1
|
Mucignat-Caretta C, Soravia G. Positive or negative environmental modulations on human brain development: the morpho-functional outcomes of music training or stress. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1266766. [PMID: 38027483 PMCID: PMC10657192 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1266766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last couple of decades, the study of human living brain has benefitted of neuroimaging and non-invasive electrophysiological techniques, which are particularly valuable during development. A number of studies allowed to trace the usual stages leading from pregnancy to adult age, and relate them to functional and behavioral measurements. It was also possible to explore the effects of some interventions, behavioral or not, showing that the commonly followed pathway to adulthood may be steered by external interventions. These events may result in behavioral modifications but also in structural changes, in some cases limiting plasticity or extending/modifying critical periods. In this review, we outline the healthy human brain development in the absence of major issues or diseases. Then, the effects of negative (different stressors) and positive (music training) environmental stimuli on brain and behavioral development is depicted. Hence, it may be concluded that the typical development follows a course strictly dependent from environmental inputs, and that external intervention can be designed to positively counteract negative influences, particularly at young ages. We also focus on the social aspect of development, which starts in utero and continues after birth by building social relationships. This poses a great responsibility in handling children education and healthcare politics, pointing to social accountability for the responsible development of each child.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulia Soravia
- Department of Mother and Child Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lombardi L, Le Clerc S, Wu CL, Bouassida J, Boukouaci W, Sugusabesan S, Richard JR, Lajnef M, Tison M, Le Corvoisier P, Barau C, Banaschewski T, Holt R, Durston S, Persico AM, Oakley B, Loth E, Buitelaar J, Murphy D, Leboyer M, Zagury JF, Tamouza R. A human leukocyte antigen imputation study uncovers possible genetic interplay between gut inflammatory processes and autism spectrum disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:244. [PMID: 37407551 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02550-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions that are for subsets of individuals, underpinned by dysregulated immune processes, including inflammation, autoimmunity, and dysbiosis. Consequently, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-hosted human leukocyte antigen (HLA) has been implicated in ASD risk, although seldom investigated. By utilizing a GWAS performed by the EU-AIMS consortium (LEAP cohort), we compared HLA and MHC genetic variants, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), and haplotypes in ASD individuals, versus typically developing controls. We uncovered six SNPs, namely rs9268528, rs9268542, rs9268556, rs14004, rs9268557, and rs8084 that crossed the Bonferroni threshold, which form the underpinnings of 3 independent genetic pathways/blocks that differentially associate with ASD. Block 1 (rs9268528-G, rs9268542-G, rs9268556-C, and rs14004-A) afforded protection against ASD development, whilst the two remaining blocks, namely rs9268557-T, and rs8084-A, associated with heightened risk. rs8084 and rs14004 mapped to the HLA-DRA gene, whilst the four other SNPs located in the BTNL2 locus. Different combinations amongst BTNL2 SNPs and HLA amino acid variants or classical alleles were found either to afford protection from or contribute to ASD risk, indicating a genetic interplay between BTNL2 and HLA. Interestingly, the detected variants had transcriptional and/or quantitative traits loci implications. As BTNL2 modulates gastrointestinal homeostasis and the identified HLA alleles regulate the gastrointestinal tract in celiac disease, it is proposed that the data on ASD risk may be linked to genetically regulated gut inflammatory processes. These findings might have implications for the prevention and treatment of ASD, via the targeting of gut-related processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lombardi
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bio-informatique et Chimie Moléculaire (EA7528), Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, 292, rue Saint Martin, 75003, Paris, France
- HESAM Université, Paris, France
| | - Sigrid Le Clerc
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bio-informatique et Chimie Moléculaire (EA7528), Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, 292, rue Saint Martin, 75003, Paris, France
- HESAM Université, Paris, France
| | - Ching-Lien Wu
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Jihène Bouassida
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Wahid Boukouaci
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Sobika Sugusabesan
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Jean-Romain Richard
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Mohamed Lajnef
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Maxime Tison
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bio-informatique et Chimie Moléculaire (EA7528), Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, 292, rue Saint Martin, 75003, Paris, France
- HESAM Université, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Le Corvoisier
- Université Paris Est Créteil, Inserm, Centre Investigation Clinique, CIC 1430, Henri Mondor, Créteil, F94010, France
| | - Caroline Barau
- Plateforme de Ressources Biologiques, HU Henri Mondor, Créteil, F94010, France
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rosemary Holt
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah Durston
- Education Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Program at Modena University Hospital, & Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Bethany Oakley
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopemental Science, Institute of Psychatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Loth
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopemental Science, Institute of Psychatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Buitelaar
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Declan Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopemental Science, Institute of Psychatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, AP-HP, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Département Médico-Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie (DMU IMPACT), Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire de Médecine de Précision (FHU ADAPT) and Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, F-94010, France
| | - Jean-François Zagury
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bio-informatique et Chimie Moléculaire (EA7528), Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, 292, rue Saint Martin, 75003, Paris, France
- HESAM Université, Paris, France
| | - Ryad Tamouza
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France.
