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Nandakumar R, Shi X, Gu H, Kim Y, Raskind WH, Peter B, Dinu V. Joint exome and metabolome analysis in individuals with dyslexia: Evidence for associated dysregulations of olfactory perception and autoimmune functions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.27.600448. [PMID: 39005457 PMCID: PMC11244894 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.27.600448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Dyslexia is a learning disability that negatively affects reading, writing, and spelling development at the word level in 5%-9% of children. The phenotype is variable and complex, involving several potential cognitive and physical concomitants such as sensory dysregulation and immunodeficiencies. The biological pathogenesis is not well-understood. Toward a better understanding of the biological drivers of dyslexia, we conducted the first joint exome and metabolome investigation in a pilot sample of 30 participants with dyslexia and 13 controls. In this analysis, eight metabolites of interest emerged (pyridoxine, kynurenic acid, citraconic acid, phosphocreatine, hippuric acid, xylitol, 2-deoxyuridine, and acetylcysteine). A metabolite-metabolite interaction analysis identified Krebs cycle intermediates that may be implicated in the development of dyslexia. Gene ontology analysis based on exome variants resulted in several pathways of interest, including the sensory perception of smell (olfactory) and immune system-related responses. In the joint exome and metabolite analysis, the olfactory transduction pathway emerged as the primary pathway of interest. Although the olfactory transduction and Krebs cycle pathways have not previously been described in dyslexia literature, these pathways have been implicated in other neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, suggesting the possibility of these pathways playing a role in dyslexia as well. Immune system response pathways, on the other hand, have been implicated in both dyslexia and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
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He Q, Li R, Zhong N, Ma J, Nie F, Zhang R. The role and molecular mechanisms of the early growth response 3 gene in schizophrenia. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2024; 195:e32969. [PMID: 38327141 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic, debilitating mental illness caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors play a major role in schizophrenia development. Early growth response 3 (EGR3) is a member of the EGR family, which is associated with schizophrenia. Accumulating studies have investigated the relationship between EGR3 and schizophrenia. However, the role of EGR3 in schizophrenia pathogenesis remains unclear. In the present review, we focus on the progress of research related to the role of EGR3 in schizophrenia, including association studies between EGR3 and schizophrenia, abnormal gene expressional analysis of EGR3 in schizophrenia, biological function studies of EGR3 in schizophrenia, the molecular regulatory mechanism of EGR3 and schizophrenia susceptibility candidate genes, and possible role of EGR3 in the immune system function in schizophrenia. In summary, EGR3 is a schizophrenia risk candidate factor and has comprehensive regulatory roles in schizophrenia pathogenesis. Further studies investigating the molecular mechanisms of EGR3 in schizophrenia are warranted for understanding the pathophysiology of this disorder as well as the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment and control of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi He
- School of Basic Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine, Shannxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ruochun Li
- Department of Medical Technology, Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Nannan Zhong
- Department of Medical Technology, Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Department of Electron Microscope, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fayi Nie
- School of Basic Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine, Shannxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Medical Technology, Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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Bi W, Li J, Xiong M, Nasifu L, Tan M, Tai P, Jin Q, Zhang L, Zhu C, He B. EGR3 Polymorphism Is a Potential Susceptibility Factor of Schizophrenia Risk in a Chinese Population. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2024; 28:144-150. [PMID: 38657122 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2023.0562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (EGR3 rs1996147; EGR4 rs3813226, rs6747506; ERBB3 rs2292238; and ERBB4 rs707284, rs7560730) and the risk of schizophrenia (SZ) in a Chinese population. Materials and Methods: We conducted a case-control study, including 248 patients with SZ and 236 healthy controls matched for age and sex. The Mass-array platform was used to detect all the genotypes of the SNPs. Results: The results revealed that the EGR3 rs1996147 AA genotype was associated with borderline decreased SZ risk (AA vs. GG: adjusted OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.18-1.02, p = 0.06). However, no significant correlation was found between the other SNPs and overall SZ risk. Subgroup analysis also failed to show any significant association between all SNPs and the risk of SZ. Conclusion: In summary, this study revealed that the EGR3 rs1996147 AA genotype was associated with a borderline risk for SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Bi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengqiu Xiong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lubanga Nasifu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Biology, Muni University, Arua, Uganda
| | - Mingjuan Tan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ping Tai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qing Jin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lingyun Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zutangshan Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Chengbin Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bangshun He
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Arora A, Jack K, Kumar AV, Borad M, Girardo ME, De Filippis E, Yang P, Dinu V. Genome-Wide Association Study of Gallstone Disease Identifies Novel Candidate Genomic Variants in a Latino Community of Southwest USA. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023:10.1007/s40615-023-01867-0. [PMID: 38015333 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01867-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Gallstone disease (GSD) is a prevalent health condition that impacts many adults and is associated with presence of stones in gallbladder cavity that results in inflammation, pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. Several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the past have identified genes associated with GSD but only a few were focused on Latino population. To identify genetic risk factors for GSD in Latino population living in the Southwest USA we used self-reported clinical history, physical and lab measurements data in Sangre Por Salud (SPS) cohort and identified participants with and without diagnosis of GSD. We performed a GWAS on this phenotype using GSD cases matched to normal controls based on a tight criterion. We identified several novel loci associated with GSD as well as loci that were previously identified in past GWAS studies. The top 3 loci (MATN2, GPRIN3, GPC6) were strongly associated with GSD phenotype in our combined analysis and a sex stratified analysis results in females were closest to the overall results reflecting a general higher disease prevalence in females. The top identified variants in MATN2, GPRIN3, and GPC6 remain unchanged after local ancestry adjustment in SPS Latino population. Follow-up pathway enrichment analysis suggests enrichment of GO terms that are associated with immunological pathways; enzymatic processes in gallbladder, liver, and gastrointestinal tract; and GSD pathology. Our findings suggest an initial starting point towards better and deeper understanding of differences in gallstone disease pathology, biological mechanisms, and disease progression among Southwest US Latino population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Arora
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
| | - Khadijah Jack
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Ashok V Kumar
- Department of Quantitative Health Science, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA
| | - Mitesh Borad
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA
| | - Marlene E Girardo
- Department of Quantitative Health Science, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA
| | | | - Ping Yang
- Department of Quantitative Health Science, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA
| | - Valentin Dinu
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
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Meyers KT, Damphousse CC, Ozols AB, Campbell JM, Newbern JM, Hu C, Marrone DF, Gallitano AL. Serial electroconvulsive Seizure alters dendritic complexity and promotes cellular proliferation in the mouse dentate gyrus; a role for Egr3. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:889-900. [PMID: 37146791 PMCID: PMC10776161 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite being one of the safest, most effective treatments for severe mood disorders, the therapeutic mechanisms of electroconvulsive therapy remain unknown. Electroconvulsive seizure (ECS) induces rapid, high-level expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in addition to stimulation of neurogenesis and dendritic remodeling of dentate gyrus (DG) neurons. We have previously shown that this upregulation of BDNF fails to occur in the hippocampus of mice lacking the IEG Egr3. Since BDNF influences neurogenesis and dendritic remodeling, we hypothesized that Egr3-/- mice will exhibit deficits in neurogenesis and dendritic remodeling in response to ECS. OBJECTIVE To test this hypothesis, we examined dendritic remodeling and cellular proliferation in the DG of Egr3-/- and wild-type mice following repeated ECS. METHODS Mice received 10 daily ECSs. Dendritic morphology was examined in Golgi-Cox-stained tissue and cellular proliferation was analyzed through bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging. RESULTS Serial ECS in mice results in dendritic remodeling, increased spine density, and cellular proliferation in the DG. Loss of Egr3 alters the dendritic remodeling induced by serial ECS but does not change the number of dendritic spines or cellular proliferation consequences of ECS. CONCLUSION Egr3 influences the dendritic remodeling induced by ECS but is not required for ECS-induced proliferation of hippocampal DG cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- K T Meyers
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA; Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - C C Damphousse
- Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada
| | - A B Ozols
- Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - J M Campbell
- Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - J M Newbern
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - C Hu
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health - Phoenix, 714 E Van Buren St #119, Phoenix, AZ, 85006, USA
| | - D F Marrone
- Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada.
