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Reza Naghdi M, Ahadi R, Motamed Nezhad A, Sadat Ahmadi Tabatabaei F, Soleimani M, Hajisoltani R. The neuroprotective effect of Diosgenin in the rat Valproic acid model of autism. Brain Res 2024; 1838:148963. [PMID: 38705555 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148963] [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] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with two core behavioral symptoms restricted/repetitive behavior and social-communication deficit. The unknown etiology of ASD makes it difficult to identify potential treatments. Valproic acid (VPA) is an anticonvulsant drug with teratogenic effects during pregnancy in humans and rodents. Prenatal exposure to VPA induces autism-like behavior in both humans and rodents. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Diosgenin in prenatal Valproic acid-induced autism in rats. METHOD pregnant Wister female rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of VPA (600 mg/kg, i.p.) on gestational day 12.5. The male offspring were given oral Dios (40 mg/kg, p.o.) or Carboxymethyl cellulose (5 mg/kg, p.o.) for 30 days starting from postnatal day 23. On postnatal day 52, behavioral tests were done. Additionally, biochemical assessments for oxidative stress markers were carried out on postnatal day 60. Further, histological evaluations were performed on the prefrontal tissue by Nissl staining and Immunohistofluorescence. RESULTS The VPA-exposed rats showed increased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM). They also demonstrated repetitive and grooming behaviors in the marble burying test (MBT) and self-grooming test. Social interaction was reduced, and they had difficulty detecting the novel object in the novel object recognition (NOR) test. Also, VPA-treated rats have shown higher levels of oxidative stress malondialdehyde (MDA) and lower GPX, TAC, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Furthermore, the number of neurons decreased and the ERK signaling pathway upregulated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). On the other hand, treatment with Dios restored the behavioral consequences, lowered oxidative stress, and death of neurons, and rescued the overly activated ERK1/2 signaling in the prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSION Chronic treatment with Dios restored the behavioral, biochemical, and histological abnormalities caused by prenatal VPA exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Reza Ahadi
- Department of Anatomy, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Mansoureh Soleimani
- Department of Anatomy, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Razieh Hajisoltani
- Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Lutze RD, Ingersoll MA, Thotam A, Joseph A, Fernandes J, Teitz T. ERK1/2 Inhibition via the Oral Administration of Tizaterkib Alleviates Noise-Induced Hearing Loss While Tempering down the Immune Response. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6305. [PMID: 38928015 PMCID: PMC11204379 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126305] [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: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a major cause of hearing impairment and is linked to dementia and mental health conditions, yet no FDA-approved drugs exist to prevent it. Downregulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cellular pathway has emerged as a promising approach to attenuate NIHL, but the molecular targets and the mechanism of protection are not fully understood. Here, we tested specifically the role of the kinases ERK1/2 in noise otoprotection using a newly developed, highly specific ERK1/2 inhibitor, tizaterkib, in preclinical animal models. Tizaterkib is currently being tested in phase 1 clinical trials for cancer treatment and has high oral bioavailability and low predicted systemic toxicity in mice and humans. In this study, we performed dose-response measurements of tizaterkib's efficacy against permanent NIHL in adult FVB/NJ mice, and its minimum effective dose (0.5 mg/kg/bw), therapeutic index (>50), and window of opportunity (<48 h) were determined. The drug, administered orally twice daily for 3 days, 24 h after 2 h of 100 dB or 106 dB SPL noise exposure, at a dose equivalent to what is prescribed currently for humans in clinical trials, conferred an average protection of 20-25 dB SPL in both female and male mice. The drug shielded mice from the noise-induced synaptic damage which occurs following loud noise exposure. Equally interesting, tizaterkib was shown to decrease the number of CD45- and CD68-positive immune cells in the mouse cochlea following noise exposure. This study suggests that repurposing tizaterkib and the ERK1/2 kinases' inhibition could be a promising strategy for the treatment of NIHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D. Lutze
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (R.D.L.); (M.A.I.); (A.T.); (A.J.); (J.F.)
