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Kraft J, Braun A, Awasthi S, Panagiotaropoulou G, Schipper M, Bell N, Posthuma D, Pardiñas AF, Ripke S, Heilbron K. Identifying drug targets for schizophrenia through gene prioritization. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.05.15.24307423. [PMID: 38798390 PMCID: PMC11118622 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.15.24307423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Background Schizophrenia genome-wide association studies (GWASes) have identified >250 significant loci and prioritized >100 disease-related genes. However, gene prioritization efforts have mostly been restricted to locus-based methods that ignore information from the rest of the genome. Methods To more accurately characterize genes involved in schizophrenia etiology, we applied a combination of highly-predictive tools to a published GWAS of 67,390 schizophrenia cases and 94,015 controls. We combined both locus-based methods (fine-mapped coding variants, distance to GWAS signals) and genome-wide methods (PoPS, MAGMA, ultra-rare coding variant burden tests). To validate our findings, we compared them with previous prioritization efforts, known neurodevelopmental genes, and results from the PsyOPS tool. Results We prioritized 62 schizophrenia genes, 41 of which were also highlighted by our validation methods. In addition to DRD2, the principal target of antipsychotics, we prioritized 9 genes that are targeted by approved or investigational drugs. These included drugs targeting glutamatergic receptors (GRIN2A and GRM3), calcium channels (CACNA1C and CACNB2), and GABAB receptor (GABBR2). These also included genes in loci that are shared with an addiction GWAS (e.g. PDE4B and VRK2). Conclusions We curated a high-quality list of 62 genes that likely play a role in the development of schizophrenia. Developing or repurposing drugs that target these genes may lead to a new generation of schizophrenia therapies. Rodent models of addiction more closely resemble the human disorder than rodent models of schizophrenia. As such, genes prioritized for both disorders could be explored in rodent addiction models, potentially facilitating drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Kraft
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Berlin/Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alice Braun
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Berlin/Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
| | - Swapnil Awasthi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Berlin/Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
| | - Georgia Panagiotaropoulou
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Berlin/Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Nathaniel Bell
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Danielle Posthuma
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychology, Section Complex Trait Genetics, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Antonio F. Pardiñas
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Stephan Ripke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Berlin/Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karl Heilbron
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Berlin/Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
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Yin MY, Guo L, Zhao LJ, Zhang C, Liu WP, Zhang CY, Huo JH, Wang L, Li SW, Zheng CB, Xiao X, Li M, Wang C, Chang H. Reduced Vrk2 expression is associated with higher risk of depression in humans and mediates depressive-like behaviors in mice. BMC Med 2023; 21:256. [PMID: 37452335 PMCID: PMC10349461 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02945-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have reported single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the VRK serine/threonine kinase 2 gene (VRK2) showing genome-wide significant associations with major depression, but the regulation effect of the risk SNPs on VRK2 as well as their roles in the illness are yet to be elucidated. METHODS Based on the summary statistics of major depression GWAS, we conducted population genetic analyses, epigenome bioinformatics analyses, dual luciferase reporter assays, and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses to identify the functional SNPs regulating VRK2; we also carried out behavioral assessments, dendritic spine morphological analyses, and phosphorylated 4D-label-free quantitative proteomics analyses in mice with Vrk2 repression. RESULTS We identified a SNP rs2678907 located in the 5' upstream of VRK2 gene exhibiting large spatial overlap with enhancer regulatory marks in human neural cells and brain tissues. Using luciferase reporter gene assays and eQTL analyses, the depression risk allele of rs2678907 decreased enhancer activities and predicted lower VRK2 mRNA expression, which is consistent with the observations of reduced VRK2 level in the patients with major depression compared with controls. Notably, Vrk2-/- mice exhibited depressive-like behaviors compared to Vrk2+/+ mice and specifically repressing Vrk2 in the ventral hippocampus using adeno-associated virus (AAV) lead to consistent and even stronger depressive-like behaviors in mice. Compared with Vrk2+/+ mice, the density of mushroom and thin spines in the ventral hippocampus was significantly altered in Vrk2-/- mice, which is in line with the phosphoproteomic analyses showing dysregulated synapse-associated proteins and pathways in Vrk2-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS Vrk2 deficiency mice showed behavioral abnormalities that mimic human depressive phenotypes, which may serve as a useful murine model for studying the pathophysiology of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Yu Yin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lei Guo
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- School of Basic Medical Science, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Clinical Research Center & Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, China.