| | - A L Gallitano
- Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
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Carrion J, Nandakumar R, Shi X, Gu H, Kim Y, Raskind WH, Peter B, Dinu V. A data-fusion approach to identifying developmental dyslexia from multi-omics datasets. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.27.530280. [PMID: 36909570 PMCID: PMC10002702 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.27.530280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
This exploratory study tested and validated the use of data fusion and machine learning techniques to probe high-throughput omics and clinical data with a goal of exploring the etiology of developmental dyslexia. Developmental dyslexia is the leading learning disability in school aged children affecting roughly 5-10% of the US population. The complex biological and neurological phenotype of this life altering disability complicates its diagnosis. Phenome, exome, and metabolome data was collected allowing us to fully explore this system from a behavioral, cellular, and molecular point of view. This study provides a proof of concept showing that data fusion and ensemble learning techniques can outperform traditional machine learning techniques when provided small and complex multi-omics and clinical datasets. Heterogenous stacking classifiers consisting of single-omic experts/models achieved an accuracy of 86%, F1 score of 0.89, and AUC value of 0.83. Ensemble methods also provided a ranked list of important features that suggests exome single nucleotide polymorphisms found in the thalamus and cerebellum could be potential biomarkers for developmental dyslexia and heavily influenced the classification of DD within our machine learning models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Carrion
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004
| | - Rohit Nandakumar
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004
| | - Xiaojian Shi
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology Department, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Haiwei Gu
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987
| | - Yookyung Kim
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004
| | - Wendy H Raskind
- Department of Medicine/Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105
| | - Beate Peter
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004
| | - Valentin Dinu
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004
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7
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Pagano R, Salamian A, Zielinski J, Beroun A, Nalberczak-Skóra M, Skonieczna E, Cały A, Tay N, Banaschewski T, Desrivières S, Grigis A, Garavan H, Heinz A, Brühl R, Martinot JL, Martinot MLP, Artiges E, Nees F, Orfanos DP, Poustka L, Hohmann S, Fröhner JH, Smolka MN, Vaidya N, Walter H, Whelan R, Kalita K, Bito H, Müller CP, Schumann G, Okuno H, Radwanska K. Arc controls alcohol cue relapse by a central amygdala mechanism. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:733-745. [PMID: 36357670 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01849-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic and fatal disease. The main impediment of the AUD therapy is a high probability of relapse to alcohol abuse even after prolonged abstinence. The molecular mechanisms of cue-induced relapse are not well established, despite the fact that they may offer new targets for the treatment of AUD. Using a comprehensive animal model of AUD, virally-mediated and amygdala-targeted genetic manipulations by CRISPR/Cas9 technology and ex vivo electrophysiology, we identify a mechanism that selectively controls cue-induced alcohol relapse and AUD symptom severity. This mechanism is based on activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc)/ARG3.1-dependent plasticity of the amygdala synapses. In humans, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ARC gene and their methylation predicting not only amygdala size, but also frequency of alcohol use, even at the onset of regular consumption. Targeting Arc during alcohol cue exposure may thus be a selective new mechanism for relapse prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Pagano
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ahmad Salamian
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Janusz Zielinski
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anna Beroun
- Laboratory of Neuronal Plasticity, BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maria Nalberczak-Skóra
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Edyta Skonieczna
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Cały
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nicole Tay
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sylvane Desrivières
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Precision Medicine (PONS), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, SGDP Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Antoine Grigis
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Brühl
- Braunschweig and Berlin, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jean-Luc Martinot
- INSERM U1299 "Trajectoires développementales en psychiatrie, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- AP-HP. Sorbonne Université, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
- Psychiatry Department, EPS Barthélémy Durand, Etampes, France
- Ecole Normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Centre Borelli, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Marie-Laure Paillère Martinot
- INSERM U1299 "Trajectoires développementales en psychiatrie, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- AP-HP. Sorbonne Université, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
- Psychiatry Department, EPS Barthélémy Durand, Etampes, France
- Ecole Normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Centre Borelli, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Eric Artiges
- INSERM U1299 "Trajectoires développementales en psychiatrie, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- AP-HP. Sorbonne Université, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
- Psychiatry Department, EPS Barthélémy Durand, Etampes, France
- Ecole Normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Centre Borelli, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Frauke Nees
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Luise Poustka
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Hohmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Juliane H Fröhner
- Department of Psychiatry, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael N Smolka
- Department of Psychiatry, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nilakshi Vaidya
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Precision Medicine (PONS), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, SGDP Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Henrik Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Whelan
- School of Psychology and Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Katarzyna Kalita
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Haruhiko Bito
- Department of Neurochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Christian P Müller
- Section of Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Precision Medicine (PONS), Institute for Science and Technology of Brain-inspired Intelligence (ISTBI), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hiroyuki Okuno
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Kasia Radwanska
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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8
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Identification of activity-induced Egr3-dependent genes reveals genes associated with DNA damage response and schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:320. [PMID: 35941129 PMCID: PMC9360026 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02069-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioinformatics and network studies have identified the immediate early gene transcription factor early growth response 3 (EGR3) as a master regulator of genes differentially expressed in the brains of patients with neuropsychiatric illnesses ranging from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to Alzheimer's disease. However, few studies have identified and validated Egr3-dependent genes in the mammalian brain. We have previously shown that Egr3 is required for stress-responsive behavior, memory, and hippocampal long-term depression in mice. To identify Egr3-dependent genes that may regulate these processes, we conducted an expression microarray on hippocampi from wildtype (WT) and Egr3-/- mice following electroconvulsive seizure (ECS), a stimulus that induces maximal expression of immediate early genes including Egr3. We identified 69 genes that were differentially expressed between WT and Egr3-/- mice one hour following ECS. Bioinformatic analyses showed that many of these are altered in, or associated with, schizophrenia, including Mef2c and Calb2. Enrichr pathway analysis revealed the GADD45 (growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible) family (Gadd45b, Gadd45g) as a leading group of differentially expressed genes. Together with differentially expressed genes in the AP-1 transcription factor family genes (Fos, Fosb), and the centromere organization protein Cenpa, these results revealed that Egr3 is required for activity-dependent expression of genes involved in the DNA damage response. Our findings show that EGR3 is critical for the expression of genes that are mis-expressed in schizophrenia and reveal a novel requirement for EGR3 in the expression of genes involved in activity-induced DNA damage response.
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9
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Elevated endogenous GDNF induces altered dopamine signalling in mice and correlates with clinical severity in schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3247-3261. [PMID: 35618883 PMCID: PMC9708553 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01554-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Presynaptic increase in striatal dopamine is the primary dopaminergic abnormality in schizophrenia, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Here, we hypothesized that increased expression of endogenous GDNF could induce dopaminergic abnormalities that resemble those seen in schizophrenia. To test the impact of GDNF elevation, without inducing adverse effects caused by ectopic overexpression, we developed a novel in vivo approach to conditionally increase endogenous GDNF expression. We found that a 2-3-fold increase in endogenous GDNF in the brain was sufficient to induce molecular, cellular, and functional changes in dopamine signalling in the striatum and prefrontal cortex, including increased striatal presynaptic dopamine levels and reduction of dopamine in prefrontal cortex. Mechanistically, we identified adenosine A2a receptor (A2AR), a G-protein coupled receptor that modulates dopaminergic signalling, as a possible mediator of GDNF-driven dopaminergic abnormalities. We further showed that pharmacological inhibition of A2AR with istradefylline partially normalised striatal GDNF and striatal and cortical dopamine levels in mice. Lastly, we found that GDNF levels are increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of first episode psychosis patients, and in post-mortem striatum of schizophrenia patients. Our results reveal a possible contributor for increased striatal dopamine signalling in a subgroup of schizophrenia patients and suggest that GDNF-A2AR crosstalk may regulate dopamine function in a therapeutically targetable manner.
