1
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Villa PA, Lainez NM, Jonak CR, Berlin SC, Ethell IM, Coss D. Altered GnRH neuron and ovarian innervation characterize reproductive dysfunction linked to the Fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein ( Fmr1) gene mutation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1129534. [PMID: 36909303 PMCID: PMC9992745 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1129534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mutations in the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1) gene cause Fragile X Syndrome, the most common monogenic cause of intellectual disability. Mutations of FMR1 are also associated with reproductive disorders, such as early cessation of reproductive function in females. While progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of mental impairment, the causes of reproductive disorders are not clear. FMR1-associated reproductive disorders were studied exclusively from the endocrine perspective, while the FMR1 role in neurons that control reproduction was not addressed. Results Here, we demonstrate that similar to women with FMR1 mutations, female Fmr1 null mice stop reproducing early. However, young null females display larger litters, more corpora lutea in the ovaries, increased inhibin, progesterone, testosterone, and gonadotropin hormones in the circulation. Ovariectomy reveals both hypothalamic and ovarian contribution to elevated gonadotropins. Altered mRNA and protein levels of several synaptic molecules in the hypothalamus are identified, indicating reasons for hypothalamic dysregulation. Increased vascularization of corpora lutea, higher sympathetic innervation of growing follicles in the ovaries of Fmr1 nulls, and higher numbers of synaptic GABAA receptors in GnRH neurons, which are excitatory for GnRH neurons, contribute to increased FSH and LH, respectively. Unmodified and ovariectomized Fmr1 nulls have increased LH pulse frequency, suggesting that Fmr1 nulls exhibit hyperactive GnRH neurons, regardless of the ovarian feedback. Conclusion These results reveal Fmr1 function in the regulation of GnRH neuron secretion, and point to the role of GnRH neurons, in addition to the ovarian innervation, in the etiology of Fmr1-mediated reproductive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Djurdjica Coss
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States
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2
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Song X, Hu Q, Xu X, Pan W. Protein kinase C beta relieves autism-like behavior in EN2 knockout mice via upregulation of the FTO/PGC-1α/UCP1 axis. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2023; 37:e23236. [PMID: 36239013 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23236] [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: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that disruption of neuron activity contributes to the autistic phenotype. Thus, we aimed in this study to explore the role of protein kinase C beta (PKCβ) in the regulation of neuron activity in an autism model. The expression of PKCβ in the microarray data of autism animal models was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Then, mice with autism-like behavior were prepared in EN2 knockout (-/- ) mice. The interaction between PKCβ on fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) as well as between PGC-1α and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) were characterized. The effect of FTO on the N6 -methyladenosine (m6A) modification level of proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) was assayed. Following transfection of overexpressed PKCβ and/or silenced UCP1, effects of PKCβ and UCP1 in autism-like behaviors in EN2-/- mice were analyzed. Results showed that PKCβ was downregulated in EN2-/- mouse brain tissues or neurons. PKCβ promoted the expression and stability of FTO, which downregulated the m6A modification level of PGC-1α to promote its expression. Moreover, PGC-1α positively targeted the expression of UCP1. PKCβ knockdown enhanced sociability and spatial exploration ability, and reduced neuron apoptosis in EN2-/- mouse models of autism, which was reversed by UCP1 overexpression. Collectively, PKCβ overexpression leads to activation of the FTO/m6A/PGC-1α/UCP1 axis, thus inhibiting neuron apoptosis and providing neuroprotection in mice with autism-like behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu Song
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qibo Hu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoheng Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Pan
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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3
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Zeng Q, Saghafinia S, Chryplewicz A, Fournier N, Christe L, Xie YQ, Guillot J, Yucel S, Li P, Galván JA, Karamitopoulou E, Zlobec I, Ataca D, Gallean F, Zhang P, Rodriguez-Calero JA, Rubin M, Tichet M, Homicsko K, Hanahan D. Aberrant hyperexpression of the RNA binding protein FMRP in tumors mediates immune evasion. Science 2022; 378:eabl7207. [DOI: 10.1126/science.abl7207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Many human cancers manifest the capability to circumvent attack by the adaptive immune system. In this work, we identified a component of immune evasion that involves frequent up-regulation of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) in solid tumors. FMRP represses immune attack, as revealed by cancer cells engineered to lack its expression. FMRP-deficient tumors were infiltrated by activated T cells that impaired tumor growth and enhanced survival in mice. Mechanistically, FMRP’s immunosuppression was multifactorial, involving repression of the chemoattractant C-C motif chemokine ligand 7 (CCL7) concomitant with up-regulation of three immunomodulators—interleukin-33 (IL-33), tumor-secreted protein S (PROS1), and extracellular vesicles. Gene signatures associate FMRP’s cancer network with poor prognosis and response to therapy in cancer patients. Collectively, FMRP is implicated as a regulator that orchestrates a multifaceted barrier to antitumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqun Zeng