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, AP-HP, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Département Médico-Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie (DMU IMPACT), Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire de Médecine de Précision (FHU ADAPT) and Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, F-94010, France.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Plachti A, Latzman RD, Balajoo SM, Hoffstaedter F, Madsen KS, Baare W, Siebner HR, Eickhoff SB, Genon S. Hippocampal anterior- posterior shift in childhood and adolescence. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 225:102447. [PMID: 36967075 PMCID: PMC10185869 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Hippocampal-cortical networks play an important role in neurocognitive development. Applying the method of Connectivity-Based Parcellation (CBP) on hippocampal-cortical structural covariance (SC) networks computed from T1-weighted magnetic resonance images, we examined how the hippocampus differentiates into subregions during childhood and adolescence (N = 1105, 6-18 years). In late childhood, the hippocampus mainly differentiated along the anterior-posterior axis similar to previous reported functional differentiation patterns of the hippocampus. In contrast, in adolescence a differentiation along the medial-lateral axis was evident, reminiscent of the cytoarchitectonic division into cornu ammonis and subiculum. Further meta-analytical characterization of hippocampal subregions in terms of related structural co-maturation networks, behavioural and gene profiling suggested that the hippocampal head is related to higher order functions (e.g. language, theory of mind, autobiographical memory) in late childhood morphologically co-varying with almost the whole brain. In early adolescence but not in childhood, posterior subicular SC networks were associated with action-oriented and reward systems. The findings point to late childhood as an important developmental period for hippocampal head morphology and to early adolescence as a crucial period for hippocampal integration into action- and reward-oriented cognition. The latter may constitute a developmental feature that conveys increased propensity for addictive disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Plachti
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital -Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robert D Latzman
- Data Sciences Institute, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Felix Hoffstaedter
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Kathrine Skak Madsen
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital -Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark; Radiography, Department of Technology, University College Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - William Baare
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital -Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hartwig R Siebner
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital -Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sarah Genon
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany; GIGA-CRC In vivo Imaging, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cutrer FM, Moyer AM, Atkinson EJ, Wang L, Tian S, Wu Y, Garza I, Robertson CE, Huebert CA, Moore BE, Klein CJ. Genetic variants related to successful migraine prophylaxis with verapamil. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2021; 9:e1680. [PMID: 33829662 PMCID: PMC8222836 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, there is no biologically based rationale for drug selection in migraine prophylactic treatment. METHODS To investigate the genetic variation underlying treatment response to verapamil prophylaxis, we selected 225 patients from a longitudinally established, deeply phenotyped migraine database (N = 5983), and collected uninterrupted quantitated verapamil treatment response data and DNA for these 225 cases. We recorded the number of headache days in the four weeks preceding treatment with verapamil and for four weeks, following completion of a treatment period with verapamil lasting at least five weeks. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was applied to a discovery cohort consisting of 21 definitive responders and 14 definitive non-responders, and the identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing significant association were genotyped in a separate confirmation cohort (185 verapamil treated patients). Statistical analysis of the WES data from the discovery cohort identified 524 SNPs associated with verapamil responsiveness (p < 0.01); among them, 39 SNPs were validated in the confirmatory cohort (n = 185) which included the full range of response to verapamil from highly responsive to not responsive. RESULTS Fourteen SNPs were confirmed by both percentage and arithmetic statistical approaches. Pathway and protein network analysis implicated myo-inositol biosynthetic and phospholipase-C second messenger pathways in verapamil responsiveness, emphasizing the earlier pathogenic understanding of migraine. No association was found between genetic variation in verapamil metabolic enzymes and treatment response. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that genetic analysis in well-characterized subpopulations can yield important pharmacogenetic information pertaining to the mechanism of anti-migraine prophylactic medications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ann M. Moyer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
- Department of Clinical GenomicsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Elizabeth J. Atkinson
- Health Sciences ResearchBiomedical Statistics and InformaticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Liguo Wang
- Health Sciences ResearchBiomedical Statistics and InformaticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Shulan Tian
- Health Sciences ResearchBiomedical Statistics and InformaticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Yanhong Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Ivan Garza
- Department of NeurologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | | | | | - Brenda E. Moore
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Christopher J. Klein
- Department of NeurologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
- Department of Clinical GenomicsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Singletary B. Learning Through Shared Care : Allomaternal Care Impacts Cognitive Development in Early Infancy in a Western Population. HUMAN NATURE-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE 2021; 32:326-362. [PMID: 33970458 DOI: 10.1007/s12110-021-09395-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates how allomaternal care (AMC) impacts human development outside of energetics by evaluating relations between important qualitative and quantitative aspects of AMC and developmental outcomes in a Western population. This study seeks to determine whether there are measurable differences in cognitive and language outcomes as predicted by differences in exposure to AMC via formal (e.g., childcare facilities) and informal (e.g., family and friends) networks. Data were collected from 102 mothers and their typically developing infants aged 13-18 months. AMC predictor data were collected using questionnaires, structured daily diaries, and longitudinal interviews. Developmental outcomes were assessed using the Cognitive, Receptive Language, and Expressive Language subtests of the Bayley III Screening Test. Additional demographic covariates were also evaluated. Akaike Information Criterion (AIC)-informed model selection was used to identify the best-fitting model for each outcome across three working linear regression models. Although AMC variables had no significant effects on Receptive and Expressive Language subtest scores, highly involved familial AMC had a significant medium effect on Cognitive subtest score (β = 0.23, p < 0.01, semi-partial r = 0.28). Formal childcare had no effect on any outcome. This study provides preliminary evidence that there is a measurable connection between AMC and cognitive development in some populations and provides a methodological base from which to assess these connections cross-culturally through future studies. As these effects are attributable to AMC interactions with networks of mostly related individuals, these findings present an area for further investigation regarding the kin selection hypothesis for AMC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Britt Singletary
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, US. .,Crane Center for Early Childhood Research & Policy, The Ohio State University, 175 E. 7th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43201, US.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
Transcriptomes are known to organize themselves into gene co-expression clusters or modules where groups of genes display distinct patterns of coordinated or synchronous expression across independent biological samples. The functional significance of these co-expression clusters is suggested by the fact that highly coexpressed groups of genes tend to be enriched in genes involved in common functions and biological processes. While gene co-expression is widely assumed to reflect close regulatory proximity, the validity of this assumption remains unclear. Here we use a simple synthetic gene regulatory network (GRN) model and contrast the resulting co-expression structure produced by these networks with their known regulatory architecture and with the co-expression structure measured in available human expression data. Using randomization tests, we found that the levels of co-expression observed in simulated expression data were, just as with empirical data, significantly higher than expected by chance. When examining the source of correlated expression, we found that individual regulators, both in simulated and experimental data, fail, on average, to display correlated expression with their immediate targets. However, highly correlated gene pairs tend to share at least one common regulator, while most gene pairs sharing common regulators do not necessarily display correlated expression. Our results demonstrate that widespread co-expression naturally emerges in regulatory networks, and that it is a reliable and direct indicator of active co-regulation in a given cellular context.