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10
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Loring KE, Mattiske T, Lee K, Zysk A, Jackson MR, Noebels JL, Shoubridge C. Early 17β-estradiol treatment reduces seizures but not abnormal behaviour in mice with expanded polyalanine tracts in the Aristaless related homeobox gene (ARX). Neurobiol Dis 2021; 153:105329. [PMID: 33711494 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Children with severe intellectual disability have an increased prevalence of refractory seizures. Steroid treatment may improve seizure outcomes, but the mechanism remains unknown. Here we demonstrate that short term, daily delivery of an exogenous steroid 17β-estradiol (40 ng/g) in early postnatal life significantly reduced the number and severity of seizures, but did not improve behavioural deficits, in mice modelling mutations in the Aristaless-related homeobox gene (ARX), expanding the first (PA1) or second (PA2) polyalanine tract. Frequency of observed seizures on handling (n = 14/treatment/genotype) were significantly reduced in PA1 (32% reduction) and more modestly reduced in PA2 mice (14% reduction) with steroid treatment compared to vehicle. Spontaneous seizures were assessed (n = 7/treatment/genotype) at 7 weeks of age coinciding with a peak of seizure activity in untreated mice. PA1 mice treated with steroids no longer present with the most severe category of prolonged myoclonic seizures. Treated PA2 mice had an earlier onset of seizures coupled with a subsequent reduction in seizures later in postnatal life, with a complete absence of any seizures during the analysis at 7 weeks of age. Despite the reduction in seizures, 17β-estradiol treated mice showed no improvement in behavioural or cognitive outcomes in adulthood. For the first time we show that these deficits due to mutations in Arx are already present before seizure onset and do not worsen with seizures. ARX is a transcription factor and Arx PA mutant mice have deregulated transcriptome profiles in the developing embryonic brain. At postnatal day 10, treatment completion, RNAseq identified 129 genes significantly deregulated (Log2FC > ± 0.5, P-value<0.05) in the frontal cortex of mutant compared to wild-type mice. This list reflects genes deregulated in disease and was particularly enriched for known genes in neurodevelopmental disorders and those involved in signalling and developmental pathways. 17β-estradiol treatment of mutant mice significantly deregulated 295 genes, with only 23 deregulated genes overlapping between vehicle and steroid treated mutant mice. We conclude that 17β-estradiol treatment recruits processes and pathways to reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in the Arx PA mutant mice but does not precisely correct the deregulated transcriptome nor improve mortality or behavioural and cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karagh E Loring
- Intellectual Disability Research, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Tessa Mattiske
- Intellectual Disability Research, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Kristie Lee
- Intellectual Disability Research, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Aneta Zysk
- Intellectual Disability Research, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Matilda R Jackson
- Intellectual Disability Research, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | | | - Cheryl Shoubridge
- Intellectual Disability Research, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
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11
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Delorme TC, Srivastava LK, Cermakian N. Are Circadian Disturbances a Core Pathophysiological Component of Schizophrenia? J Biol Rhythms 2020; 35:325-339. [DOI: 10.1177/0748730420929448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a multifactorial disorder caused by a combination of genetic variations and exposure to environmental insults. Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances are a prominent and ubiquitous feature of many psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. There is growing interest in uncovering the mechanistic link between schizophrenia and circadian rhythms, which may directly affect disorder outcomes. In this review, we explore the interaction between schizophrenia and circadian rhythms from 2 complementary angles. First, we review evidence that sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances constitute a fundamental component of schizophrenia, as supported by both human studies and animal models with genetic mutations related to schizophrenia. Second, we discuss the idea that circadian rhythm disruption interacts with existing risk factors for schizophrenia to promote schizophrenia-relevant behavioral and neurobiological abnormalities. Understanding the mechanistic link between schizophrenia and circadian rhythms will have implications for mitigating risk to the disorder and informing the development of circadian-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara C. Delorme
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Lalit K. Srivastava
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Nicolas Cermakian
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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12
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Pine JG, Moe AM, Maple AM, Gallitano AL, Breitborde NJK. Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein predicts symptom response to cognitive behavioral therapy among individuals with first-episode psychosis. Asian J Psychiatr 2020; 50:101974. [PMID: 32145691 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.101974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob G Pine
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Aubrey M Moe
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Amelia L Gallitano
- College of Medicine Phoenix Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Nicholas J K Breitborde
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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13
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Walker WH, Walton JC, DeVries AC, Nelson RJ. Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:28. [PMID: 32066704 PMCID: PMC7026420 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0694-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 370] [Impact Index Per Article: 92.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are internal manifestations of the solar day that permit adaptations to predictable environmental temporal changes. These ~24-h rhythms are controlled by molecular clockworks within the brain that are reset daily to precisely 24 h by exposure to the light-dark cycle. Information from the master clock in the mammalian hypothalamus conveys temporal information to the entire body via humoral and neural communication. A bidirectional relationship exists between mood disorders and circadian rhythms. Mood disorders are often associated with disrupted circadian clock-controlled responses, such as sleep and cortisol secretion, whereas disruption of circadian rhythms via jet lag, night-shift work, or exposure to artificial light at night, can precipitate or exacerbate affective symptoms in susceptible individuals. Evidence suggests strong associations between circadian rhythms and mental health, but only recently have studies begun to discover the direct interactions between the circadian system and mood regulation. This review provides an overview of disrupted circadian rhythms and the relationship to behavioral health and psychiatry. The focus of this review is delineating the role of disruption of circadian rhythms on mood disorders using human night shift studies, as well as jet lag studies to identify links. We also review animal models of disrupted circadian rhythms on affective responses. Lastly, we propose low-cost behavioral and lifestyle changes to improve circadian rhythms and presumably behavioral health.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Walker
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
| | - James C Walton
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - A Courtney DeVries
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
- Department of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Randy J Nelson
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
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14
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Transcriptome analysis of fibroblasts from schizophrenia patients reveals differential expression of schizophrenia-related genes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:630. [PMID: 31959813 PMCID: PMC6971273 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57467-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with high rate of morbidity and mortality. While the heritability rate is high, the precise etiology is still unknown. Although schizophrenia is a central nervous system disorder, studies using peripheral tissues have also been established to search for patient specific biomarkers and to increase understanding of schizophrenia etiology. Among all peripheral tissues, fibroblasts stand out as they are easy to obtain and culture. Furthermore, they keep genetic stability for long period and exhibit molecular similarities to cells from nervous system. Using a unique set of fibroblast samples from a genetically isolated population in northern Sweden, we performed whole transcriptome sequencing to compare differentially expressed genes in seven controls and nine patients. We found differential fibroblast expression between cases and controls for 48 genes, including eight genes previously implicated in schizophrenia or schizophrenia related pathways; HGF, PRRT2, EGR1, EGR3, C11orf87, TLR3, PLEKHH2 and PIK3CD. Weighted gene correlation network analysis identified three differentially co-expressed networks of genes significantly-associated with schizophrenia. All three modules were significantly suppressed in patients compared to control, with one module highly enriched in genes involved in synaptic plasticity, behavior and synaptic transmission. In conclusion, our results support the use of fibroblasts for identification of differentially expressed genes in schizophrenia and highlight dysregulation of synaptic networks as an important mechanism in schizophrenia.