| | - Wei-Peng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chu-Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jin-Hua Huo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Shi-Wu Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chang-Bo Zheng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
| | - Chuang Wang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
- School of Basic Medical Science, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Hong Chang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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Boulenouar H, Benhatchi H, Guermoudi F, Oumiloud AH, Rahoui A. An actualized screening of schizophrenia-associated genes. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMAN GENETICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s43042-022-00269-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that impacts around 0.5% to 1.2% of the world's population. It has been well established that heredity plays an essential role in the causation of schizophrenia, with genetic heritability of up to 80%. A several new schizophrenia susceptibility genes were identified at the start of the twenty-first century. The aim of this systematic review will be to explore the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and schizophrenia risk in people all over the world.
Methods
This systematic review collected available data on genetic variants associated with schizophrenia in worldwide populations. A PubMed and Science Direct search was investigated to identify all studies published until December 2020 on genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia in various populations, excluding family studies, transversal studies, cohort studies, experimental studies, and descriptive studies; those that demonstrate an association between repeat polymorphism (CNV, VNTR, etc.). All researches on genetic predispositions of schizophrenia and accepting the predetermined inclusion criteria were included in this systematic review.
Findings
Thirty-six studies focused on the schizophrenia-associated genes were retained in which a total of 44 polymorphisms among 26 susceptibility genes to schizophrenia have been associated in the world populations.
Conclusion
Despite the few number of studies published about genetic of schizophrenia, some genetic variations have been consistently correlated to schizophrenia, particularly in China, as this analysis shows. Further data, especially from genome-wide association studies, might contribute in the development of a reference for schizophrenia genetic susceptibility markers.
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Zhu H, Li Q, Zhao Y, Peng H, Guo L, Zhu J, Jiang Z, Zeng Z, Xu B, Chen S. Vaccinia-related kinase 2 drives pancreatic cancer progression by protecting Plk1 from Chfr-mediated degradation. Oncogene 2021; 40:4663-4674. [PMID: 34140642 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01893-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
As a key cell cycle regulator, polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) has been recognized as a crucial factor involved in the progression of pancreatic cancer (PC). However, its regulatory mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we present evidence that Plk1 is a novel substrate of vaccinia-related kinase 2 (VRK2), a serine-threonine kinase that is highly expressed and predicts poor prognosis in PC. VRK2 phosphorylates Plk1 at threonine 210 and protects it from ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation. We showed that mechanistically complement factor H-related protein (CFHR), as a major E3 ligase, promotes Plk1 degradation by ubiquitinating it at lysine 209. Phosphorylation of Plk1 at threonine 210 by VRK2 interferes with the interaction of Chfr with Plk1 and antagonizes Plk1 ubiquitination, thereby stabilizing the Plk1 protein. Taken together, our data reveal a mechanism of Plk1 overexpression in PC and provide evidence for targeting VRK2 as a potential therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengqing Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Pathology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yulan Zhao
- Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hong Peng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, 908th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army Joint, Nanchang, China
| | - Liangyun Guo
- Department of Ultrasound, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jing Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zi Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhaoxia Zeng
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Burns, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
| | - Sisi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
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5
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Liu X, Han T, Xie H, Fu Z, Yao Q, Lin Z, Zhu H, Zhan D. Evaluation of the relationship between VRK2, rs4380187 polymorphisms, and genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia in the Chinese Han population. J Gene Med 2021; 23:e3313. [PMID: 33522046 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia (SZ) is a serious hereditary mental disease with a low recovery rate, especially due to the lack of understanding about the cause of the disease. VRK2 is considered to be related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In this study, we analyzed the correlation between VRK2, rs4380187 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and schizophrenia. METHODS Peripheral blood DNA was extracted using a genomic DNA extraction kit. The DNA samples were genotyped using the Agena MassARRAY platform, and four genetic models were applied to compute the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using unconditional logistic regression. The p value was obtained by the chi-square and t test for independent samples. RESULTS The C allele of rs4380187 SNP was significantly (p = 0.008) associated with decreased risk of SZ. The AA genotype of rs4380187 showed significantly (p = 0.009) lower frequency in cases with SZ than in controls and was associated with decreased risk of the disease. The frequency of the CA genotype of rs4380187 correlated with a 0.73-fold decreased risk of SZ (p = 0.033). In the co-dominant genetic model, the genotype of rs4380187 was associated with a decreased risk of SZ (p = 0.010). We also found that the log-additive model of rs4380187 significantly reduced the risk of SZ disease (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION This study provides further evidence that rs4380187 SNP is associated with SZ. This genotype variation could be associated with the psychopathology and cognitive function in SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianglai Liu