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Opna Bio SA, Biopole, 1066 Epalinges, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sadegh Saghafinia
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Opna Bio SA, Biopole, 1066 Epalinges, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Agnieszka Chryplewicz
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Fournier
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucine Christe
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yu-Qing Xie
- Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jeremy Guillot
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Simge Yucel
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pumin Li
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - José A. Galván
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Inti Zlobec
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dalya Ataca
- Opna Bio SA, Biopole, 1066 Epalinges, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Peng Zhang
- Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing 100045, China
| | | | - Mark Rubin
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mélanie Tichet
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Lausanne Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Krisztian Homicsko
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Lausanne Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Douglas Hanahan
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Lausanne Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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4
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Identification of the common neurobiological process disturbed in genetic and non-genetic models for autism spectrum disorders. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:589. [PMID: 36371739 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04617-3] [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: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders. Genetic factors, along with non-genetic triggers, have been shown to play a causative role. Despite the various causes, a triad of common symptoms defines individuals with ASD; pervasive social impairments, impaired social communication, and repeated sensory-motor behaviors. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that different genetic and environmental factors converge on a single hypothetical neurobiological process that determines these behaviors. However, the cellular and subcellular signature of this process is, so far, not well understood. Here, we performed a comparative study using "omics" approaches to identify altered proteins and, thereby, biological processes affected in ASD. In this study, we mined publicly available repositories for genetic mouse model data sets, identifying six that were suitable, and compared them with in-house derived proteomics data from prenatal zinc (Zn)-deficient mice, a non-genetic mouse model with ASD-like behavior. Findings derived from these comparisons were further validated using in vitro neuronal cell culture models for ASD. We could show that a protein network, centered on VAMP2, STX1A, RAB3A, CPLX2, and AKAP5, is a key convergence point mediating synaptic vesicle release and recycling, a process affected across all analyzed models. Moreover, we demonstrated that Zn availability has predictable functional effects on synaptic vesicle release in line with the alteration of proteins in this network. In addition, drugs that target kinases, reported to regulate key proteins in this network, similarly impacted the proteins' levels and distribution. We conclude that altered synaptic stability and plasticity through abnormal synaptic vesicle dynamics and function may be the common neurobiological denominator of the shared behavioral abnormalities in ASD and, therefore, a prime drug target for developing therapeutic strategies.
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5
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Song C, Broadie K. Dysregulation of BMP, Wnt, and Insulin Signaling in Fragile X Syndrome. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:934662. [PMID: 35880195 PMCID: PMC9307498 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.934662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Drosophila models of neurological disease contribute tremendously to research progress due to the high conservation of human disease genes, the powerful and sophisticated genetic toolkit, and the rapid generation time. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most prevalent heritable cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders, and the Drosophila FXS disease model has been critical for the genetic screening discovery of new intercellular secretion mechanisms. Here, we focus on the roles of three major signaling pathways: BMP, Wnt, and insulin-like peptides. We present Drosophila FXS model defects compared to mouse models in stem cells/embryos, the glutamatergic neuromuscular junction (NMJ) synapse model, and the developing adult brain. All three of these secreted signaling pathways are strikingly altered in FXS disease models, giving new mechanistic insights into impaired cellular outcomes and neurological phenotypes. Drosophila provides a powerful genetic screening platform to expand understanding of these secretory mechanisms and to test cellular roles in both peripheral and central nervous systems. The studies demonstrate the importance of exploring broad genetic interactions and unexpected regulatory mechanisms. We discuss a number of research avenues to pursue BMP, Wnt, and insulin signaling in future FXS investigations and the development of potential therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunzhu Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Kendal Broadie
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
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6