| | - Matthew A. Ingersoll
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (R.D.L.); (M.A.I.); (A.T.); (A.J.); (J.F.)
| | - Alena Thotam
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (R.D.L.); (M.A.I.); (A.T.); (A.J.); (J.F.)
| | - Anjali Joseph
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (R.D.L.); (M.A.I.); (A.T.); (A.J.); (J.F.)
| | - Joshua Fernandes
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (R.D.L.); (M.A.I.); (A.T.); (A.J.); (J.F.)
| | - Tal Teitz
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (R.D.L.); (M.A.I.); (A.T.); (A.J.); (J.F.)
- The Scintillon Research Institute, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
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Ingersoll MA, Lutze RD, Kelmann RG, Kresock DF, Marsh JD, Quevedo RV, Zuo J, Teitz T. KSR1 Knockout Mouse Model Demonstrates MAPK Pathway's Key Role in Cisplatin- and Noise-induced Hearing Loss. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2174232024. [PMID: 38548338 PMCID: PMC11063821 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2174-23.2024] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss is a major disability in everyday life and therapeutic interventions to protect hearing would benefit a large portion of the world population. Here we found that mice devoid of the protein kinase suppressor of RAS 1 (KSR1) in their tissues (germline KO mice) exhibit resistance to both cisplatin- and noise-induced permanent hearing loss compared with their wild-type KSR1 littermates. KSR1 is a scaffold protein that brings in proximity the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins BRAF, MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 and assists in their activation through a phosphorylation cascade induced by both cisplatin and noise insults in the cochlear cells. KSR1, BRAF, MEK1/2, and ERK1/2 are all ubiquitously expressed in the cochlea. Deleting the KSR1 protein tempered down the MAPK phosphorylation cascade in the cochlear cells following both cisplatin and noise insults and conferred hearing protection of up to 30 dB SPL in three tested frequencies in male and female mice. Treatment with dabrafenib, an FDA-approved oral BRAF inhibitor, protected male and female KSR1 wild-type mice from both cisplatin- and noise-induced hearing loss. Dabrafenib treatment did not enhance the protection of KO KSR1 mice, providing evidence dabrafenib works primarily through the MAPK pathway. Thus, either elimination of the KSR1 gene expression or drug inhibition of the MAPK cellular pathway in mice resulted in profound protection from both cisplatin- and noise-induced hearing loss. Inhibition of the MAPK pathway, a cellular pathway that responds to damage in the cochlear cells, can prove a valuable strategy to protect and treat hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Ingersoll
- Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska 68178
| | - Richard D Lutze
- Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska 68178
| | - Regina G Kelmann
- Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska 68178
| | - Daniel F Kresock
- Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska 68178
| | - Jordan D Marsh
- Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska 68178
| | - Rene V Quevedo
- Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska 68178
| | - Jian Zuo
- Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska 68178
| | - Tal Teitz
- Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska 68178
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Kim J, Vanrobaeys Y, Kelvington B, Peterson Z, Baldwin E, Gaine ME, Nickl-Jockschat T, Abel T. Dissecting 16p11.2 hemi-deletion to study sex-specific striatal phenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:1310-1321. [PMID: 38278994 PMCID: PMC11189748 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02411-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are polygenic in nature and copy number variants (CNVs) are ideal candidates to study the nature of this polygenic risk. The disruption of striatal circuits is considered a central mechanism in NDDs. The 16p11.2 hemi-deletion (16p11.2 del/+) is one of the most common CNVs associated with NDD, and 16p11.2 del/+ mice show sex-specific striatum-related behavioral phenotypes. However, the critical genes among the 27 genes in the 16p11.2 region that underlie these phenotypes remain unknown. Previously, we applied a novel strategy to identify candidate genes associated with the sex-specific phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice and highlighted three genes within the deleted region: thousand and one amino acid protein kinase 2 (Taok2), seizure-related 6 homolog-like 2 (Sez6l2), and major vault protein (Mvp). Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated mice carrying null mutations in Taok2, Sez6l2, and Mvp (3 gene hemi-deletion (3g del/+)). Hemi-deletion of these 3 genes recapitulates sex-specific behavioral alterations in striatum-dependent behavioral tasks observed in 16p11.2 del/+ mice, specifically male-specific hyperactivity and impaired motivation for reward seeking. Moreover, RNAseq analysis revealed that 3g del/+ mice exhibit gene expression changes in the striatum similar to 16p11.2 del/+ mice exclusively in males. Subsequent analysis identified translation dysregulation and/or extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling as plausible molecular mechanisms underlying male-specific, striatum-dependent behavioral alterations. Interestingly, ribosomal profiling supported the notion of translation dysregulation in both 3g del/+ and 16p11.2 del/+ male mice. However, mice carrying a 4-gene deletion (with an additional deletion of Mapk3) exhibited fewer phenotypic similarities with 16p11.2 del/+ mice. Together, the mutation of 3 genes within the 16p11.2 region phenocopies striatal sex-specific phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice. These results support the importance of a polygenic approach to study NDDs and underscore that the effects of the large genetic deletions result from complex interactions between multiple candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaekyoon Kim
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Yann Vanrobaeys
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Benjamin Kelvington
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Zeru Peterson
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Emily Baldwin
- The Iowa Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Marie E Gaine
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Thomas Nickl-Jockschat
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
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Jiang J, Wang D, Jiang Y, Yang X, Sun R, Chang J, Zhu W, Yao P, Song K, Chang S, Wang H, Zhou L, Zhang XS, Li H, Li N. The gut metabolite indole-3-propionic acid activates ERK1 to restore social function and hippocampal inhibitory synaptic transmission in a 16p11.2 microdeletion mouse model. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:66. [PMID: 38549163 PMCID: PMC10976717 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01755-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microdeletion of the human chromosomal region 16p11.2 (16p11.2+ / - ) is a prevalent genetic factor associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. However its pathogenic mechanism remains unclear, and effective treatments for 16p11.2+ / - syndrome are lacking. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota and its metabolites are inextricably linked to host behavior through the gut-brain axis and are therefore implicated in ASD development. Despite this, the functional roles of microbial metabolites in the context of 16p11.2+ / - are yet to be elucidated. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), a gut microbiota metabolite, in addressing behavioral and neural deficits associated with 16p11.2+ / - , as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms. RESULTS Mice with the 16p11.2+ / - showed dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and a significant decrease in IPA levels in feces and blood circulation. Further, these mice exhibited significant social and cognitive memory impairments, along with hyperactivation of hippocampal dentate gyrus neurons and reduced inhibitory synaptic transmission in this region. However, oral administration of IPA effectively mitigated the histological and electrophysiological alterations, thereby ameliorating the social and cognitive deficits of the mice. Remarkably, IPA treatment significantly increased the phosphorylation level of ERK1, a protein encoded by the Mapk3 gene in the 16p11.2 region, without affecting the transcription and translation of the Mapk3 gene. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals that 16p11.2+ / - leads to a decline in gut metabolite IPA levels; however, IPA supplementation notably reverses the behavioral and neural phenotypes of 16p11.2+ / - mice. These findings provide new insights into the critical role of gut microbial metabolites in ASD pathogenesis and present a promising treatment strategy for social and cognitive memory deficit disorders, such as 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Jiang
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dilong Wang
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Youheng Jiang
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiuyan Yang
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Runfeng Sun
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinlong Chang
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenhui Zhu
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peijia Yao
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kun Song
- Brain Research Centre, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuwen Chang
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hong Wang
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xue-Song Zhang
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Huiliang Li
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, Division of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Ningning Li
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China.