Collapse
|
7
|
Tamouza R, Krishnamoorthy R, Leboyer M. Understanding the genetic contribution of the human leukocyte antigen system to common major psychiatric disorders in a world pandemic context. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 91:731-739. [PMID: 33031918 PMCID: PMC7534661 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a complex genetic system that encodes proteins which predominantly regulate immune/inflammatory processes. It can be involved in a variety of immuno-inflammatory disorders ranging from infections to autoimmunity and cancers. The HLA system is also suggested to be involved in neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity, especially through microglia regulation and synaptic pruning. Consequently, this highly polymorphic gene region has recently emerged as a major player in the etiology of several major psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder and bipolar disorder and with less evidence for major depressive disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. We thus review here the role of HLA genes in particular subgroups of psychiatric disorders and foresee their potential implication in future research. In particular, given the prominent role that the HLA system plays in the regulation of viral infection, this review is particularly timely in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryad Tamouza
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie Translationnelle, F-94010 Creteil, France; AP-HP, Hopital Henri Mondor, Département Medico-Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie (DMU ADAPT), F-94010, France; Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France.
| | | | - Marion Leboyer
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie Translationnelle, F-94010 Creteil, France,AP-HP, Hopital Henri Mondor, Département Medico-Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d’Addictologie (DMU ADAPT), F-94010, France,Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mascheretti S, Perdue MV, Feng B, Andreola C, Dionne G, Jasińska KK, Pugh KR, Grigorenko EL, Landi N. From BDNF to reading: Neural activation and phonological processing as multiple mediators. Behav Brain Res 2020; 396:112859. [PMID: 32810467 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The BDNF gene is a prominent promoter of neuronal development, maturation and plasticity. Its Val66Met polymorphism affects brain morphology and function within several areas and is associated with several cognitive functions and neurodevelopmental disorder susceptibility. Recently, it has been associated with reading, reading-related traits and altered neural activation in reading-related brain regions. However, it remains unknown if the intermediate phenotypes (IPs, such as brain activation and phonological skills) mediate the pathway from gene to reading or reading disability. By conducting a serial multiple mediation model in a sample of 94 children (age 5-13), our findings revealed no direct effects of genotype on reading. Instead, we found that genotype is associated with brain activation in reading-related and more domain general regions which in turn is associated with phonological processing which is associated with reading. These findings suggest that the BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism is related to reading via phonological processing and functional activation. These results support brain imaging data and neurocognitive traits as viable IPs for complex behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Mascheretti
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy
| | - Meaghan V Perdue
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Bei Feng
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Chiara Andreola
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy; Université de Paris, Laboratoire de Psychologie de Développement et de l'Éducation de l'Enfant (LaPsyDÉ), Paris, France
| | | | - Kaja K Jasińska
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kenneth R Pugh
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Elena L Grigorenko
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; St. Petersburg State University, Russia
| | - Nicole Landi
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li ML, Tang H, Shao Y, Wang MS, Xu HB, Wang S, Irwin DM, Adeola AC, Zeng T, Chen L, Li Y, Wu DD. Evolution and transition of expression trajectory during human brain development. BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:72. [PMID: 32576137 PMCID: PMC7310562 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01633-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The remarkable abilities of the human brain are distinctive features that set us apart from other animals. However, our understanding of how the brain has changed in the human lineage remains incomplete, but is essential for understanding cognition, behavior, and brain disorders in humans. Here, we compared the expression trajectory in brain development between humans and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to explore their divergent transcriptome profiles. RESULTS Results showed that brain development could be divided into two stages, with a demarcation date in a range between 25 and 26 postconception weeks (PCW) for humans and 17-23PCWfor rhesus macaques, rather than birth time that have been widely used as a uniform demarcation time of neurodevelopment across species. Dynamic network biomarker (DNB) analysis revealed that the two demarcation dates were transition phases during brain development, after which the brain transcriptome profiles underwent critical transitions characterized by highly fluctuating DNB molecules. We also found that changes between early and later brain developmental stages (as defined by the demarcation points) were substantially greater in the human brain than in the macaque brain. To explore the molecular mechanism underlying prolonged timing during early human brain development, we carried out expression heterochrony tests. Results demonstrated that compared to macaques, more heterochronic genes exhibited neoteny during early human brain development, consistent with the delayed demarcation time in the human lineage, and proving that neoteny in human brain development could be traced to the prenatal period. We further constructed transcriptional networks to explore the profile of early human brain development and identified the hub gene RBFOX1 as playing an important role in regulating early brain development. We also found RBFOX1 evolved rapidly in its non-coding regions, indicating that this gene played an important role in human brain evolution. Our findings provide evidence that RBFOX1 is a likely key hub gene in early human brain development and evolution. CONCLUSIONS By comparing gene expression profiles between humans and macaques, we found divergent expression trajectories between the two species, which deepens our understanding of the evolution of the human brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Hui Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yong Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Ming-Shan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Hai-Bo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Sheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - David M Irwin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Banting and Best Diabetes Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Adeniyi C Adeola
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Tao Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Luonan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, Yunnan, China.