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Thomas S, Fayet OM, Truffault F, Fadel E, Provost B, Hamza A, Berrih-Aknin S, Bonnefont JP, Le Panse R. Altered expression of fragile X mental retardation-1 (FMR1) in the thymus in autoimmune myasthenia gravis. J Neuroinflammation 2021; 18:270. [PMID: 34789272 PMCID: PMC8597299 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-021-02311-y] [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: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Predisposition to autoimmunity and inflammatory disorders is observed in patients with fragile X-associated syndromes. These patients have increased numbers of CGG triplets in the 5’ UTR region of FMR1 (Fragile X Mental Retardation 1) gene, that affects its expression. FMR1 is decreased in the thymus of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients, a prototypical autoimmune disease. We thus analyzed the number of CGG triplets in FMR1 in MG, and explored the regulatory mechanisms affecting thymic FMR1 expression. We measured the number of CGGs using thymic DNA from MG and controls, but no abnormalities in CGGs were found in MG that could explain thymic decrease of FMR1. We next analyzed by RT-PCR the expression of FMR1 and its transcription factors in thymic samples, and in thymic epithelial cell cultures in response to inflammatory stimuli. In control thymuses, FMR1 expression was higher in males than females, and correlated with CTCF (CCCTC-binding factor) expression. In MG thymuses, decreased expression of FMR1 was correlated with both CTCF and MAX (Myc-associated factor X) expression. Changes in FMR1 expression were supported by western blot analyses for FMRP. In addition, we demonstrated that FMR1, CTCF and MAX expression in thymic epithelial cells was also sensitive to inflammatory signals. Our results suggest that FMR1 could play a central role in the thymus and autoimmunity. First, in relation with the higher susceptibility of females to autoimmune diseases. Second, due to the modulation of its expression by inflammatory signals that are known to be altered in MG thymuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Thomas
- Sorbonne University, INSERM, Institute of Myology, Center of Research in Myology, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Odessa-Maud Fayet
- Sorbonne University, INSERM, Institute of Myology, Center of Research in Myology, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Frédérique Truffault
- Sorbonne University, INSERM, Institute of Myology, Center of Research in Myology, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Elie Fadel
- Marie Lannelongue Hospital, Paris-Sud University, Le Plessis-Robinson, France
| | - Bastien Provost
- Marie Lannelongue Hospital, Paris-Sud University, Le Plessis-Robinson, France
| | - Abderaouf Hamza
- Université de Paris, Institut Imagine UMR1163, Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Sonia Berrih-Aknin
- Sorbonne University, INSERM, Institute of Myology, Center of Research in Myology, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Paul Bonnefont
- Université de Paris, Institut Imagine UMR1163, Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Rozen Le Panse
- Sorbonne University, INSERM, Institute of Myology, Center of Research in Myology, F-75013, Paris, France.
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7
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Proteau-Lemieux M, Lacroix A, Galarneau L, Corbin F, Lepage JF, Çaku A. The safety and efficacy of metformin in fragile X syndrome: An open-label study. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 110:110307. [PMID: 33757860 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a deficit of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), encoded by the fragile X mental retardation gene (FMR1) on the X chromosome. It has been hypothesized that the absence of FRMP leads to higher levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) in the brain, possibly contributing to the intellectual impairment characteristic of the disorder. Preclinical studies have shown that metformin downregulates the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway, corrects dendritic defects, and improves repetitive behavior in Fmr1 knockout mice. Here, we conducted an open-label study to evaluate: (1) the safety of metformin in normoglycemic individuals with FXS; and (2) the efficacy of metformin to improve aberrant behavior, attention, and to modulate cortical functioning. Fifteen patients with FXS, aged from 17 to 44, received 500 mg of metformin twice/daily over a 9-week treatment period. The primary outcome measures were: (1) the incidence of adverse events (AE); (2) the decrease in IGF-1 levels; and (3) the global score of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community, Fragile X. The secondary outcomes were: (1) the Test of Attentional Performance for children (KiTAP); and (2) the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) parameters measuring cortical excitability. The metformin treatment was well tolerated, with no significant related AE. The TMS data showed an increase in corticospinal inhibition mediated by GABAA and GABAB mechanisms. This study demonstrates the safety of metformin in normoglycemic patients with FXS, and suggests the potential of this medication in modifying GABA-mediated inhibition, a hallmark of FXS pathophysiology. Implications for future clinical trials are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélodie Proteau-Lemieux
- Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Center, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Angélina Lacroix
- Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Center, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Luc Galarneau
- Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Center, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - François Corbin
- Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Center, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Jean-François Lepage
- Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Center, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada.