- China-UK Institute for Frontier Science, Shenzhen, China.
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Afliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
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Prem S, Dev B, Peng C, Mehta M, Alibutud R, Connacher RJ, St Thomas M, Zhou X, Matteson P, Xing J, Millonig JH, DiCicco-Bloom E. Dysregulation of mTOR signaling mediates common neurite and migration defects in both idiopathic and 16p11.2 deletion autism neural precursor cells. eLife 2024; 13:e82809. [PMID: 38525876 PMCID: PMC11003747 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82809] [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: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined by common behavioral characteristics, raising the possibility of shared pathogenic mechanisms. Yet, vast clinical and etiological heterogeneity suggests personalized phenotypes. Surprisingly, our iPSC studies find that six individuals from two distinct ASD subtypes, idiopathic and 16p11.2 deletion, have common reductions in neural precursor cell (NPC) neurite outgrowth and migration even though whole genome sequencing demonstrates no genetic overlap between the datasets. To identify signaling differences that may contribute to these developmental defects, an unbiased phospho-(p)-proteome screen was performed. Surprisingly despite the genetic heterogeneity, hundreds of shared p-peptides were identified between autism subtypes including the mTOR pathway. mTOR signaling alterations were confirmed in all NPCs across both ASD subtypes, and mTOR modulation rescued ASD phenotypes and reproduced autism NPC-associated phenotypes in control NPCs. Thus, our studies demonstrate that genetically distinct ASD subtypes have common defects in neurite outgrowth and migration which are driven by the shared pathogenic mechanism of mTOR signaling dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smrithi Prem
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Bharati Dev
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Cynthia Peng
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Monal Mehta
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Rohan Alibutud
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Robert J Connacher
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Madeline St Thomas
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Xiaofeng Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Paul Matteson
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Jinchuan Xing
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - James H Millonig
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolNew BrunswickUnited States
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Zhuang H, Liang Z, Ma G, Qureshi A, Ran X, Feng C, Liu X, Yan X, Shen L. Autism spectrum disorder: pathogenesis, biomarker, and intervention therapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e497. [PMID: 38434761 PMCID: PMC10908366 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become a common neurodevelopmental disorder. The heterogeneity of ASD poses great challenges for its research and clinical translation. On the basis of reviewing the heterogeneity of ASD, this review systematically summarized the current status and progress of pathogenesis, diagnostic markers, and interventions for ASD. We provided an overview of the ASD molecular mechanisms identified by multi-omics studies and convergent mechanism in different genetic backgrounds. The comorbidities, mechanisms associated with important physiological and metabolic abnormalities (i.e., inflammation, immunity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction), and gut microbial disorder in ASD were reviewed. The non-targeted omics and targeting studies of diagnostic markers for ASD were also reviewed. Moreover, we summarized the progress and methods of behavioral and educational interventions, intervention methods related to technological devices, and research on medical interventions and potential drug targets. This review highlighted the application of high-throughput omics methods in ASD research and emphasized the importance of seeking homogeneity from heterogeneity and exploring the convergence of disease mechanisms, biomarkers, and intervention approaches, and proposes that taking into account individuality and commonality may be the key to achieve accurate diagnosis and treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbin Zhuang
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Zhiyuan Liang
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Guanwei Ma
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Ayesha Qureshi