| | - Dong-Dong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Singletary B. What are the benefits of having a village? Effects of allomaternal care on communicative skills in early infancy. Infant Behav Dev 2019; 57:101361. [PMID: 31491616 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2019.101361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates whether exposure to allomaternal care (AMC-care for infants from individuals other than the mother) improves rates of communicative behaviors during late infancy by providing more opportunities to practice communicating with varied caregivers. Data were collected from 102 typically-developing infants aged 13-18 months and their mothers. AMC variables were collected using a current care questionnaire, structured 14-day diary, and longitudinal interview. Communicative behaviors were assessed through post hoc microcoding of in-lab administrations of the Early Social Communication Scales (ESCS), as well as additional microcoding of the Bayley III Screening Cognitive Subtest. Demographic covariates were also included. For each communicative behavior, backward model selection was used to determine the best fitting linear regression model. Results suggested that rates of turn-taking decreased with Household AMC (p < 0.008), but increased with two or more siblings present at home (p < 0.01). Conversely, rates of spontaneous giving increased with Household AMC (p < 0.003) regardless of the presence of siblings. Notably, exposure to more AMC was neither helpful nor harmful for many of the tested communicative behaviors, although the number of siblings present was significantly related to rates of following commands, as well as pointing and reaching. Ultimately, this study suggests that household level experiences with AMC, rather than formalized care, impact the development of some communicative behaviors during late infancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Britt Singletary
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, 1009 East South Campus Dr., P.O. Box 210030, Tucson, AZ 85721-0030, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Asor E, Ben-Shachar D. Gene expression dynamics following mithramycin treatment: A possible model for post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2018; 45:1028-1037. [PMID: 29851136 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.12975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced cognitive changes is a major burden on a substantial number of cancer survivors. The mechanism of this sequel is unknown. In this study, we followed long-term effects of early in life mithramycin (MTR) treatment on behaviour and on the normal course of alterations of gene expression in brain. Between post-natal days (PND) 7 and 10, male rats were divided into 2 groups, 1 receiving MTR (0.1 mg/kg s.c. per day) and the other receiving saline. At PND11, frontal cortex tissue samples were dissected from 4 rats from each group. At PND 65 the remaining rats underwent behavioural tests after which all the rats were decapitated and their prefrontal cortex incised. Rats treated transiently with MTR early in life, showed impairments in spatial working memory and anxious-like behaviour in adulthood. The immediate molecular effect of MTR was expressed in a limited number of altered genes of different unconnected trajectories, which were simultaneously distorted by the drug. In contrast, 3 months later we observed a change in the expression of more than 1000 genes that converged into specific cellular processes. Time-dependent gene expression dynamics of several genes was significantly different between treated and untreated rats. The differences in the total number of altered genes and in gene expression trends, immediately and long after MTR treatment cessation, suggest the evolution of a new cellular homeostatic set point, which can lead to behavioural abnormalities following chemotherapy treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eyal Asor
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.,B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-IIT, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dorit Ben-Shachar
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.,B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-IIT, Haifa, Israel.,The Rappaport Family Institute for Research in Medical Sciences, Technion-IIT, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
|
13
|
Affiliation(s)
- Chet C. Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052
| | - Aida Gómez-Robles
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Jasińska KK, Molfese PJ, Kornilov SA, Mencl WE, Frost SJ, Lee M, Pugh KR, Grigorenko EL, Landi N. The BDNF Val 66Met polymorphism is associated with structural neuroanatomical differences in young children. Behav Brain Res 2017; 328:48-56. [PMID: 28359883 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2016] [Revised: 02/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been associated with individual differences in brain structure and function, and cognition. Research on BDNF's influence on brain and cognition has largely been limited to adults, and little is known about the association of this gene, and specifically the Val66Met polymorphism, with developing brain structure and emerging cognitive functions in children. We performed a targeted genetic association analysis on cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical volume in 78 children (ages 6-10) who were Val homozygotes (homozygous Val/Val carriers) or Met carriers (Val/Met, Met/Met) for the Val66Met locus using Atlas-based brain segmentation. We observed greater cortical thickness for Val homozygotes in regions supporting declarative memory systems (anterior temporal pole/entorhinal cortex), consistent with adult findings. Met carriers had greater surface area in the prefrontal and parietal cortices and greater cortical thickness in lateral occipital/parietal cortex in contrast to prior adult findings that may relate to performance on cognitive tasks supported by these regions in Met carriers. Finally, we found larger right hippocampal volume in Met carriers, although inconsistent with adult findings (generally reports larger volumes for Val homozygotes), is consistent with a recent finding in children. Gene expression levels vary across different brain regions and across development and our findings highlight the need to consider this developmental change in explorations of BDNF-brain relationships. The impact of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on the structure of the developing brain therefore reflects regionally-specific developmental changes in BDNF expression and cortical maturation trajectories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaja K Jasińska
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Peter J Molfese
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Sergey A Kornilov
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation; Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - W Einar Mencl
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Kenneth R Pugh
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Elena L Grigorenko
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation; Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation; Moscow State University for Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Nicole Landi
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Jasińska KK, Molfese PJ, Kornilov SA, Mencl WE, Frost SJ, Lee M, Pugh KR, Grigorenko EL, Landi N. The BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Influences Reading Ability and Patterns of Neural Activation in Children. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157449. [PMID: 27551971 PMCID: PMC4995017 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding how genes impact the brain’s functional activation for learning and cognition during development remains limited. We asked whether a common genetic variant in the BDNF gene (the Val66Met polymorphism) modulates neural activation in the young brain during a critical period for the emergence and maturation of the neural circuitry for reading. In animal models, the bdnf variation has been shown to be associated with the structure and function of the developing brain and in humans it has been associated with multiple aspects of cognition, particularly memory, which are relevant for the development of skilled reading. Yet, little is known about the impact of the Val66Met polymorphism on functional brain activation in development, either in animal models or in humans. Here, we examined whether the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (dbSNP rs6265) is associated with children’s (age 6–10) neural activation patterns during a reading task (n = 81) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), genotyping, and standardized behavioral assessments of cognitive and reading development. Children homozygous for the Val allele at the SNP rs6265 of the BDNF gene outperformed Met allele carriers on reading comprehension and phonological memory, tasks that have a strong memory component. Consistent with these behavioral findings, Met allele carriers showed greater activation in reading–related brain regions including the fusiform gyrus, the left inferior frontal gyrus and left superior temporal gyrus as well as greater activation in the hippocampus during a word and pseudoword reading task. Increased engagement of memory and spoken language regions for Met allele carriers relative to Val/Val homozygotes during reading suggests that Met carriers have to exert greater effort required to retrieve phonological codes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaja K. Jasińska