| | - Artuela Çaku
- Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Center, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada
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8
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Dionne O, Corbin F. An "Omic" Overview of Fragile X Syndrome. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:433. [PMID: 34068266 PMCID: PMC8153138 DOI: 10.3390/biology10050433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with a wide range of cognitive, behavioral and medical problems. It arises from the silencing of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene and, consequently, in the absence of its encoded protein, FMRP (fragile X mental retardation protein). FMRP is a ubiquitously expressed and multifunctional RNA-binding protein, primarily considered as a translational regulator. Pre-clinical studies of the past two decades have therefore focused on this function to relate FMRP's absence to the molecular mechanisms underlying FXS physiopathology. Based on these data, successful pharmacological strategies were developed to rescue fragile X phenotype in animal models. Unfortunately, these results did not translate into humans as clinical trials using same therapeutic approaches did not reach the expected outcomes. These failures highlight the need to put into perspective the different functions of FMRP in order to get a more comprehensive understanding of FXS pathophysiology. This work presents a review of FMRP's involvement on noteworthy molecular mechanisms that may ultimately contribute to various biochemical alterations composing the fragile X phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Dionne
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke and Centre de Recherche du CHUS, CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5H4, Canada;
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9
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Malecki C, Hambly BD, Jeremy RW, Robertson EN. The RNA-binding fragile-X mental retardation protein and its role beyond the brain. Biophys Rev 2020; 12:903-916. [PMID: 32654068 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-020-00730-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well-established that variations of a CGG repeat expansion in the gene FMR1, which encodes the fragile-X mental retardation protein (FMRP), cause the neurocognitive disorder, fragile-X syndrome (FXS). However, multiple observations suggest a general and complex regulatory role of FMRP in processes outside the brain: (1) FMRP is ubiquitously expressed in the body, suggesting it functions in multiple organ systems; (2) patients with FXS can exhibit a physical phenotype that is consistent with an underlying abnormality in connective tissue; (3) different CGG repeat expansion lengths in FMR1 result in different clinical outcomes due to different pathogenic mechanisms; (4) the function of FMRP as an RNA-binding protein suggests it has a general regulatory role. This review details the complex nature of FMRP and the different CGG repeat expansion lengths and the evidence supporting the essential role of the protein in a variety of biological and pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Malecki
- Discipline of Pathology and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Level 4 West, Charles Perkins Centre D17, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - Brett D Hambly
- Discipline of Pathology and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Level 4 West, Charles Perkins Centre D17, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Richmond W Jeremy
- Discipline of Pathology and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Level 4 West, Charles Perkins Centre D17, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.,Cardiology Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth N Robertson
- Discipline of Pathology and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Level 4 West, Charles Perkins Centre D17, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.,Cardiology Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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10
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Yu KH, Palmer N, Fox K, Prock L, Mandl KD, Kohane IS, Prilutsky D. The phenotypical implications of immune dysregulation in fragile X syndrome. Eur J Neurol 2020; 27:590-593. [PMID: 31953887 DOI: 10.1111/ene.14146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Immune system dysfunction and inflammatory dysregulation have been shown in several animal models of fragile X syndrome (FXS). However, the phenotypical implications of this dysregulation have not been systematically evaluated in a large patient cohort. METHODS Five thousand seven hundred thirty-six FXS patients from a nationwide health insurance database were identified and compared to 573 600 age- and sex-matched controls. The phenome-wide association studies codes of FXS patients and those without FXS were compared and the false discovery rate was controlled at 0.05 using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. RESULTS In addition to the commonly reported comorbidities of FXS, an over-representation of infectious diseases, including otitis media, cellulitis and abscess of fingers or toes, viral enteritis, candidiasis and pneumonia, was discovered. In addition, there was an under-representation of autoimmune disorders in FXS patients. CONCLUSIONS Our systematic comorbidity analyses identified immunologically-based phenotypes associated with FXS. Our findings align with previous observations of compromised immunity and phagocytic defects in animal models of FXS. These results suggest the importance of immune-related pathways in FXS patients and their relevance to the FMR1 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- K-H Yu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - N Palmer
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - K Fox
- Aetna Inc., Hartford, Connecticut, USA
| | - L Prock
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - K D Mandl