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15
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Latusz J, Maćkowiak M. Early-life blockade of NMDA receptors induces epigenetic abnormalities in the adult medial prefrontal cortex: possible involvement in memory impairment in trace fear conditioning. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:231-248. [PMID: 31654083 PMCID: PMC6952333 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05362-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Several findings indicate that early-life dysfunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors might cause schizophrenia-like abnormalities in adulthood that might be induced by impairments in epigenetic regulation. OBJECTIVES In the present study, we investigated whether postnatal blockade of NMDA receptors (within the first 3 weeks of life) by the competitive antagonist CGP 37849 (CGP) might affect some epigenetic markers in the adult medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). METHODS Histone H3 phosphorylation at serine 10 (H3S10ph), histone H3 acetylation at lysine 9 or 14 (H3K9ac or H3K14ac, respectively), or expression of histone deacetylase (HDAC) 2, HDAC5, myocyte enhancer factor (MEF) 2D and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) were analysed. Moreover, we also evaluated whether the deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate (SB; 1.2 mg/kg, ip) could prevent behavioural and neurochemical changes in the mPFC induced by CGP during memory retrieval in the trace fear conditioning paradigm. RESULTS The results showed that CGP administration increased the number of H3S10ph nuclei but did not affect H3K9ac and H3K14ac or HDAC2 protein levels. However, CGP administration altered the HDAC5 mRNA and protein levels and increased the mRNA and protein levels of MEF2D. CGP also increased Arc mRNA, which was correlated with an increase in the amount of Arc DNA bound to MEF2D. SB given 2 h after training prevented impairment of the freezing response and disruption of epigenetic markers (H3S10ph, HDAC5, MEF2D) and Arc expression during memory retrieval induced by CGP administration. CONCLUSIONS The early-life blockade of NMDA receptors impairs some epigenetic regulatory processes in the mPFC that are involved in fear memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Latusz
- grid.413454.30000 0001 1958 0162Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Smętna Str. 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Marzena Maćkowiak
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Smętna Str. 12, 31-343, Kraków, Poland.
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16
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Penrod RD, Thomsen M, Taniguchi M, Guo Y, Cowan CW, Smith LN. The activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein, Arc/Arg3.1, influences mouse cocaine self-administration. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2019; 188:172818. [PMID: 31682894 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.172818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc, also known as Arg3.1), an immediate early gene and synaptic regulator, is upregulated following a single cocaine exposure. However, there is not much known regarding Arc/Arg3.1's potential contribution to addiction-relevant behaviors. Despite known learning and memory deficits in contextual fear and water-maze reversal learning tasks, we find that mice lacking Arc/Arg3.1 perform conditioned place preference and operant conditioning involving positive reinforcers (food and cocaine) with little-to-no impairment. However, following normal saline-extinction, wild type (WT) mice show a classic inverted-U dose-response function, while Arc/Arg3.1 knockout (KO) mice fail to adjust their intake across multiple doses. Importantly, Arc/Arg3.1 KO and WT mice behave comparably on an increasing cost task (FR1-FR3; acquisition dose), providing evidence that both groups find cocaine reinforcing. Differences in individuals that drive variations in use patterns and particularly, drug intake levels, are critical as they influence the likelihood of developing dependence. Our data suggest that Arc/Arg3.1 may contribute to addiction as a regulator of drug-taking vulnerability under different drug availability conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel D Penrod
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America
| | - Morgane Thomsen
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America
| | - Makoto Taniguchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America
| | - Yuhong Guo
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America
| | - Christopher W Cowan
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America
| | - Laura N Smith
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America.
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17
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Disturbed Prefrontal Cortex Activity in the Absence of Schizophrenia-Like Behavioral Dysfunction in Arc/Arg3.1 Deficient Mice. J Neurosci 2019; 39:8149-8163. [PMID: 31488612 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0623-19.2019] [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: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Arc/Arg3.1, an activity regulated immediate early gene, is essential for learning and memory, synaptic plasticity, and maturation of neural networks. It has also been implicated in several neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia. Here, we used male and female constitutive and conditional Arc/Arg3.1 knock-out (KO) mice to investigate the causal relationship between Arc/Arg3.1 deletion and schizophrenia-linked neurophysiological and behavioral phenotypes. Using in vivo local field potential recordings, we observed dampened oscillatory activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the KO and early conditional KO (early-cKO) mice, in which Arc/Arg3.1 was deleted perinatally. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from neurons in PFC slices revealed altered synaptic properties and reduced network gain in the KO mice as possible mechanisms underlying the oscillation deficits. In contrast, we measured normal oscillatory activity in the PFC of late conditional KO (late-cKO) mice, in which Arc/Arg3.1 was deleted during late postnatal development. Our data show that constitutive Arc/Arg3.1 KO mice exhibit no deficit in social engagement, working memory, sensorimotor gating, native locomotor activity, and dopaminergic innervation. Moreover, adolescent social isolation, an environmental stressor, failed to induce deficits in sociability or sensorimotor gating in adult KO mice. Thus, genetic removal of Arc/Arg3.1 per se does not cause schizophrenia-like behavior. Prenatal or perinatal deletion of Arc/Arg3.1 alters cortical network activity, however, without overtly disrupting the balance of excitation and inhibition in the brain and not promoting schizophrenia. Misregulation of Arc/Arg3.1 rather than deletion could potentially tip this balance and thereby promote emergence of schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The activity-regulated and memory-linked gene Arc/Arg3.1 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, but direct evidence and a mechanistic link are still missing. The current study asks whether loss of Arc/Arg3.1 can affect brain circuitry and cause schizophrenia-like symptoms in mice. The findings demonstrate that genetic deletion of Arc/Arg3.1 before puberty alters synaptic function and prefrontal cortex activity. Although brain networks are disturbed, genetic deletion of Arc/Arg3.1 does not cause schizophrenia-like behavior, even when combined with an environmental insult. It remains to be seen whether misregulation of Arc/Arg3.1 might critically imbalance brain networks and lead to emergence of schizophrenia.
