shank pathway, via altering zinc binding Shank family members. In particular, prenatal zinc deficient but not acute zinc deficient animals have been reported to display autism like behavior in some behavioral tests. However, a full behavioral analysis of a possible autism like behavior has been lacking so far. Here, we performed an extensive behavioral phenotyping of mice born from mothers with mild zinc deficiency during all trimesters of pregnancy. Prenatal zinc deficient animals were investigated as adults and gender differences were assessed. Our results show that prenatal zinc deficient mice display increased anxiety, deficits in nest building and various social interaction paradigm, as well as mild alterations in ultrasonic vocalizations. A gender specific analysis revealed only few sex specific differences. Taken together, given that similar behavioral abnormalities as reported here are frequently observed in ASD mouse models, we conclude that prenatal zinc deficient animals even without specific genetic susceptibility for ASD, already show some features of ASD like behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andreas M Grabrucker
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm UniversityUlm, Germany; WG Molecular Analysis of Synaptopathies, Neurology Department, Neurocenter of Ulm UniversityUlm, Germany
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Kim H, Lim CS, Kaang BK. Neuronal mechanisms and circuits underlying repetitive behaviors in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder. Behav Brain Funct 2016; 12:3. [PMID: 26790724 PMCID: PMC4719705 DOI: 10.1186/s12993-016-0087-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by three central behavioral symptoms: impaired social interaction, impaired social communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. However, the symptoms are heterogeneous among patients and a number of ASD mouse models have been generated containing mutations that mimic the mutations found in human patients with ASD. Each mouse model was found to display a unique set of repetitive behaviors. In this review, we summarize the repetitive behaviors of the ASD mouse models and variations found in their neural mechanisms including molecular and electrophysiological features. We also propose potential neuronal mechanisms underlying these repetitive behaviors, focusing on the role of the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic circuits and brain regions associated with both social and repetitive behaviors. Further understanding of molecular and circuitry mechanisms of the repetitive behaviors associated with ASD is necessary to aid the development of effective treatments for these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyopil Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
| | - Chae-Seok Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
| | - Bong-Kiun Kaang
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
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Huang F, Long Z, Chen Z, Li J, Hu Z, Qiu R, Zhuang W, Tang B, Xia K, Jiang H. Investigation of Gene Regulatory Networks Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder Based on MiRNA Expression in China. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129052. [PMID: 26061495 PMCID: PMC4462583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprise a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social and communication capacities and repetitive behaviors. Increasing neuroscientific evidence indicates that the neuropathology of ASD is widespread and involves epigenetic regulation in the brain. Differentially expressed miRNAs in the peripheral blood from autism patients were identified by high-throughput miRNA microarray analyses. Five of these miRNAs were confirmed through quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. A search for candidate target genes of the five confirmed miRNAs was performed through a Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) biological pathways and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis of gene function to identify gene regulatory networks. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first global miRNA expression profile of ASD in China. The differentially expressed miR-34b may potentially explain the higher percentage of male ASD patients, and the aberrantly expressed miR-103a-3p may contribute to the abnormal ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis observed in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengzhen Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
- Department of Neurology at University of South China, The First People’s Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, P. R. China
- Institute of Translational Medicine at University of South China, The First People’s Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Long
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
| | - Zhao Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
| | - Jiada Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of China, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan,410078, P. R. China
| | - Zhengmao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of China, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan,410078, P. R. China
| | - Rong Qiu
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Central South University, Hunan, 410083, P. R. China
- Hunan Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Control and Intelligent Automation, Hunan, 410083, P. R. China
| | - Wei Zhuang
- Department of Thoracic surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of China, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan,410078, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
| | - Kun Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of China, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan,410078, P. R. China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of China, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan,410078, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
- * E-mail:
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