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - I S Kohane
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - D Prilutsky
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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11
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Duan W, Wang K, Duan Y, Chu X, Ma R, Hu P, Xiong B. Integrated Transcriptome Analyses Revealed Key Target Genes in Mouse Models of Autism. Autism Res 2019; 13:352-368. [PMID: 31743624 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Genetic mutations are the major pathogenic factor of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In recent years, more and more ASD risk genes have been revealed, among which there are a group of transcriptional regulators. Considering the similarity of the core clinical phenotypes, it is possible that these different factors may regulate the expression levels of certain key targets. Identification of these targets could facilitate the understanding of the etiology and developing of novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Therefore, we performed integrated transcriptome analyses of RNA-Seq and microarray data in multiple ASD mouse models and identified a number of common downstream genes in various brain regions, many of which are related to the structure and function of the synapse components or drug addiction. We then established protein-protein interaction networks of the overlapped targets and isolated the hub genes by 11 algorithms based on the topological structure of the networks, including Sdc4, Vegfa, and Cp in the Cortex-Adult subgroup, Gria1 in the Cortex-Juvenile subgroup, and Kdr, S1pr1, Ubc, Grm2, Grin2b, Nrxn1, Pdyn, Grin3a, Itgam, Grin2a, Gabra2, and Camk4 in the Hippocampus-Adult subgroup, many of which have been associated with ASD in previous studies. Finally, we cross compared our results with human brain transcriptional data sets and verified several key candidates, which may play important role in the pathology process of ASD, including SDC4, CP, S1PR1, UBC, PDYN, GRIN2A, GABRA2, and CAMK4. In summary, by integrated bioinformatics analysis, we have identified a series of potentially important molecules for future ASD research. Autism Res 2020, 13: 352-368. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Abnormal transcriptional regulation accounts for a significant portion of Autism Spectrum Disorder. In this study, we performed transcriptome analyses of mouse models to identify common downstream targets of transcriptional regulators involved in ASD. We identified several recurrent target genes that are close related to the common pathological process of ASD, including SDC4, CP, S1PR1, UBC, PDYN, GRM2, NRXN1, GRIN3A, ITGAM, GRIN2A, GABRA2, and CAMK4. These results provide potentially important targets for understanding the molecular mechanism of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weicheng Duan
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Kang Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yijie Duan
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xufeng Chu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruoyun Ma
- School of Nursing, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Hu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (HUST), Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Xiong
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
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12
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Castagnola S, Bardoni B, Maurin T. The Search for an Effective Therapy to Treat Fragile X Syndrome: Dream or Reality? Front Synaptic Neurosci 2017; 9:15. [PMID: 29163124 PMCID: PMC5681520 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2017.00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of intellectual disability and a primary cause of autism. It originates from the lack of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), which is an RNA-binding protein encoded by the Fragile X Mental Retardation Gene 1 (FMR1) gene. Multiple roles have been attributed to this protein, ranging from RNA transport (from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, but also along neurites) to translational control of mRNAs. Over the last 20 years many studies have found a large number of FMRP mRNA targets, but it is still not clear which are those playing a critical role in the etiology of FXS. So far, no therapy for FXS has been found, making the quest for novel targets of considerable importance. Several pharmacological approaches have been attempted, but, despite some promising preclinical results, no strategy gave successful outcomes, due either to the induction of major side effects or to the lack of improvement of the phenotypes. However, these studies suggested that, in order to measure the effectiveness of a specific treatment, trials should be redesigned and new endpoints defined in FXS patients. Nevertheless, the search for new therapeutic targets for FXS is very active. In this context, the advances in animal modeling, coupled with better understanding of neurobiology and physiopathology of FXS, are of crucial importance in developing new selected treatments. Here, we discuss the pathways that were recently linked to the physiopathology of FXS (mGluR, GABAR, insulin, Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), MPP-9, serotonin, oxytocin and endocannabinoid signaling) and that suggest new approaches to find an effective therapy for this disorder. Our goal with this review article is to summarize some recent relevant findings on FXS treatment strategies in order to have a clearer view of the different pathways analyzed to date emphasizing those shared with other synaptic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Castagnola
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC), Valbonne, France
| | - Barbara Bardoni
- Université Côte d'Azur, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC), Valbonne, France
| | - Thomas Maurin
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC), Valbonne, France
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13