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Peter J. Molfese
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States of America
| | - Sergey A. Kornilov
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - W. Einar Mencl
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | | | - Maria Lee
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Kenneth R. Pugh
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States of America
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Elena L. Grigorenko
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation
- Moscow City University for Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Nicole Landi
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States of America
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Monzón-Sandoval J, Castillo-Morales A, Urrutia AO, Gutierrez H. Modular reorganization of the global network of gene regulatory interactions during perinatal human brain development. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2016; 16:13. [PMID: 27175727 PMCID: PMC4866393 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-016-0111-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Background During early development of the nervous system, gene expression patterns are known to vary widely depending on the specific developmental trajectories of different structures. Observable changes in gene expression profiles throughout development are determined by an underlying network of precise regulatory interactions between individual genes. Elucidating the organizing principles that shape this gene regulatory network is one of the central goals of developmental biology. Whether the developmental programme is the result of a dynamic driven by a fixed architecture of regulatory interactions, or alternatively, the result of waves of regulatory reorganization is not known. Results Here we contrast these two alternative models by examining existing expression data derived from the developing human brain in prenatal and postnatal stages. We reveal a sharp change in gene expression profiles at birth across brain areas. This sharp division between foetal and postnatal profiles is not the result of pronounced changes in level of expression of existing gene networks. Instead we demonstrate that the perinatal transition is marked by the widespread regulatory rearrangement within and across existing gene clusters, leading to the emergence of new functional groups. This rearrangement is itself organized into discrete blocks of genes, each targeted by a distinct set of transcriptional regulators and associated to specific biological functions. Conclusions Our results provide evidence of an acute modular reorganization of the regulatory architecture of the brain transcriptome occurring at birth, reflecting the reassembly of new functional associations required for the normal transition from prenatal to postnatal brain development. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12861-016-0111-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Monzón-Sandoval
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK.,Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Atahualpa Castillo-Morales
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK.,Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Araxi O Urrutia
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK. .,Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Monzón-Sandoval J, Castillo-Morales A, Crampton S, McKelvey L, Nolan A, O'Keeffe G, Gutierrez H. Modular and coordinated expression of immune system regulatory and signaling components in the developing and adult nervous system. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:337. [PMID: 26379506 PMCID: PMC4551857 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, the nervous system (NS) is assembled and sculpted through a concerted series of neurodevelopmental events orchestrated by a complex genetic programme. While neural-specific gene expression plays a critical part in this process, in recent years, a number of immune-related signaling and regulatory components have also been shown to play key physiological roles in the developing and adult NS. While the involvement of individual immune-related signaling components in neural functions may reflect their ubiquitous character, it may also reflect a much wider, as yet undescribed, genetic network of immune-related molecules acting as an intrinsic component of the neural-specific regulatory machinery that ultimately shapes the NS. In order to gain insights into the scale and wider functional organization of immune-related genetic networks in the NS, we examined the large scale pattern of expression of these genes in the brain. Our results show a highly significant correlated expression and transcriptional clustering among immune-related genes in the developing and adult brain, and this correlation was the highest in the brain when compared to muscle, liver, kidney and endothelial cells. We experimentally tested the regulatory clustering of immune system (IS) genes by using microarray expression profiling in cultures of dissociated neurons stimulated with the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha, and found a highly significant enrichment of immune system-related genes among the resulting differentially expressed genes. Our findings strongly suggest a coherent recruitment of entire immune-related genetic regulatory modules by the neural-specific genetic programme that shapes the NS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Monzón-Sandoval
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln Lincoln, UK ; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath Bath, UK
| | - Atahualpa Castillo-Morales
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln Lincoln, UK ; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath Bath, UK
| | - Sean Crampton
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork Cork, Ireland
| | - Laura McKelvey
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork Cork, Ireland
| | - Aoife Nolan
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard O'Keeffe
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork Cork, Ireland ; Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital Cork, Ireland
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
|
19
|
Mukherjee S, Guha S, Ikeda M, Iwata N, Malhotra AK, Pe'er I, Darvasi A, Lencz T. Excess of homozygosity in the major histocompatibility complex in schizophrenia. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 23:6088-95. [PMID: 24943592 PMCID: PMC4204767 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Revised: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in schizophrenia have focused on additive allelic effects to identify disease risk loci. In order to examine potential recessive effects, we applied a novel approach to identify regions of excess homozygosity in an ethnically homogenous cohort: 904 schizophrenia cases and 1640 controls drawn from the Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) population. Genome-wide examination of runs of homozygosity identified an excess in cases localized to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). To refine this signal, we used the recently developed GERMLINE algorithm to identify chromosomal segments shared identical-by-descent (IBD) and compared homozygosity at such segments in cases and controls. We found a significant excess of homozygosity in schizophrenia cases compared with controls in the MHC (P-value = 0.003). An independent replication cohort of 548 schizophrenia cases from Japan and 542 matched healthy controls demonstrated similar effects. The strongest case-control recessive effects (P = 8.81 × 10(-8)) were localized to a 53-kb region near HLA-A, in a segment encompassing three poorly annotated genes, TRIM10, TRIM15 and TRIM40. At the same time, an adjacent segment in the Class I MHC demonstrated clear additive effects on schizophrenia risk, demonstrating the complexity of association in the MHC and the ability of our IBD approach to refine localization of broad signals derived from conventional GWAS. In sum, homozygosity in the classical MHC region appears to convey significant risk for schizophrenia, consistent with the ecological literature suggesting that homozygosity at the MHC locus may be associated with vulnerability to disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Semanti Mukherjee
- The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatry Research, 75-59 263rd Street, Glen Oaks, NY 11004, USA, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA,
| | - Saurav Guha
- The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatry Research, 75-59 263rd Street, Glen Oaks, NY 11004, USA, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Masashi Ikeda
- Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98 Kutsukake-cho Dengakugakubo, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Nakao Iwata
- Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98 Kutsukake-cho Dengakugakubo, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Anil K Malhotra
- The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatry Research, 75-59 263rd Street, Glen Oaks, NY 11004, USA, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA, Hofstra University School of Medicine, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
| | - Itsik Pe'er
- Department of Computer Science, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA and
| | - Ariel Darvasi
- Department of Genetics, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Todd Lencz
- The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatry Research, 75-59 263rd Street, Glen Oaks, NY 11004, USA, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA, Hofstra University School of Medicine, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA,
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sipahi L, Wildman DE, Aiello AE, Koenen KC, Galea S, Abbas A, Uddin M. Longitudinal epigenetic variation of DNA methyltransferase genes is associated with vulnerability to post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychol Med 2014; 44:3165-79. [PMID: 25065861 PMCID: PMC4530981 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291714000968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic differences exist between trauma-exposed individuals with and without post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is unclear whether these epigenetic differences pre-exist, or arise following, trauma and PTSD onset. METHOD In pre- and post-trauma samples from a subset of Detroit Neighborhood Health Study participants, DNA methylation (DNAm) was measured at DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), DNMT3A, DNMT3B and DNMT3L. Pre-trauma DNAm differences and changes in DNAm from pre- to post-trauma were assessed between and within PTSD cases (n = 30) and age-, gender- and trauma exposure-matched controls (n = 30). Pre-trauma DNAm was tested for association with post-trauma symptom severity (PTSS) change. Potential functional consequences of DNAm differences were explored via bioinformatic search for putative transcription factor binding sites (TFBS). RESULTS DNMT1 DNAm increased following trauma in PTSD cases (p = 0.001), but not controls (p = 0.067). DNMT3A and DNMT3B DNAm increased following trauma in both cases (DNMT3A: p = 0.009; DNMT3B: p < 0.001) and controls (DNMT3A: p = 0.002; DNMT3B: p < 0.001). In cases only, pre-trauma DNAm was lower at a DNMT3B CpG site that overlaps with a TFBS involved in epigenetic regulation (p = 0.001); lower pre-trauma DNMT3B DNAm at this site was predictive of worsening of PTSS post-trauma (p = 0.034). Some effects were attenuated following correction for multiple hypothesis testing. CONCLUSIONS DNAm among trauma-exposed individuals shows both longitudinal changes and pre-existing epigenetic states that differentiate individuals who are resilient versus susceptible to PTSD. These distinctive DNAm differences within DNMT loci may contribute to genome-wide epigenetic profiles of PTSD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Levent Sipahi
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Derek E. Wildman
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Allison E. Aiello
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Karestan C. Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Sandro Galea
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Asad Abbas
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Monica Uddin
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Chouinard-Decorte F, McKay DR, Reid A, Khundrakpam B, Zhao L, Karama S, Rioux P, Sprooten E, Knowles E, Kent JW, Curran JE, Göring HHH, Dyer TD, Olvera RL, Kochunov P, Duggirala R, Fox PT, Almasy L, Blangero J, Bellec P, Evans AC, Glahn DC. Heritable changes in regional cortical thickness with age. Brain Imaging Behav 2014; 8:208-16. [PMID: 24752552 PMCID: PMC4205107 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-014-9296-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
It is now well established that regional indices of brain structure such as cortical thickness, surface area or grey matter volume exhibit spatially variable patterns of heritability. However, a recent study found these patterns to change with age during development, a result supported by gene expression studies. Changes in heritability have not been investigated in adulthood so far and could have important implications in the study of heritability and genetic correlations in the brain as well as in the discovery of specific genes explaining them. Herein, we tested for genotype by age (G ×A) interactions, an extension of genotype by environment interactions, through adulthood and healthy aging in 902 subjects from the Genetics of Brain Structure (GOBS) study. A "jackknife" based method for the analysis of stable cortical thickness clusters (JASC) and scale selection is also introduced. Although additive genetic variance remained constant throughout adulthood, we found evidence for incomplete pleiotropy across age in the cortical thickness of paralimbic and parieto-temporal areas. This suggests that different genetic factors account for cortical thickness heritability at different ages in these regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francois Chouinard-Decorte
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - D. Reese McKay
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06571, USA
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
| | - Andrew Reid
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Budhachandra Khundrakpam
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Lu Zhao
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Sherif Karama
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4H 1R2, Canada
| | - Pierre Rioux
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Emma Sprooten
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06571, USA
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
| | - Emma Knowles
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06571, USA
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
| | - Jack W. Kent
- Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, PO Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78245, USA
| | - Joanne E. Curran
- Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, PO Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78245, USA
| | - Harald H. H. Göring
- Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, PO Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78245, USA
| | - Thomas D. Dyer
- Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, PO Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78245, USA
| | - Rene L. Olvera
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06571, USA
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4H 1R2, Canada
- Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, PO Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78245, USA
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 2120, USA
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- Geriatric Institute Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3W 1W5, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX H3W 1W5, USA
| | - Peter Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 2120, USA
| | - Ravi Duggirala
- Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, PO Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78245, USA
| | - Peter T. Fox
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Laura Almasy
- Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, PO Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78245, USA
| | - John Blangero
- Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, PO Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78245, USA
| | - Pierre Bellec
- Geriatric Institute Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3W 1W5, Canada
| | - Alan C. Evans
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - David C. Glahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06571, USA