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Xiaoqian Ran
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Chengyun Feng
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital of BaoanShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Xukun Liu
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Xi Yan
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Liming Shen
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
- Shenzhen‐Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science‐Shenzhen Fundamental Research InstitutionsShenzhenP. R. China
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Kretz PF, Wagner C, Mikhaleva A, Montillot C, Hugel S, Morella I, Kannan M, Fischer MC, Milhau M, Yalcin I, Brambilla R, Selloum M, Herault Y, Reymond A, Collins SC, Yalcin B. Dissecting the autism-associated 16p11.2 locus identifies multiple drivers in neuroanatomical phenotypes and unveils a male-specific role for the major vault protein. Genome Biol 2023; 24:261. [PMID: 37968726 PMCID: PMC10647150 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03092-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Using mouse genetic studies and systematic assessments of brain neuroanatomical phenotypes, we set out to identify which of the 30 genes causes brain defects at the autism-associated 16p11.2 locus. RESULTS We show that multiple genes mapping to this region interact to regulate brain anatomy, with female mice exhibiting far fewer brain neuroanatomical phenotypes. In male mice, among the 13 genes associated with neuroanatomical defects (Mvp, Ppp4c, Zg16, Taok2, Slx1b, Maz, Fam57b, Bola2, Tbx6, Qprt, Spn, Hirip3, and Doc2a), Mvp is the top driver implicated in phenotypes pertaining to brain, cortex, hippocampus, ventricles, and corpus callosum sizes. The major vault protein (MVP), the main component of the vault organelle, is a conserved protein found in eukaryotic cells, yet its function is not understood. Here, we find MVP expression highly specific to the limbic system and show that Mvp regulates neuronal morphology, postnatally and specifically in males. We also recapitulate a previously reported genetic interaction and show that Mvp+/-;Mapk3+/- mice exhibit behavioral deficits, notably decreased anxiety-like traits detected in the elevated plus maze and open field paradigms. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights multiple gene drivers in neuroanatomical phenotypes, interacting with each other through complex relationships. It also provides the first evidence for the involvement of the major vault protein in the regulation of brain size and neuroanatomy, specifically in male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perrine F Kretz
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, IGBMC, U964, 67400, Illkirch, France
| | - Christel Wagner
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, IGBMC, U964, 67400, Illkirch, France
| | - Anna Mikhaleva
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Sylvain Hugel
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative neuroscience, CNRS, UPR321267000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ilaria Morella
- School of Biosciences, Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Meghna Kannan
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, IGBMC, U964, 67400, Illkirch, France
| | - Marie-Christine Fischer
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, IGBMC, U964, 67400, Illkirch, France
| | - Maxence Milhau
- Inserm UMR1231, Université de Bourgogne, 21000, Dijon, France
| | - Ipek Yalcin
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative neuroscience, CNRS, UPR321267000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Riccardo Brambilla
- School of Biosciences, Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mohammed Selloum
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, IGBMC, U964, 67400, Illkirch, France
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, CELPHEDIA, PHENOMIN, ICS, 67400, Illkirch, France
| | - Yann Herault
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, IGBMC, U964, 67400, Illkirch, France
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, CELPHEDIA, PHENOMIN, ICS, 67400, Illkirch, France
| | - Alexandre Reymond
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stephan C Collins
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, IGBMC, U964, 67400, Illkirch, France
- Current address: Université de Bourgogne, Inserm UMR1231, 21000, Dijon, France
| | - Binnaz Yalcin
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, IGBMC, U964, 67400, Illkirch, France.
- Current address: Université de Bourgogne, Inserm UMR1231, 21000, Dijon, France.