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Bozzi Y, Provenzano G, Casarosa S. Neurobiological bases of autism-epilepsy comorbidity: a focus on excitation/inhibition imbalance. Eur J Neurosci 2017; 47:534-548. [PMID: 28452083 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and epilepsy are common neurological diseases of childhood, with an estimated incidence of approximately 0.5-1% of the worldwide population. Several genetic, neuroimaging and neuropathological studies clearly showed that both ASD and epilepsy have developmental origins and a substantial degree of heritability. Most importantly, ASD and epilepsy frequently coexist in the same individual, suggesting a common neurodevelopmental basis for these disorders. Genome-wide association studies recently allowed for the identification of a substantial number of genes involved in ASD and epilepsy, some of which are mutated in syndromes presenting both ASD and epilepsy clinical features. At the cellular level, both preclinical and clinical studies indicate that the different genetic causes of ASD and epilepsy may converge to perturb the excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance, due to the dysfunction of excitatory and inhibitory circuits in various brain regions. Metabolic and immune dysfunctions, as well as environmental causes also contribute to ASD pathogenesis. Thus, an E/I imbalance resulting from neurodevelopmental deficits of multiple origins might represent a common pathogenic mechanism for both diseases. Here, we will review the most significant studies supporting these hypotheses. A deeper understanding of the molecular and cellular determinants of autism-epilepsy comorbidity will pave the way to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Bozzi
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Group, Centre for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123, Povo, Trento, Italy.,CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Provenzano
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Simona Casarosa
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy.,Laboratory of Neural Development and Regeneration, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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14
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Provenzano G, Corradi Z, Monsorno K, Fedrizzi T, Ricceri L, Scattoni ML, Bozzi Y. Comparative Gene Expression Analysis of Two Mouse Models of Autism: Transcriptome Profiling of the BTBR and En2 (-/-) Hippocampus. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:396. [PMID: 27610074 PMCID: PMC4996997 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by a high degree of genetic heterogeneity. Genomic studies identified common pathological processes underlying the heterogeneous clinical manifestations of ASD, and transcriptome analyses revealed that gene networks involved in synapse development, neuronal activity, and immune function are deregulated in ASD. Mouse models provide unique tools to investigate the neurobiological basis of ASD; however, a comprehensive approach to identify transcriptional abnormalities in different ASD models has never been performed. Here we used two well-recognized ASD mouse models, BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) and Engrailed-2 knockout (En2−/−), to identify conserved ASD-related molecular signatures. En2−/− mice bear a mutation within the EN2 transcription factor homeobox, while BTBR is an inbred strain with unknown genetic defects. Hippocampal RNA samples from BTBR, En2−/− and respective control (C57Bl/6J and En2+/+) adult mice were assessed for differential gene expression using microarrays. A total of 153 genes were similarly deregulated in the BTBR and En2−/− hippocampus. Mouse phenotype and gene ontology enrichment analyses were performed on BTBR and En2−/− hippocampal differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Pathways represented in both BTBR and En2−/− hippocampal DEGs included abnormal behavioral response and chemokine/MAP kinase signaling. Genes involved in abnormal function of the immune system and abnormal synaptic transmission/seizures were significantly represented among BTBR and En2−/− DEGs, respectively. Interestingly, both BTBR and En2−/− hippocampal DEGs showed a significant enrichment of ASD and schizophrenia (SCZ)-associated genes. Specific gene sets were enriched in the two models: microglial genes were significantly enriched among BTBR DEGs, whereas GABAergic/glutamatergic postsynaptic genes, FMRP-interacting genes and epilepsy-related genes were significantly enriched among En2−/− DEGs. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) performed on BTBR and En2−/− hippocampal transcriptomes together identified six modules significantly enriched in ASD-related genes. Each of these modules showed a specific enrichment profile in neuronal and glial genes, as well as in genes associated to ASD comorbidities such as epilepsy and SCZ. Our data reveal significant transcriptional similarities and differences between the BTBR and En2−/− hippocampus, indicating that transcriptome analysis of ASD mouse models may contribute to identify novel molecular targets for pharmacological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Provenzano
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento Trento, Italy
| | - Zelia Corradi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento Trento, Italy
| | - Katia Monsorno
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento Trento, Italy
| | - Tarcisio Fedrizzi
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento Trento, Italy
| | - Laura Ricceri
- Neurotoxicology and Neuroendocrinology Section, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità Rome, Italy
| | - Maria L Scattoni
- Neurotoxicology and Neuroendocrinology Section, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità Rome, Italy
| | - Yuri Bozzi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of TrentoTrento, Italy; National Research Council Neuroscience InstitutePisa, Italy
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