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18
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Bradley RA, Shireman J, McFalls C, Choi J, Canfield SG, Dong Y, Liu K, Lisota B, Jones JR, Petersen A, Bhattacharyya A, Palecek SP, Shusta EV, Kendziorski C, Zhang SC. Regionally specified human pluripotent stem cell-derived astrocytes exhibit different molecular signatures and functional properties. Development 2019; 146:dev.170910. [PMID: 31189664 DOI: 10.1242/dev.170910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes display diverse morphologies in different regions of the central nervous system. Whether astrocyte diversity is attributable to developmental processes and bears functional consequences, especially in humans, is unknown. RNA-seq of human pluripotent stem cell-derived regional astrocytes revealed distinct transcript profiles, suggesting differential functional properties. This was confirmed by differential calcium signaling as well as effects on neurite growth and blood-brain barrier formation. Distinct transcriptional profiles and functional properties of human astrocytes generated from regionally specified neural progenitors under the same conditions strongly implicate the developmental impact on astrocyte diversity. These findings provide a rationale for renewed examination of regional astrocytes and their role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Bradley
- Department of Neuroscience, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jack Shireman
- Department of Neuroscience, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Caya McFalls
- Department of Neuroscience, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jeea Choi
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Scott G Canfield
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, Indiana University - Terre Haute, IN 47885, USA
| | - Yi Dong
- Department of Neuroscience, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Katie Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Brianne Lisota
- Department of Neuroscience, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jeffery R Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Andrew Petersen
- Department of Neuroscience, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Anita Bhattacharyya
- Department of Neuroscience, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Sean P Palecek
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Eric V Shusta
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Christina Kendziorski
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Su-Chun Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA .,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Program in Neuroscience & Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857
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19
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Maple AM, Rowe RK, Lifshitz J, Fernandez F, Gallitano AL. Influence of Schizophrenia-Associated Gene Egr3 on Sleep Behavior and Circadian Rhythms in Mice. J Biol Rhythms 2018; 33:662-670. [PMID: 30318979 DOI: 10.1177/0748730418803802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Up to 80% of people meeting DSM-IV definitions for schizophrenia will exhibit difficulties with sleep, along with a breakdown in circadian entrainment and rhythmicity. The changes to the sleep and circadian systems in this population are thought to be interdependent, as evidenced by the frequent use of the combined term "sleep and circadian rhythm disruption" or "SCRD" to describe their occurrence. To understand links between sleep and circadian problems in the schizophrenia population, we analyzed the duration and rhythmicity of sleep behavior in mice lacking function of the immediate early gene early growth response 3 ( Egr3). EGR3 has been associated with schizophrenia risk in humans, and Egr3-deficient (-/-) mice display various features of schizophrenia that are responsive to antipsychotic treatment. While Egr3-/- mice slept less than their wildtype (WT) littermates, they showed no evidence of circadian disorganization; in fact, circadian rhythms of activity were more robust in these mice compared with WT, as measured by time series analysis and the relative amplitude index of Van Someren's suite of non-parametric circadian rhythm analyses. Differences in circadian robustness were maintained when the animals were transferred to several weeks of housing under constant darkness or constant light. Together, our results suggest that Egr3-/- mice retain control over the circadian timekeeping of sleep and wake, while showing impaired sleep. The findings are compatible with those from a surprising array of mouse models of schizophrenia and raise the possibility that SCRD may be 2 separate disorders in the schizophrenia population requiring different treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Maple
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Rachel K Rowe
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona.,Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona.,Phoenix Veteran Affairs Health Care System, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Jonathan Lifshitz
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona.,Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona.,Phoenix Veteran Affairs Health Care System, Phoenix, Arizona.,Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Fabian Fernandez
- Departments of Psychology and Neurology, BIO5 Institute, and The Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Amelia L Gallitano
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona.,Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
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20
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Pujol CN, Pellissier LP, Clément C, Becker JAJ, Le Merrer J. Back-translating behavioral intervention for autism spectrum disorders to mice with blunted reward restores social abilities. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:197. [PMID: 30242222 PMCID: PMC6155047 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0247-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The mu opioid receptor (MOR) plays a critical role in modulating social behavior in humans and animals. Accordingly, MOR null mice display severe alterations in their social repertoire as well as multiple other behavioral deficits, recapitulating core and secondary symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Such behavioral profile suggests that MOR dysfunction, and beyond this, altered reward processes may contribute to ASD etiopathology. Interestingly, the only treatments that proved efficacy in relieving core symptoms of ASD, early behavioral intervention programs, rely principally on positive reinforcement to ameliorate behavior. The neurobiological underpinnings of their beneficial effects, however, remain poorly understood. Here we back-translated applied behavior analysis (ABA)-based behavioral interventions to mice lacking the MOR (Oprm1-/-), as a model of autism with blunted reward processing. By associating a positive reinforcement, palatable food reward, to daily encounter with a wild-type congener, we were able to rescue durably social interaction and preference in Oprm1-/- mice. Along with behavioral improvements, the expression of marker genes of neuronal activity and plasticity as well as genes of the oxytocin/vasopressin system were remarkably normalized in the reward/social circuitry. Our study provides further evidence for a critical involvement of reward processes in driving social behavior and opens new perspectives regarding therapeutic intervention in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille N. Pujol
- 0000 0001 2157 9291grid.11843.3fMédecine Translationelle et Neurogénétique, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Inserm U-964, CNRS UMR-7104, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France ,0000 0004 0383 2080grid.461890.2Present Address: Département de Neurosciences, Institut de Génomique fonctionnelle, Inserm U-661, CNRS UMR 5203, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Lucie P. Pellissier
- 0000 0001 2182 6141grid.12366.30Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA UMR-0085, CNRS UMR-7247, IFCE, Université de Tours, Inserm, Nouzilly, France ,0000 0004 0383 2080grid.461890.2Present Address: Département de Neurosciences, Institut de Génomique fonctionnelle, Inserm U-661, CNRS UMR 5203, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Céline Clément
- 0000 0001 2157 9291grid.11843.3fLaboratoire Interuniversitaire en Sciences de l’Education et de la Communication, EA 2310, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jérôme A. J. Becker
- 0000 0001 2157 9291grid.11843.3fMédecine Translationelle et Neurogénétique, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Inserm U-964, CNRS UMR-7104, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France ,0000 0001 2182 6141grid.12366.30Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA UMR-0085, CNRS UMR-7247, IFCE, Université de Tours, Inserm, Nouzilly, France ,0000 0004 0383 2080grid.461890.2Present Address: Département de Neurosciences, Institut de Génomique fonctionnelle, Inserm U-661, CNRS UMR 5203, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Julie Le Merrer
- Médecine Translationelle et Neurogénétique, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Inserm U-964, CNRS UMR-7104, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France. .,Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA UMR-0085, CNRS UMR-7247, IFCE, Université de Tours, Inserm, Nouzilly, France.
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21
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Grønli J, Schmidt MA, Wisor JP. State-Dependent Modulation of Visual Evoked Potentials in a Rodent Genetic Model of Electroencephalographic Instability. Front Syst Neurosci 2018; 12:36. [PMID: 30158860 PMCID: PMC6104170 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2018.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite normal sleep timing and duration, Egr3-deficient (Egr3−/−) mice exhibit electroencephalographic (EEG) characteristics of reduced arousal, including elevated slow wave (1–4 Hz) activity during wakefulness. Here we show that these mice exhibit state-dependent instability in the EEG. Intermittent surges in EEG power were found in Egr3−/− mice during wakefulness and rapid eye movement sleep, most prominently in the beta (15–35 Hz) range compared to wild type (Egr3+/+) mice. Such surges did not coincide with sleep onset, as the surges were not associated with cessation of electromyographic tone. Cortical processing of sensory information by visual evoked responses (VEP) were found to vary as a function of vigilance state, being of higher magnitude during slow wave sleep (SWS) than wakefulness and rapid eye movement sleep. VEP responses were significantly larger during quiet wakefulness than active wakefulness, in both Egr3−/− mice and Egr3+/+ mice. EEG synchronization in the beta range, previously linked to the accumulation of sleep need over time, predicted VEP magnitude. Egr3−/− mice not only displayed elevated beta activity, but in quiet wake, this elevated beta activity coincides with an elevated evoked response similar to that of animals in SWS. These data confirm that (a) VEPs vary as a function of vigilance state, and (b) beta activity in the EEG is a predictor of state-dependent modulation of visual information processing. The phenotype of Egr3−/− mice indicates that Egr3 is a genetic regulator of these phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne Grønli
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Michelle A Schmidt
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States.,Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Jonathan P Wisor
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States.,Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
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22
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Ye Y, Mastwal S, Cao VY, Ren M, Liu Q, Zhang W, Elkahloun AG, Wang KH. Dopamine is Required for Activity-Dependent Amplification of Arc mRNA in Developing Postnatal Frontal Cortex. Cereb Cortex 2018; 27:3600-3608. [PMID: 27365296 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The activity-regulated gene Arc/Arg3.1 encodes a postsynaptic protein crucially involved in glutamatergic synaptic plasticity. Genetic mutations in Arc pathway and altered Arc expression in human frontal cortex have been associated with schizophrenia. Although Arc expression has been reported to vary with age, what mechanisms regulate Arc mRNA levels in frontal cortex during postnatal development remains unclear. Using quantitative mRNA analysis of mouse frontal cortical tissues, we mapped the developmental profiles of Arc expression and found that its mRNA levels are sharply amplified near the end of the second postnatal week, when mouse pups open their eyes for the first time after birth. Surprisingly, electrical stimulation of the frontal cortex before eye-opening is not sufficient to drive the amplification of Arc mRNA. Instead, this amplification needs both electrical stimulation and dopamine D1-type receptor (D1R) activation. Furthermore, visual stimuli-driven amplification of Arc mRNA is also dependent on D1R activation and dopamine neurons located in the ventral midbrain. These results indicate that dopamine is required to drive activity-dependent amplification of Arc mRNA in the developing postnatal frontal cortex and suggest that joint electrical and dopaminergic activation is essential to establish the normal expression pattern of a schizophrenia-associated gene during frontal cortical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhou Ye