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9
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Ingersoll MA, Lutze RD, Kelmann RG, Kresock DF, Marsh JD, Quevedo RV, Zuo J, Teitz T. KSR1 knockout mouse model demonstrates MAPK pathway's key role in cisplatin- and noise-induced hearing loss. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.08.566316. [PMID: 38014104 PMCID: PMC10680565 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.08.566316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Hearing loss is a major disability in everyday life and therapeutic interventions to protect hearing would benefit a large portion of the world population. Here we found that mice devoid of the protein kinase suppressor of RAS 1 (KSR1) in their tissues (germline KO mice) exhibit resistance to both cisplatin- and noise-induced permanent hearing loss compared to their wild-type KSR1 littermates. KSR1 is expressed in the cochlea and is a scaffold protein that brings in proximity the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins BRAF, MEK and ERK and assists in their activation through a phosphorylation cascade induced by both cisplatin and noise insults in the cochlear cells. Deleting the KSR1 protein tempered down the MAPK phosphorylation cascade in the cochlear cells following both cisplatin and noise insults and conferred hearing protection of up to 30 dB SPL in three tested frequencies in mice. Treatment with dabrafenib, an FDA-approved oral BRAF inhibitor, downregulated the MAPK kinase cascade and protected the KSR1 wild-type mice from both cisplatin- and noise-induced hearing loss. Dabrafenib treatment did not enhance the protection of KO KSR1 mice, as excepted, providing evidence dabrafenib works primarily through the MAPK pathway. Thus, either elimination of the KSR1 gene expression or drug inhibition of the MAPK cellular pathway in mice resulted in profound protection from both cisplatin- and noise-induce hearing loss. Inhibition of the MAPK pathway, a cellular pathway that responds to damage in the cochlear cells, can prove a valuable strategy to protect and treat hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Ingersoll
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Richard D. Lutze
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Regina G. Kelmann
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Daniel F. Kresock
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Jordan D. Marsh
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Rene V. Quevedo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Jian Zuo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Tal Teitz
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
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10
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Lutze RD, Ingersoll MA, Thotam A, Joseph A, Fernandes J, Teitz T. ERK1/2 Inhibition Alleviates Noise-Induced Hearing Loss While Tempering Down the Immune Response. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.18.563007. [PMID: 37905140 PMCID: PMC10614960 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.18.563007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a major cause of hearing impairment, yet no FDA-approved drugs exist to prevent it. Targeting the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cellular pathway has emerged as a promising approach to attenuate NIHL. Tizaterkib is an orally bioavailable, highly specific ERK1/2 inhibitor, currently in Phase-1 anticancer clinical trials. Here, we tested tizaterkib's efficacy against permanent NIHL in mice at doses equivalent to what humans are currently prescribed in clinical trials. The drug given orally 24 hours after noise exposure, protected an average of 20-25 dB SPL in three frequencies, in female and male mice, had a therapeutic window >50, and did not confer additional protection to KSR1 genetic knockout mice, showing the drug works through the MAPK pathway. Tizaterkib shielded from noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy, and a 3-day, twice daily, treatment with the drug was the optimal determined regimen. Importantly, tizaterkib was shown to decrease the number of CD45 and CD68 positive immune cells in the cochlea following noise exposure, which could be part of the protective mechanism of MAPK inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D. Lutze
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Matthew A. Ingersoll
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Alena Thotam
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Anjali Joseph
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Joshua Fernandes
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Tal Teitz
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
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11
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Forrest MP, Penzes P. Mechanisms of copy number variants in neuropsychiatric disorders: From genes to therapeutics. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 82:102750. [PMID: 37515924 PMCID: PMC10529795 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Copy number variants (CNVs) are genomic imbalances strongly linked to the aetiology of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. By virtue of their large size, CNVs often contain many genes, providing a multi-genic view of disease processes that can be dissected in model systems. Thus, CNV research provides an important stepping stone towards understanding polygenic disease mechanisms, positioned between monogenic and polygenic risk models. In this review, we will outline hypothetical models for gene interactions occurring within CNVs and discuss different approaches used to study rodent and stem cell disease models. We highlight recent work showing that genetic and pharmacological strategies can be used to rescue important aspects of CNV-mediated pathophysiology, which often converges onto synaptic pathways. We propose that using a rescue approach in complete CNV models provides a new path forward for precise mechanistic understanding of complex disorders and a tangible route towards therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc P Forrest
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Peter Penzes
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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12