- Institute of Mental Health, Anning Hospital, Hainan Province, China
| | - Tianming Han
- Institute of Mental Health, Anning Hospital, Hainan Province, China
| | - Hailing Xie
- Institute of Mental Health, Anning Hospital, Hainan Province, China.,The Third Department of Psychiatry, Anning Hospital, Hainan Province, China
| | - Zejuan Fu
- Institute of Mental Health, Anning Hospital, Hainan Province, China
| | - Qiankun Yao
- Institute of Mental Health, Anning Hospital, Hainan Province, China
| | - Zhan Lin
- Institute of Mental Health, Anning Hospital, Hainan Province, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Institute of Mental Health, Anning Hospital, Hainan Province, China
| | - Dafei Zhan
- Institute of Mental Health, Anning Hospital, Hainan Province, China
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Mirauta BA, Seaton DD, Bensaddek D, Brenes A, Bonder MJ, Kilpinen H, Stegle O, Lamond AI. Population-scale proteome variation in human induced pluripotent stem cells. eLife 2020; 9:e57390. [PMID: 32773033 PMCID: PMC7447446 DOI: 10.7554/elife.57390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human disease phenotypes are driven primarily by alterations in protein expression and/or function. To date, relatively little is known about the variability of the human proteome in populations and how this relates to variability in mRNA expression and to disease loci. Here, we present the first comprehensive proteomic analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), a key cell type for disease modelling, analysing 202 iPSC lines derived from 151 donors, with integrated transcriptome and genomic sequence data from the same lines. We characterised the major genetic and non-genetic determinants of proteome variation across iPSC lines and assessed key regulatory mechanisms affecting variation in protein abundance. We identified 654 protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) in iPSCs, including disease-linked variants in protein-coding sequences and variants with trans regulatory effects. These include pQTL linked to GWAS variants that cannot be detected at the mRNA level, highlighting the utility of dissecting pQTL at peptide level resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Andrei Mirauta
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
| | - Daniel D Seaton
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
| | - Dalila Bensaddek
- Centre for Gene Regulation & Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of DundeeDundeeUnited Kingdom
| | - Alejandro Brenes
- Centre for Gene Regulation & Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of DundeeDundeeUnited Kingdom
| | - Marc Jan Bonder
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
| | - Helena Kilpinen
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
| | - Oliver Stegle
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology UnitHeidelbergGermany
- Division of Computational Genomics and Systems Genetic, German Cancer Research CenterHeidelbergGermany
| | - Angus I Lamond
- Centre for Gene Regulation & Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of DundeeDundeeUnited Kingdom
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Almarzooq S, Kwon J, Willis A, Craig J, Morris BJ. Novel alternatively-spliced exons of the VRK2 gene in mouse brain and microglial cells. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:5127-5136. [PMID: 32583282 PMCID: PMC7417415 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05584-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Common sequence variations in the VRK2 gene contribute to genetic risk for various psychiatric diseases including schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. Despite the clear importance of studying the regulation and function of VRK2 for understanding the causes of these diseases, the organisation and expression of the gene remain poorly characterised. Using reverse-transcriptase-PCR, we have amplifed exons of Vrk2 mRNA from regions of mouse brain, and from different cell classes comprising neurones, astrocytes and microglial cells. We find that Vrk2 mRNA is expressed in all cell types, and that the splicing of the mouse Vrk2 gene is much more complex than previously appreciated. In addition to the predicted alternative splicing (absence/presence) of the penultimate 3 prime exon, we also detected a variety of 5 prime structures, including two novel exons spanning the first characterised exon (exon 1), which we term exons 1a and 1b. While expressed in neurones and astrocytes, exon 1b was not expressed in microglial cells. Expression of transcripts containing exon 1a in microglia was increased by immune stimulation. An additional truncated transcript lacking 7 central exons was also identified. As with the human gene, the results confirm complex patterns of alternative splicing which are likely to be relevant for understanding the physiological and pathological function of the gene in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salsabil Almarzooq
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Sir James Black Building, G12 8QQ, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jaedeok Kwon
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Sir James Black Building, G12 8QQ, Glasgow, UK
| | - Ashleigh Willis
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Sir James Black Building, G12 8QQ, Glasgow, UK
| | - John Craig
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Sir James Black Building, G12 8QQ, Glasgow, UK
| | - Brian J Morris
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Sir James Black Building, G12 8QQ, Glasgow, UK.