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Surjeet Mastwal
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Vania Yu Cao
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ming Ren
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Qing Liu
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Wenyu Zhang
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Abdel G Elkahloun
- Cancer Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kuan Hong Wang
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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23
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Meyers KT, Marballi KK, Brunwasser SJ, Renda B, Charbel M, Marrone DF, Gallitano AL. The Immediate Early Gene Egr3 Is Required for Hippocampal Induction of Bdnf by Electroconvulsive Stimulation. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:92. [PMID: 29867393 PMCID: PMC5958205 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Early growth response 3 (Egr3) is an immediate early gene (IEG) that is regulated downstream of a cascade of genes associated with risk for psychiatric disorders, and dysfunction of Egr3 itself has been implicated in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. As an activity-dependent transcription factor, EGR3 is poised to regulate the neuronal expression of target genes in response to environmental events. In the current study, we sought to identify a downstream target of EGR3 with the goal of further elucidating genes in this biological pathway relevant for psychiatric illness risk. We used electroconvulsive stimulation (ECS) to induce high-level expression of IEGs in the brain, and conducted expression microarray to identify genes differentially regulated in the hippocampus of Egr3-deficient (-/-) mice compared to their wildtype (WT) littermates. Our results replicated previous work showing that ECS induces high-level expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) in the hippocampus of WT mice. However, we found that this induction is absent in Egr3-/- mice. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) validated the microarray results (performed in males) and replicated the findings in two separate cohorts of female mice. Follow-up studies of activity-dependent Bdnf exons demonstrated that ECS-induced expression of both exons IV and VI requires Egr3. In situ hybridization demonstrated high-level cellular expression of Bdnf in the hippocampal dentate gyrus following ECS in WT, but not Egr3-/-, mice. Bdnf promoter analysis revealed eight putative EGR3 binding sites in the Bdnf promoter, suggesting a mechanism through which EGR3 may directly regulate Bdnf gene expression. These findings do not appear to result from a defect in the development of hippocampal neurons in Egr3-/- mice, as cell counts in tissue sections stained with anti-NeuN antibodies, a neuron-specific marker, did not differ between Egr3-/- and WT mice. In addition, Sholl analysis and counts of dendritic spines in golgi-stained hippocampal sections revealed no difference in dendritic morphology or synaptic spine density in Egr3-/-, compared to WT, mice. These findings indicate that Egr3 is required for ECS-induced expression of Bdnf in the hippocampus and suggest that Bdnf may be a downstream gene in our previously identified biologically pathway for psychiatric illness susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly T Meyers
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Ketan K Marballi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Samuel J Brunwasser
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Briana Renda
- Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Milad Charbel
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Barrett, The Honors college, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Diano F Marrone
- Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada.,Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Amelia L Gallitano
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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24
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Marballi KK, Gallitano AL. Immediate Early Genes Anchor a Biological Pathway of Proteins Required for Memory Formation, Long-Term Depression and Risk for Schizophrenia. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:23. [PMID: 29520222 PMCID: PMC5827560 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
While the causes of myriad medical and infectious illnesses have been identified, the etiologies of neuropsychiatric illnesses remain elusive. This is due to two major obstacles. First, the risk for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, is determined by both genetic and environmental factors. Second, numerous genes influence susceptibility for these illnesses. Genome-wide association studies have identified at least 108 genomic loci for schizophrenia, and more are expected to be published shortly. In addition, numerous biological processes contribute to the neuropathology underlying schizophrenia. These include immune dysfunction, synaptic and myelination deficits, vascular abnormalities, growth factor disruption, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction. However, the field of psychiatric genetics lacks a unifying model to explain how environment may interact with numerous genes to influence these various biological processes and cause schizophrenia. Here we describe a biological cascade of proteins that are activated in response to environmental stimuli such as stress, a schizophrenia risk factor. The central proteins in this pathway are critical mediators of memory formation and a particular form of hippocampal synaptic plasticity, long-term depression (LTD). Each of these proteins is also implicated in schizophrenia risk. In fact, the pathway includes four genes that map to the 108 loci associated with schizophrenia: GRIN2A, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATc3), early growth response 1 (EGR1) and NGFI-A Binding Protein 2 (NAB2); each of which contains the "Index single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)" (most SNP) at its respective locus. Environmental stimuli activate this biological pathway in neurons, resulting in induction of EGR immediate early genes: EGR1, EGR3 and NAB2. We hypothesize that dysfunction in any of the genes in this pathway disrupts the normal activation of Egrs in response to stress. This may result in insufficient electrophysiologic, immunologic, and neuroprotective, processes that these genes normally mediate. Continued adverse environmental experiences, over time, may thereby result in neuropathology that gives rise to the symptoms of schizophrenia. By combining multiple genes associated with schizophrenia susceptibility, in a functional cascade triggered by neuronal activity, the proposed biological pathway provides an explanation for both the polygenic and environmental influences that determine the complex etiology of this mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketan K. Marballi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Amelia L. Gallitano
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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25
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Pfaffenseller B, Kapczinski F, Gallitano AL, Klamt F. EGR3 Immediate Early Gene and the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Bipolar Disorder. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:15. [PMID: 29459824 PMCID: PMC5807664 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe psychiatric illness with a consistent genetic influence, involving complex interactions between numerous genes and environmental factors. Immediate early genes (IEGs) are activated in the brain in response to environmental stimuli, such as stress. The potential to translate environmental stimuli into long-term changes in brain has led to increased interest in a potential role for these genes influencing risk for psychiatric disorders. Our recent finding using network-based approach has shown that the regulatory unit of early growth response gene 3 (EGR3) of IEGs family was robustly repressed in postmortem prefrontal cortex of BD patients. As a central transcription factor, EGR3 regulates an array of target genes that mediate critical neurobiological processes such as synaptic plasticity, memory and cognition. Considering that EGR3 expression is induced by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that has been consistently related to BD pathophysiology, we suggest a link between BDNF and EGR3 and their potential role in BD. A growing body of data from our group and others has shown that peripheral BDNF levels are reduced during mood episodes and also with illness progression. In this same vein, BDNF has been proposed as an important growth factor in the impaired cellular resilience related to BD. Taken together with the fact that EGR3 regulates the expression of the neurotrophin receptor p75NTR and may also indirectly induce BDNF expression, here we propose a feed-forward gene regulatory network involving EGR3 and BDNF and its potential role in BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Pfaffenseller
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Flavio Kapczinski
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Amelia L Gallitano
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Fábio Klamt
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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26
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de Bartolomeis A, Buonaguro EF, Latte G, Rossi R, Marmo F, Iasevoli F, Tomasetti C. Immediate-Early Genes Modulation by Antipsychotics: Translational Implications for a Putative Gateway to Drug-Induced Long-Term Brain Changes. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:240. [PMID: 29321734 PMCID: PMC5732183 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing amount of research aims at recognizing the molecular mechanisms involved in long-lasting brain architectural changes induced by antipsychotic treatments. Although both structural and functional modifications have been identified following acute antipsychotic administration in humans, currently there is scarce knowledge on the enduring consequences of these acute changes. New insights in immediate-early genes (IEGs) modulation following acute or chronic antipsychotic administration may help to fill the gap between primary molecular response and putative long-term changes. Moreover, a critical appraisal of the spatial and temporal patterns of IEGs expression may shed light on the functional "signature" of antipsychotics, such as the propensity to induce motor side effects, the potential neurobiological mechanisms underlying the differences between antipsychotics beyond D2 dopamine receptor affinity, as well as the relevant effects of brain region-specificity in their mechanisms of action. The interest for brain IEGs modulation after antipsychotic treatments has been revitalized by breakthrough findings such as the role of early genes in schizophrenia pathophysiology, the involvement of IEGs in epigenetic mechanisms relevant for cognition, and in neuronal mapping by means of IEGs expression profiling. Here we critically review the evidence on the differential modulation of IEGs by antipsychotics, highlighting the association between IEGs expression and neuroplasticity changes in brain regions impacted by antipsychotics, trying to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning the effects of this class of drugs on psychotic, cognitive and behavioral symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Elisabetta F Buonaguro
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Latte
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Rossi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Marmo
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Felice Iasevoli
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Carmine Tomasetti
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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27
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Wilkerson JR, Albanesi JP, Huber KM. Roles for Arc in metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent LTD and synapse elimination: Implications in health and disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 77:51-62. [PMID: 28969983 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The Arc gene is robustly transcribed in specific neural ensembles in response to experience-driven activity. Upon induction, Arc mRNA is transported to dendrites, where it can be rapidly and locally translated by activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1/5). mGluR-induced dendritic synthesis of Arc is implicated in weakening or elimination of excitatory synapses by triggering endocytosis of postsynaptic AMPARs in both hippocampal CA1 and cerebellar Purkinje neurons. Importantly, CA1 neurons with experience-induced Arc mRNA are susceptible, or primed for mGluR-induced long-term synaptic depression (mGluR-LTD). Here we review mechanisms and function of Arc in mGluR-LTD and synapse elimination and propose roles for these forms of plasticity in Arc-dependent formation of sparse neural representations of learned experience. We also discuss accumulating evidence linking dysregulation of Arc and mGluR-LTD in human cognitive disorders such as intellectual disability, autism and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia R Wilkerson
- Departments of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
| | - Joseph P Albanesi
- Departments of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
| | - Kimberly M Huber
- Departments of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, United States.