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Martin Lorenzo S, Muniz Moreno MDM, Atas H, Pellen M, Nalesso V, Raffelsberger W, Prevost G, Lindner L, Birling MC, Menoret S, Tesson L, Negroni L, Concordet JP, Anegon I, Herault Y. Changes in social behavior with MAPK2 and KCTD13/CUL3 pathways alterations in two new outbred rat models for the 16p11.2 syndromes with autism spectrum disorders. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1148683. [PMID: 37465586 PMCID: PMC10350633 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1148683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Copy number variations (CNVs) of the human 16p11.2 locus are associated with several developmental/neurocognitive syndromes. Particularly, deletion and duplication of this genetic interval are found in patients with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability and other psychiatric traits. The high gene density associated with the region and the strong phenotypic variability of incomplete penetrance, make the study of the 16p11.2 syndromes extremely complex. To systematically study the effect of 16p11.2 CNVs and identify candidate genes and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology, mouse models were generated previously and showed learning and memory, and to some extent social deficits. To go further in understanding the social deficits caused by 16p11.2 syndromes, we engineered deletion and duplication of the homologous region to the human 16p11.2 genetic interval in two rat outbred strains, Sprague Dawley (SD) and Long Evans (LE). The 16p11.2 rat models displayed convergent defects in social behavior and in the novel object test in male carriers from both genetic backgrounds. Interestingly major pathways affecting MAPK1 and CUL3 were found altered in the rat 16p11.2 models with additional changes in males compared to females. Altogether, the consequences of the 16p11.2 genetic region dosage on social behavior are now found in three different species: humans, mice and rats. In addition, the rat models pointed to sexual dimorphism with lower severity of phenotypes in rat females compared to male mutants. This phenomenon is also observed in humans. We are convinced that the two rat models will be key to further investigating social behavior and understanding the brain mechanisms and specific brain regions that are key to controlling social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Martin Lorenzo
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U1258, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Maria Del Mar Muniz Moreno
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U1258, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Helin Atas
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U1258, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Marion Pellen
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U1258, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Valérie Nalesso
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U1258, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Wolfgang Raffelsberger
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U1258, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Geraldine Prevost
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, CELPHEDIA-PHENOMIN, Institut Clinique de la Souris, Illkirch, France
| | - Loic Lindner
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, CELPHEDIA-PHENOMIN, Institut Clinique de la Souris, Illkirch, France
| | - Marie-Christine Birling
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, CELPHEDIA-PHENOMIN, Institut Clinique de la Souris, Illkirch, France
| | - Séverine Menoret
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, CNRS, SFR Santé, Inserm UMS 016 CNRS UMS 3556, Nantes, France
- INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie UMR1064, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
| | - Laurent Tesson
- INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie UMR1064, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
| | - Luc Negroni
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U1258, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | | | - Ignacio Anegon
- INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie UMR1064, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
| | - Yann Herault
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U1258, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, CELPHEDIA-PHENOMIN, Institut Clinique de la Souris, Illkirch, France
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13
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Openshaw RL, Thomson DM, Bristow GC, Mitchell EJ, Pratt JA, Morris BJ, Dawson N. 16p11.2 deletion mice exhibit compromised fronto-temporal connectivity, GABAergic dysfunction, and enhanced attentional ability. Commun Biol 2023; 6:557. [PMID: 37225770 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04891-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders are more common in males, and have a substantial genetic component. Chromosomal 16p11.2 deletions in particular carry strong genetic risk for autism, yet their neurobiological impact is poorly characterised, particularly at the integrated systems level. Here we show that mice reproducing this deletion (16p11.2 DEL mice) have reduced GABAergic interneuron gene expression (decreased parvalbumin mRNA in orbitofrontal cortex, and male-specific decreases in Gad67 mRNA in parietal and insular cortex and medial septum). Metabolic activity was increased in medial septum, and in its efferent targets: mammillary body and (males only) subiculum. Functional connectivity was altered between orbitofrontal, insular and auditory cortex, and between septum and hippocampus/subiculum. Consistent with this circuit dysfunction, 16p11.2 DEL mice showed reduced prepulse inhibition, but enhanced performance in the continuous performance test of attentional ability. Level 1 autistic individuals show similarly heightened performance in the equivalent human test, also associated with parietal, insular-orbitofrontal and septo-subicular dysfunction. The data implicate cortical and septal GABAergic dysfunction, and resulting connectivity changes, as the cause of pre-attentional and attentional changes in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Openshaw
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Sir James Black Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - David M Thomson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK
| | - Greg C Bristow
- Department of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Emma J Mitchell
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK
| | - Judith A Pratt
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK
| | - Brian J Morris
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Sir James Black Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
| | - Neil Dawson
- Department of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK.