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Block J. High risk genotypes for schizophrenia may have been adaptive in the context of smallpox. Med Hypotheses 2020; 137:109556. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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9
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Hess JL, Tylee DS, Barve R, de Jong S, Ophoff RA, Kumarasinghe N, Tooney P, Schall U, Gardiner E, Beveridge NJ, Scott RJ, Yasawardene S, Perera A, Mendis J, Carr V, Kelly B, Cairns M, Tsuang MT, Glatt SJ. Transcriptomic abnormalities in peripheral blood in bipolar disorder, and discrimination of the major psychoses. Schizophr Res 2020; 217:124-135. [PMID: 31391148 PMCID: PMC6997041 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We performed a transcriptome-wide meta-analysis and gene co-expression network analysis to identify genes and gene networks dysregulated in the peripheral blood of bipolar disorder (BD) cases relative to unaffected comparison subjects, and determined the specificity of the transcriptomic signatures of BD and schizophrenia (SZ). Nineteen genes and 4 gene modules were significantly differentially expressed in BD cases. Thirteen gene modules were shown to be differentially expressed in a combined case-group of BD and SZ subjects called "major psychosis", including genes biologically linked to apoptosis, reactive oxygen, chromatin remodeling, and immune signaling. No modules were differentially expressed between BD and SZ cases. Machine-learning classifiers trained to separate diagnostic classes based solely on gene expression profiles could distinguish BD cases from unaffected comparison subjects with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.724, as well as BD cases from SZ cases with AUC = 0.677 in withheld test samples. We introduced a novel and straightforward method called "polytranscript risk scoring" that could distinguish BD cases from unaffected subjects (AUC = 0.672) and SZ cases (AUC = 0.607) significantly better than expected by chance. Taken together, our results highlighted gene expression alterations common to BD and SZ that involve biological processes of inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and chromatin regulation, and highlight disorder-specific changes in gene expression that discriminate the major psychoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan L Hess
- Psychiatric Genetic Epidemiology & Neurobiology Laboratory (PsychGENe Lab), Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences & Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Daniel S Tylee
- Psychiatric Genetic Epidemiology & Neurobiology Laboratory (PsychGENe Lab), Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences & Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Rahul Barve
- Psychiatric Genetic Epidemiology & Neurobiology Laboratory (PsychGENe Lab), Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences & Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Simone de Jong
- MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Roel A Ophoff
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Nishantha Kumarasinghe
- School of Medicine & Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, Australia.; Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka; Faculty of Medicine, Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka
| | - Paul Tooney
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Ulrich Schall
- School of Medicine & Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, Australia.; Priority Centre for Brain & Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Erin Gardiner
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; Priority Centre for Brain & Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Natalie Jane Beveridge
- School of Medicine & Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, Australia.; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia; Priority Centre for Brain & Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Rodney J Scott
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Surangi Yasawardene
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Antionette Perera
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Jayan Mendis
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Vaughan Carr
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brian Kelly
- School of Medicine & Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, Australia.; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia; Priority Centre for Brain & Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Murray Cairns