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28
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Okuno H, Minatohara K, Bito H. Inverse synaptic tagging: An inactive synapse-specific mechanism to capture activity-induced Arc/arg3.1 and to locally regulate spatial distribution of synaptic weights. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 77:43-50. [PMID: 28939038 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Long-lasting forms of synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are fundamental cellular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. The synaptic tagging and capture (STC) hypothesis has provided a theoretical framework on how products of activity-dependent genes may interact with potentiated synapses to facilitate and maintain such long-lasting synaptic plasticity. Although Arc/arg3.1 was initially assumed to participate in STC processes during LTP, accumulating evidence indicated that Arc/arg3.1 might rather contribute in weakening of synaptic weights than in their strengthening. In particular, analyses of Arc/Arg3.1 protein dynamics and function in the dendrites after plasticity-inducing stimuli have revealed a new type of inactivity-dependent redistribution of synaptic weights, termed "inverse synaptic tagging". The original synaptic tagging and inverse synaptic tagging likely co-exist and are mutually non-exclusive mechanisms, which together may help orchestrate the redistribution of synaptic weights and promote the enhancement and maintenance of their contrast between potentiated and non-potentiated synapses during the late phase of long-term synaptic plasticity. In this review, we describe the inverse synaptic tagging mechanism that controls synaptic dynamics of Arc/Arg3.1, an immediate early gene product which is captured and preferentially targeted to non-potentiated synapses, and discuss its impact on neuronal circuit refinement and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Okuno
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Keiichiro Minatohara
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Bito
- Department of Neurochemistry, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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29
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Managò F, Papaleo F. Schizophrenia: What's Arc Got to Do with It? Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:181. [PMID: 28979198 PMCID: PMC5611489 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human studies of schizophrenia are now reporting a previously unidentified genetic convergence on postsynaptic signaling complexes such as the activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated (Arc) gene. However, because this evidence is still very recent, the neurobiological implication of Arc in schizophrenia is still scattered and unrecognized. Here, we first review current and developing findings connecting Arc in schizophrenia. We then highlight recent and previous findings from preclinical mouse models that elucidate how Arc genetic modifications might recapitulate schizophrenia-relevant behavioral phenotypes following the novel Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework. Building on this, we finally compare and evaluate several lines of evidence demonstrating that Arc genetics can alter both glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems in a very selective way, again consistent with molecular alterations characteristic of schizophrenia. Despite being only initial, accumulating and compelling data are showing that Arc might be one of the primary biological players in schizophrenia. Synaptic plasticity alterations in the genetic architecture of psychiatric disorders might be a rule, not an exception. Thus, we anticipate that additional evidence will soon emerge to clarify the Arc-dependent mechanisms involved in the psychiatric-related dysfunctional behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Managò
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenova, Italy
| | - Francesco Papaleo
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenova, Italy
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30
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Nikolaienko O, Patil S, Eriksen MS, Bramham CR. Arc protein: a flexible hub for synaptic plasticity and cognition. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 77:33-42. [PMID: 28890419 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian excitatory synapses express diverse types of synaptic plasticity. A major challenge in neuroscience is to understand how a neuron utilizes different types of plasticity to sculpt brain development, function, and behavior. Neuronal activity-induced expression of the immediate early protein, Arc, is critical for long-term potentiation and depression of synaptic transmission, homeostatic synaptic scaling, and adaptive functions such as long-term memory formation. However, the molecular basis of Arc protein function as a regulator of synaptic plasticity and cognition remains a puzzle. Recent work on the biophysical and structural properties of Arc, its protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications have shed light on the issue. Here, we present Arc protein as a flexible, multifunctional and interactive hub. Arc interacts with specific effector proteins in neuronal compartments (dendritic spines, nuclear domains) to bidirectionally regulate synaptic strength by distinct molecular mechanisms. Arc stability, subcellular localization, and interactions are dictated by synaptic activity and post-translational modification of Arc. This functional versatility and context-dependent signaling supports a view of Arc as a highly specialized master organizer of long-term synaptic plasticity, critical for information storage and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksii Nikolaienko
- Department of Biomedicine and KG Jebsen Center for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, N-5009, Bergen, Norway
| | - Sudarshan Patil
- Department of Biomedicine and KG Jebsen Center for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, N-5009, Bergen, Norway
| | - Maria Steene Eriksen
- Department of Biomedicine and KG Jebsen Center for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, N-5009, Bergen, Norway
| | - Clive R Bramham
- Department of Biomedicine and KG Jebsen Center for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, N-5009, Bergen, Norway.
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31
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Breitborde NJK, Maple AM, Bell EK, Dawson SC, Woolverton C, Harrison-Monroe P, Gallitano AL. Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein predicts response to cognitive remediation among individuals with first-episode psychosis. Schizophr Res 2017; 184:147-149. [PMID: 27989644 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J K Breitborde
- Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, 1670 Upham Dr, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.; Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Amanda M Maple
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona, 425 N. 5(th) St., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Emily K Bell
- Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER), Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, 535 N. Wilmot Rd, Tucson, AZ 85711, USA
| | - Spencer C Dawson
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, 1503 E. University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Cindy Woolverton
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, 1503 E. University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Patricia Harrison-Monroe
- Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER), Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, 535 N. Wilmot Rd, Tucson, AZ 85711, USA
| | - Amelia L Gallitano
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona, 425 N. 5(th) St., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
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32
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DNA methylation analysis of the EGR3 gene in patients of schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2017; 251:115-117. [PMID: 28199908 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. EGR3 is considered as a potential candidate gene for schizophrenia. We conducted in vitro DNA methylation reaction, Lucia luciferase activity assay, and pyrosequencing assay to assess the DNA methylation of the EGR3 expression underlying the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We found that DNA methylation of the putative EGR3 regulatory regions attenuated Lucia luciferase activity. There was no difference in the DNA methylation pattern of EGR3 between in 50 schizophrenic patients and 47 controls. Our data suggest that DNA methylation regulated the expression of EGR3 might not be associated with schizophrenia.