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Hagihara H, Ohira K, Takao K, Miyakawa T. Transcriptomic evidence for immaturity of the prefrontal cortex in patients with schizophrenia. Mol Brain 2014; 7:41. [PMID: 24886351 PMCID: PMC4066280 DOI: 10.1186/1756-6606-7-41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, has a lifetime prevalence of 1%. The exact mechanisms underlying this disorder remain unknown, though theories abound. Recent studies suggest that particular cell types and biological processes in the schizophrenic cortex have a pseudo-immature status in which the molecular properties partially resemble those in the normal immature brain. However, genome-wide gene expression patterns in the brains of patients with schizophrenia and those of normal infants have not been directly compared. Here, we show that the gene expression patterns in the schizophrenic prefrontal cortex (PFC) resemble those in the juvenile PFC. RESULTS We conducted a gene expression meta-analysis in which, using microarray data derived from different studies, altered expression patterns in the dorsolateral PFC (DLFC) of patients with schizophrenia were compared with those in the DLFC of developing normal human brains, revealing a striking similarity. The results were replicated in a second DLFC data set and a medial PFC (MFC) data set. We also found that about half of the genes representing the transcriptomic immaturity of the schizophrenic PFC were developmentally regulated in fast-spiking interneurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, to test whether medications, which often confound the results of postmortem analyses, affect on the juvenile-like gene expressions in the schizophrenic PFC, we compared the gene expression patterns showing transcriptomic immaturity in the schizophrenic PFC with those in the PFC of rodents treated with antipsychotic drugs. The results showed no apparent similarities between the two conditions, suggesting that the juvenile-like gene expression patterns observed in the schizophrenic PFC could not be accounted for by medication effects. Moreover, the developing human PFC showed a gene expression pattern similar to that of the PFC of naive Schnurri-2 knockout mice, an animal model of schizophrenia with good face and construct validity. This result also supports the idea that the transcriptomic immaturity of the schizophrenic PFC is not due to medication effects. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our results provide evidence that pseudo-immaturity of the PFC resembling juvenile PFC may be an endophenotype of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hideo Hagihara
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
- CREST, JST, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Koji Ohira
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
- CREST, JST, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Keizo Takao
- CREST, JST, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
- Section of Behavior Patterns, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Aza-Nishigo-naka, Myodaiji-cho, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
- CREST, JST, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
- Section of Behavior Patterns, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Aza-Nishigo-naka, Myodaiji-cho, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Sipahi L, Uddin M, Hou ZC, Aiello AE, Koenen KC, Galea S, Wildman DE. Ancient evolutionary origins of epigenetic regulation associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:284. [PMID: 24860472 PMCID: PMC4026723 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic marks, including DNA methylation, are modifiable molecular factors that may underlie mental disorders, especially responses to trauma, including the development of and resilience to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous work has identified differential DNA methylation at CpG dinucleotide sites genomewide between trauma exposed individuals with and without PTSD, suggesting a role for epigenetic potential—the capacity to epigenetically regulate behavior and physiology in response to lived experiences. The human species is characterized by an increased period of adaptive plasticity during brain development. The evolutionary history of epigenetic potential in relation to adaptive plasticity is currently unknown. Using phylogenetic methods and functional annotation analyses, we trace the evolution of over 7000 CpG dinucleotides, including 203 associated with PTSD, during the descent of humans in during mammalian evolution and characterize the biological significance of this evolution. We demonstrate that few (7%) PTSD-associated CpG sites are unique to humans, while the vast majority of sites have deep evolutionary origins: 73 and 93% were unambiguously present in the last common ancestor of humans/orangutans and humans/chimpanzees, respectively. Genes proximal to evolved PTSD-associated CpG sites revealed significant enrichment for immune function during recent human evolution and regulation of gene expression during more ancient periods of human evolution. Additionally, 765 putative transcription factor binding motifs (TFBMs) were identified that overlap with PTSD-associated CpG sites. Elucidation of the evolutionary history of PTSD-associated CpG sites may provide insights into the function and origin of epigenetic potential in trauma responses, generally, and PTSD, specifically. The human capacity to respond to trauma with stable physiologic and behavioral changes may be due to epigenetic potentials that are shared among many mammalian species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Levent Sipahi
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Monica Uddin
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, MI, USA ; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Zhou-Cheng Hou
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, MI, USA ; National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University Beijing, China
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University New York, NY, USA
| | - Sandro Galea
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University New York, NY, USA
| | - Derek E Wildman
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, MI, USA ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Castillo-Morales A, Monzón-Sandoval J, Urrutia AO, Gutiérrez H. Increased brain size in mammals is associated with size variations in gene families with cell signalling, chemotaxis and immune-related functions. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 281:20132428. [PMID: 24285197 PMCID: PMC3866400 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.2428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic determinants underlying increased encephalization across mammalian lineages are unknown. Whole genome comparisons have revealed large and frequent changes in the size of gene families, and it has been proposed that these variations could play a major role in shaping morphological and physiological differences among species. Using a genome-wide comparative approach, we examined changes in gene family size (GFS) and degree of encephalization in 39 fully sequenced mammalian species and found a significant over-representation of GFS variations in line with increased encephalization in mammals. We found that this relationship is not accounted for by known correlates of brain size such as maximum lifespan or body size and is not explained by phylogenetic relatedness. Genes involved in chemotaxis, immune regulation and cell signalling-related functions are significantly over-represented among those gene families most highly correlated with encephalization. Genes within these families are prominently expressed in the human brain, particularly the cortex, and organized in co-expression modules that display distinct temporal patterns of expression in the developing cortex. Our results suggest that changes in GFS associated with encephalization represent an evolutionary response to the specific functional requirements underlying increased brain size in mammals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Araxi O. Urrutia
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
- e-mail:
| | - Humberto Gutiérrez
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK
- e-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Stevens A, Hanson D, Whatmore A, Destenaves B, Chatelain P, Clayton P. Human growth is associated with distinct patterns of gene expression in evolutionarily conserved networks. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:547. [PMID: 23941278 PMCID: PMC3765282 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A co-ordinated tissue-independent gene expression profile associated with growth is present in rodent models and this is hypothesised to extend to all mammals. Growth in humans has similarities to other mammals but the return to active long bone growth in the pubertal growth spurt is a distinctly human growth event. The aim of this study was to describe gene expression and biological pathways associated with stages of growth in children and to assess tissue-independent expression patterns in relation to human growth. Results We conducted gene expression analysis on a library of datasets from normal children with age annotation, collated from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and EBI Arrayexpress databases. A primary data set was generated using cells of lymphoid origin from normal children; the expression of 688 genes (ANOVA false discovery rate modified p-value, q < 0.1) was associated with age, and subsets of these genes formed clusters that correlated with the phases of growth – infancy, childhood, puberty and final height. Network analysis on these clusters identified evolutionarily conserved growth pathways (NOTCH, VEGF, TGFB, WNT and glucocorticoid receptor – Hyper-geometric test, q < 0.05). The greatest degree of network ‘connectivity’ and hence functional significance was present in infancy (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.05), which then decreased through to adulthood. These observations were confirmed in a separate validation data set from lymphoid tissue. Similar biological pathways were observed to be associated with development-related gene expression in other tissues (conjunctival epithelia, temporal lobe brain tissue and bone marrow) suggesting the existence of a tissue-independent genetic program for human growth and maturation. Conclusions Similar evolutionarily conserved pathways have been associated with gene expression and child growth in multiple tissues. These expression profiles associate with the developmental phases of growth including the return to active long bone growth in puberty, a distinctly human event. These observations also have direct medical relevance to pathological changes that induce disease in children. Taking into account development-dependent gene expression profiles for normal children will be key to the appropriate selection of genes and pathways as potential biomarkers of disease or as drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Stevens
- Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and the Institute of Human Development, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Gómez-Robles A, Hopkins WD, Sherwood CC. Increased morphological asymmetry, evolvability and plasticity in human brain evolution. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20130575. [PMID: 23615289 PMCID: PMC3652445 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.0575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of hominin brain evolution relies mostly on evaluation of the endocranial morphology of fossil skulls. However, only some general features of external brain morphology are evident from endocasts, and many anatomical details can be difficult or impossible to examine. In this study, we use geometric morphometric techniques to evaluate inter- and intraspecific differences in cerebral morphology in a sample of in vivo magnetic resonance imaging scans of chimpanzees and humans, with special emphasis on the study of asymmetric variation. Our study reveals that chimpanzee-human differences in cerebral morphology are mainly symmetric; by contrast, there is continuity in asymmetric variation between species, with humans showing an increased range of variation. Moreover, asymmetric variation does not appear to be the result of allometric scaling at intraspecific levels, whereas symmetric changes exhibit very slight allometric effects within each species. Our results emphasize two key properties of brain evolution in the hominine clade: first, evolution of chimpanzee and human brains (and probably their last common ancestor and related species) is not strongly morphologically constrained, thus making their brains highly evolvable and responsive to selective pressures; second, chimpanzee and, especially, human brains show high levels of fluctuating asymmetry indicative of pronounced developmental plasticity. We infer that these two characteristics can have a role in human cognitive evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aida Gómez-Robles
- Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Debnath M, Cannon DM, Venkatasubramanian G. Variation in the major histocompatibility complex [MHC] gene family in schizophrenia: associations and functional implications. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2013; 42:49-62. [PMID: 22813842 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2012] [Revised: 06/23/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder with a complex genetic contribution. Although multiple genetic, immunological and environmental factors are known to contribute to schizophrenia susceptibility, the underlying neurobiological mechanism(s) is yet to be established. The immune system dysfunction theory of schizophrenia is experiencing a period of renewal due to a growth in evidence implicating components of the immune system in brain function and human behavior. Current evidence indicates that certain immune molecules such as Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and cytokines, the key regulators of immunity and inflammation are directly involved in the neurobiological processes related to neurodevelopment, neuronal plasticity, learning, memory and behavior. However, the strongest support in favor of the immune hypothesis has recently emerged from on-going genome wide association studies advocating MHC region variants as major determinants of one's risk for developing schizophrenia. Further identification of the interacting partners and receptors of MHC molecules in the brain and their role in down-stream signaling pathways of neurotransmission have implicated these molecules as potential schizophrenia risk factors. More recently, combined brain imaging and genetic studies have revealed a relationship between genetic variations within the MHC region and neuromorphometric changes during schizophrenia. Furthermore, MHC molecules play a significant role in the immune-infective and neurodevelopmental pathogenetic pathways, currently hypothesized to contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Herein, we review the immunological, genetic and expression studies assessing the role of the MHC in conferring risk for developing schizophrenia, we summarize and discuss the possible mechanisms involved, making note of the challenges to, and future directions of, immunogenetic research in schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monojit Debnath
- Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bangalore-560029, India.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Sterner KN, Mcgowen MR, Chugani HT, Tarca AL, Sherwood CC, Hof PR, Kuzawa CW, Boddy AM, Raaum RL, Weckle A, Lipovich L, Grossman LI, Uddin M, Goodman M, Wildman DE. Characterization of human cortical gene expression in relation to glucose utilization. Am J Hum Biol 2013; 25:418-30. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 02/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin N. Sterner
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Wayne State University School of Medicine; Detroit; Michigan; 48201
| | - Michael R. Mcgowen
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Wayne State University School of Medicine; Detroit; Michigan; 48201
| | | | - Adi L. Tarca
- Department of Computer Science; Wayne State University; Detroit; Michigan; 48202
| | - Chet C. Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology; The George Washington University; Washington; DC; 20052
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brian Institute; Mount Sinai School of Medicine; New York; New York; 10029
| | | | - Amy M. Boddy
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Wayne State University School of Medicine; Detroit; Michigan; 48201
| | - Ryan L. Raaum
- Department of Anthropology, Lehman College and The Graduate Center; City University of New York; Bronx; New York; 10468
| | - Amy Weckle
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Wayne State University School of Medicine; Detroit; Michigan; 48201
| | - Leonard Lipovich
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Wayne State University School of Medicine; Detroit; Michigan; 48201
| | - Lawrence I. Grossman
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Wayne State University School of Medicine; Detroit; Michigan; 48201
| | - Monica Uddin
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Wayne State University School of Medicine; Detroit; Michigan; 48201
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Lipovich L, Tarca AL, Cai J, Jia H, Chugani HT, Sterner KN, Grossman LI, Uddin M, Hof PR, Sherwood CC, Kuzawa CW, Goodman M, Wildman DE. Developmental changes in the transcriptome of human cerebral cortex tissue: long noncoding RNA transcripts. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 24:1451-9. [PMID: 23377288 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhs414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
The human neocortex is characterized by protracted developmental intervals of synaptogenesis and myelination, which allow for an extended period of learning. The molecular basis of these and other postnatal developmental changes in the human cerebral cortex remain incompletely understood. Recently, a new large class of mammalian genes, encoding nonmessenger, long nonprotein-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) molecules has been discovered. Although their function remains uncertain, numerous lncRNAs have primate-specific sequences and/or show evidence of rapid, lineage-specific evolution, making them potentially relevant to the evolution of unique human neural properties. To examine the hypothesis that lncRNA expression varies with age, potentially paralleling known developmental trends in synaptogenesis, myelination, and energetics, we quantified levels of nearly 6000 lncRNAs in 36 surgically resected human neocortical samples (primarily derived from temporal cortex) spanning infancy to adulthood. Our analysis identified 8 lncRNA genes with distinct developmental expression patterns. These lncRNA genes contained anthropoid-specific exons, as well as splice sites and polyadenylation signals that resided in primate-specific sequences. To our knowledge, our study is the first to describe developmental expression profiles of lncRNA in surgically resected in vivo human brain tissue. Future analysis of the functional relevance of these transcripts to neural development and energy metabolism is warranted.
Collapse
|