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia; Priority Centre for Brain & Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Ming T Tsuang
- Center for Behavioral Genomics, Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Harvard Institute of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Genetics, Boston, USA
| | - Stephen J Glatt
- Psychiatric Genetic Epidemiology & Neurobiology Laboratory (PsychGENe Lab), Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences & Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
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10
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Moghbeli M. Genetic and Molecular Biology of Multiple Sclerosis Among Iranian Patients: An Overview. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2019; 40:65-85. [PMID: 31482432 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-019-00731-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one if the common types of autoimmune disorders in developed countries. Various environmental and genetic factors are associated with initiation and progression of MS. It is believed that the life style changes can be one of the main environmental risk factors. The environmental factors are widely studied and reported, whereas minority of reports have considered the role of genetic factors in biology of MS. Although Iran is a low-risk country in the case of MS prevalence, it has been shown that there was a dramatically rising trend of MS prevalence among Iranian population during recent decades. Therefore, it is required to assess the probable MS risk factors in Iran. In the present study, we summarized all of the reported genes until now which have been associated with MS susceptibility among Iranian patients. To clarify the probable molecular biology of MS progression, we categorized these reported genes based on their cellular functions. This review paves the way of introducing a specific population-based diagnostic panel of genetic markers among the Iranian population for the first time in the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meysam Moghbeli
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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Aref-Eshghi E, Bend EG, Colaiacovo S, Caudle M, Chakrabarti R, Napier M, Brick L, Brady L, Carere DA, Levy MA, Kerkhof J, Stuart A, Saleh M, Beaudet AL, Li C, Kozenko M, Karp N, Prasad C, Siu VM, Tarnopolsky MA, Ainsworth PJ, Lin H, Rodenhiser DI, Krantz ID, Deardorff MA, Schwartz CE, Sadikovic B. Diagnostic Utility of Genome-wide DNA Methylation Testing in Genetically Unsolved Individuals with Suspected Hereditary Conditions. Am J Hum Genet 2019; 104:685-700. [PMID: 30929737 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional genetic testing of individuals with neurodevelopmental presentations and congenital anomalies (ND/CAs), i.e., the analysis of sequence and copy number variants, leaves a substantial proportion of them unexplained. Some of these cases have been shown to result from DNA methylation defects at a single locus (epi-variants), while others can exhibit syndrome-specific DNA methylation changes across multiple loci (epi-signatures). Here, we investigate the clinical diagnostic utility of genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of peripheral blood in unresolved ND/CAs. We generate a computational model enabling concurrent detection of 14 syndromes using DNA methylation data with full accuracy. We demonstrate the ability of this model in resolving 67 individuals with uncertain clinical diagnoses, some of whom had variants of unknown clinical significance (VUS) in the related genes. We show that the provisional diagnoses can be ruled out in many of the case subjects, some of whom are shown by our model to have other diseases initially not considered. By applying this model to a cohort of 965 ND/CA-affected subjects without a previous diagnostic assumption and a separate assessment of rare epi-variants in this cohort, we identify 15 case subjects with syndromic Mendelian disorders, 12 case subjects with imprinting and trinucleotide repeat expansion disorders, as well as 106 case subjects with rare epi-variants, a portion of which involved genes clinically or functionally linked to the subjects' phenotypes. This study demonstrates that genomic DNA methylation analysis can facilitate the molecular diagnosis of unresolved clinical cases and highlights the potential value of epigenomic testing in the routine clinical assessment of ND/CAs.