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Mereu M, Contarini G, Buonaguro EF, Latte G, Managò F, Iasevoli F, de Bartolomeis A, Papaleo F. Dopamine transporter (DAT) genetic hypofunction in mice produces alterations consistent with ADHD but not schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Neuropharmacology 2017; 121:179-194. [PMID: 28454982 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
ADHD, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are psychiatric diseases with a strong genetic component which share dopaminergic alterations. Dopamine transporter (DAT) genetics might be potentially implicated in all these disorders. However, in contrast to DAT absence, the effects of DAT hypofunction especially in developmental trajectories have been scarcely addressed. Thus, we comprehensively studied DAT hypofunctional mice (DAT+/-) from adolescence to adulthood to disentangle DAT-dependent alterations in the development of psychiatric-relevant phenotypes. From pre-adolescence onward, DAT+/- displayed a hyperactive phenotype, while responses to external stimuli and sensorimotor gating abilities were unaltered. General cognitive impairments in adolescent DAT+/- were partially ameliorated during adulthood in males but not in females. Despite this, attentional and impulsivity deficits were evident in DAT+/- adult males. At the molecular level, DAT+/- mice showed a reduced expression of Homer1a in the prefrontal cortex, while other brain regions as well as Arc and Homer1b expression were mostly unaffected. Amphetamine treatments reverted DAT+/- hyperactivity and rescued cognitive deficits. Moreover, amphetamine shifted DAT-dependent Homer1a altered expression from prefrontal cortex to striatal regions. These behavioral and molecular phenotypes indicate that a genetic-driven DAT hypofunction alters neurodevelopmental trajectories consistent with ADHD, but not with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mereu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - G Contarini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - E F Buonaguro
- Section of Psychiatry. Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Science, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - G Latte
- Section of Psychiatry. Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Science, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - F Managò
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - F Iasevoli
- Section of Psychiatry. Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Science, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - A de Bartolomeis
- Section of Psychiatry. Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Science, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - F Papaleo
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
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Mastwal S, Cao V, Wang KH. Genetic Feedback Regulation of Frontal Cortical Neuronal Ensembles Through Activity-Dependent Arc Expression and Dopaminergic Input. Front Neural Circuits 2016; 10:100. [PMID: 27999532 PMCID: PMC5138219 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2016.00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mental functions involve coordinated activities of specific neuronal ensembles that are embedded in complex brain circuits. Aberrant neuronal ensemble dynamics is thought to form the neurobiological basis of mental disorders. A major challenge in mental health research is to identify these cellular ensembles and determine what molecular mechanisms constrain their emergence and consolidation during development and learning. Here, we provide a perspective based on recent studies that use activity-dependent gene Arc/Arg3.1 as a cellular marker to identify neuronal ensembles and a molecular probe to modulate circuit functions. These studies have demonstrated that the transcription of Arc is activated in selective groups of frontal cortical neurons in response to specific behavioral tasks. Arc expression regulates the persistent firing of individual neurons and predicts the consolidation of neuronal ensembles during repeated learning. Therefore, the Arc pathway represents a prototypical example of activity-dependent genetic feedback regulation of neuronal ensembles. The activation of this pathway in the frontal cortex starts during early postnatal development and requires dopaminergic (DA) input. Conversely, genetic disruption of Arc leads to a hypoactive mesofrontal dopamine circuit and its related cognitive deficit. This mutual interaction suggests an auto-regulatory mechanism to amplify the impact of neuromodulators and activity-regulated genes during postnatal development. Such a mechanism may contribute to the association of mutations in dopamine and Arc pathways with neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders. As the mesofrontal dopamine circuit shows extensive activity-dependent developmental plasticity, activity-guided modulation of DA projections or Arc ensembles during development may help to repair circuit deficits related to neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surjeet Mastwal
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vania Cao
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kuan Hong Wang
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Bethesda, MD, USA
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Managò F, Mereu M, Mastwal S, Mastrogiacomo R, Scheggia D, Emanuele M, De Luca MA, Weinberger DR, Wang KH, Papaleo F. Genetic Disruption of Arc/Arg3.1 in Mice Causes Alterations in Dopamine and Neurobehavioral Phenotypes Related to Schizophrenia. Cell Rep 2016; 16:2116-2128. [PMID: 27524619 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Revised: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human genetic studies have recently suggested that the postsynaptic activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) complex is a convergence signal for several genes implicated in schizophrenia. However, the functional significance of Arc in schizophrenia-related neurobehavioral phenotypes and brain circuits is unclear. Here, we find that, consistent with schizophrenia-related phenotypes, disruption of Arc in mice produces deficits in sensorimotor gating, cognitive functions, social behaviors, and amphetamine-induced psychomotor responses. Furthermore, genetic disruption of Arc leads to concomitant hypoactive mesocortical and hyperactive mesostriatal dopamine pathways. Application of a D1 agonist to the prefrontal cortex or a D2 antagonist in the ventral striatum rescues Arc-dependent cognitive or psychomotor abnormalities, respectively. Our findings demonstrate a role for Arc in the regulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission and related behaviors. The results also provide initial biological support implicating Arc in dopaminergic and behavioral abnormalities related to schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Managò
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Maddalena Mereu
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Padova, Largo Meneghetti 2, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Surjeet Mastwal
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rosa Mastrogiacomo
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Diego Scheggia
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Marco Emanuele
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Maria A De Luca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università di Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Daniel R Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Neuroscience and McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kuan Hong Wang
- Unit on Neural Circuits and Adaptive Behaviors, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Francesco Papaleo
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
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Pfaffenseller B, da Silva Magalhães PV, De Bastiani MA, Castro MAA, Gallitano AL, Kapczinski F, Klamt F. Differential expression of transcriptional regulatory units in the prefrontal cortex of patients with bipolar disorder: potential role of early growth response gene 3. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e805. [PMID: 27163206 PMCID: PMC5070056 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental illness with a strong genetic component. Despite its high degree of heritability, current genetic studies have failed to reveal individual loci of large effect size. In lieu of focusing on individual genes, we investigated regulatory units (regulons) in BD to identify candidate transcription factors (TFs) that regulate large groups of differentially expressed genes. Network-based approaches should elucidate the molecular pathways governing the pathophysiology of BD and reveal targets for potential therapeutic intervention. The data from a large-scale microarray study was used to reconstruct the transcriptional associations in the human prefrontal cortex, and results from two independent microarray data sets to obtain BD gene signatures. The regulatory network was derived by mapping the significant interactions between known TFs and all potential targets. Five regulons were identified in both transcriptional network models: early growth response 3 (EGR3), TSC22 domain family, member 4 (TSC22D4), interleukin enhancer-binding factor 2 (ILF2), Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) and MAP-kinase-activating death domain (MADD). With a high stringency threshold, the consensus across tests was achieved only for the EGR3 regulon. We identified EGR3 in the prefrontal cortex as a potential key target, robustly repressed in both BD signatures. Considering that EGR3 translates environmental stimuli into long-term changes in the brain, disruption in biological pathways involving EGR3 may induce an impaired response to stress and influence on risk for psychiatric disorders, particularly BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Pfaffenseller
- Bipolar Disorder Program, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil,Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - P V da Silva Magalhães
- Bipolar Disorder Program, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil,Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil,Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 2350 Ramiro Barcelos Street, Porto Alegre 90035 903, Brazil. E-mail:
| | - M A De Bastiani
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - M A A Castro
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná, Polytechnic Center, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - A L Gallitano
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - F Kapczinski
- Bipolar Disorder Program, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil,Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - F Klamt
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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