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Chen CP, Chern SR, Wu PS, Chen SW, Lai ST, Chuang TY, Chen WL, Yang CW, Wang W. Prenatal diagnosis of a 3.2-Mb 2p16.1-p15 duplication associated with familial intellectual disability. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2018; 57:578-582. [PMID: 30122582 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2018.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We present prenatal diagnosis of a 2p16.1-p15 duplication associated with familial intellectual disability, and we discuss the genotype-phenotype correlation. CASE REPORT A 22-year-old, primigravid woman underwent amniocentesis at 22 weeks of gestation because of a family history of intellectual disability. The woman and her two sisters had intellectual disability but no behavioral disorders. The intellectual disability was noted in at least one paternal aunt and six paternal cousins of the woman. Cytogenetic analysis revealed the karyotype of 46,XX in the fetus and the two women. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis on the DNAs extracted from cultured amniocytes and the bloods of the woman and the her sister revealed a 3.244-Mb duplication of 2p16.1-p15 or arr 2p16.1p15 (58,288,588-61,532,538) × 3.0 [GRCh37 (hg19)] encompassing eight Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) genes of VRK2, FANCL, BCL11A, PAPOLG, REL, PUS10, PEX13 and USP34 in the fetus and the two women. Prenatal ultrasound findings were unremarkable. The woman elected to continue the pregnancy. A 3244-g female baby was delivered at term with neither craniofacial dysmorphism nor structural abnormalities. CONCLUSION aCGH is useful in prenatal diagnosis of inherited subtle chromosome imbalance in pregnancy with familial intellectual disability. Chromosome 2p16.1-p15 duplication can be associated with intellectual disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Ping Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical and Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Schu-Rern Chern
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Shin-Wen Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ting Lai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yun Chuang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Lin Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Wen Yang
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wayseen Wang
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Bioengineering, Tatung University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Li M, Yue W. VRK2, a Candidate Gene for Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders. MOLECULAR NEUROPSYCHIATRY 2018; 4:119-133. [PMID: 30643786 PMCID: PMC6323383 DOI: 10.1159/000493941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent large-scale genetic approaches, such as genome-wide association studies, have identified multiple genetic variations that contribute to the risk of mental illnesses, among which single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within or near the vaccinia related kinase 2 (VRK2) gene have gained consistent support for their correlations with multiple psychiatric and neurological disorders including schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and genetic generalized epilepsy. For instance, the genetic variant rs1518395 in VRK2 showed genome-wide significant associations with SCZ (35,476 cases and 46,839 controls, p = 3.43 × 10-8) and MDD (130,620 cases and 347,620 controls, p = 4.32 × 10-12) in European populations. This SNP was also genome-wide significantly associated with SCZ in Han Chinese population (12,083 cases and 24,097 controls, p = 3.78 × 10-13), and all associations were in the same direction of allelic effects. These studies highlight the potential roles of VRK2 in the central nervous system, and this gene therefore might be a good candidate to investigate the shared genetic and molecular basis between SCZ and MDD, as it is one of the few genes known to show genome-wide significant associations with both illnesses. Furthermore, the VRK2 gene was found to be involved in multiple other congenital deficits related to the malfunction of neurodevelopment, adding further support for the involvement of this gene in the pathogenesis of these neurological and psychiatric illnesses. While the precise function of VRK2 in these conditions remains unclear, preliminary evidence suggests that it may affect neuronal proliferation and migration via interacting with multiple essential signaling pathways involving other susceptibility genes/proteins for psychiatric disorders. Here, we have reviewed the recent progress of genetic and molecular studies of VRK2, with an emphasis on its role in psychiatric illnesses and neurological functions. We believe that attention to this important gene is necessary, and further investigations of VRK2 may provide hints into the underlying mechanisms of SCZ and MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Weihua Yue
- Peking University Sixth Hospital/Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University) and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
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Codipilly DC, Gavrilova RH, Tangalos EG. De novo 2p16.1 microdeletion with metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma. BMJ Case Rep 2017; 2017:bcr-2016-218016. [PMID: 28108439 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2016-218016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microdeletions involving chromosome 2p15-16.1 are a rare genetic abnormality and have been reported in 18 separate patients, mainly children, since 2007. This microdeletion syndrome is characterised by a heterogeneous expression of intellectual impairment, dysmorphic facies, musculoskeletal abnormalities and potential neurodevelopmental anomalies. We report the first case of natural progression in an adult patient who died at a young age of metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma. Important learning points include the variable phenotypic expression of this microdeletion syndrome and the fact that clinicians must be thorough in investigating objective discrepancies in patients who cannot endorse classical symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don Chamil Codipilly
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Minnesota, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Ralitza H Gavrilova
- Department of Clinical Genomics and Neurology, Mayo Clinic Minnesota, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Eric G Tangalos
- Department of Primary Care Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Minnesota, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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