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14
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Maurer JJ, Choi A, An I, Sathi N, Chung S. Sleep disturbances in autism spectrum disorder: Animal models, neural mechanisms, and therapeutics. Neurobiol Sleep Circadian Rhythms 2023; 14:100095. [PMID: 37188242 PMCID: PMC10176270 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbscr.2023.100095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep is crucial for brain development. Sleep disturbances are prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Strikingly, these sleep problems are positively correlated with the severity of ASD core symptoms such as deficits in social skills and stereotypic behavior, indicating that sleep problems and the behavioral characteristics of ASD may be related. In this review, we will discuss sleep disturbances in children with ASD and highlight mouse models to study sleep disturbances and behavioral phenotypes in ASD. In addition, we will review neuromodulators controlling sleep and wakefulness and how these neuromodulatory systems are disrupted in animal models and patients with ASD. Lastly, we will address how the therapeutic interventions for patients with ASD improve various aspects of sleep. Together, gaining mechanistic insights into the neural mechanisms underlying sleep disturbances in children with ASD will help us to develop better therapeutic interventions.
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15
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Murari K, Abushaibah A, Rho JM, Turner RW, Cheng N. A clinically relevant selective ERK-pathway inhibitor reverses core deficits in a mouse model of autism. EBioMedicine 2023; 91:104565. [PMID: 37088035 PMCID: PMC10149189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104565] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK/MAPK) pathway in the brain is hypothesized to be a critical convergent node in the development of autism spectrum disorder. We reasoned that selectively targeting this pathway could reverse core autism-like phenotype in animal models. METHODS Here we tested a clinically relevant, selective inhibitor of ERK pathway, PD325901 (Mirdametinib), in a mouse model of idiopathic autism, the BTBR mice. FINDINGS We report that treating juvenile mice with PD325901 reduced ERK pathway activation, dose and duration-dependently reduced core disease-modeling deficits in sociability, vocalization and repetitive behavior, and reversed abnormal EEG signals. Further analysis revealed that subchronic treatment did not affect weight gain, locomotion, or neuronal density in the brain. Parallel treatment in the C57BL/6J mice did not alter their phenotype. INTERPRETATION Our data indicate that selectively inhibiting ERK pathway using PD325901 is beneficial in the BTBR model, thus further support the notion that ERK pathway is critically involved in the pathophysiology of autism. These results suggest that a similar approach could be applied to animal models of syndromic autism with dysregulated ERK signaling, to further test selectively targeting ERK pathway as a new approach for treating autism. FUNDING This has beenwork was supported by Alberta Children's Hospital Research Foundation (JMR & NC), University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (NC), Kids Brain Health Network (NC), and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartikeya Murari
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Abdulrahman Abushaibah
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Bachelor of Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Jong M Rho
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Ray W Turner
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Ning Cheng
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
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16
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Yang Y, Booker SA, Clegg JM, Quintana-Urzainqui I, Sumera A, Kozic Z, Dando O, Martin Lorenzo S, Herault Y, Kind PC, Price DJ, Pratt T. Identifying foetal forebrain interneurons as a target for monogenic autism risk factors and the polygenic 16p11.2 microdeletion. BMC Neurosci 2023; 24:5. [PMID: 36658491 PMCID: PMC9850541 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-022-00771-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum condition or 'autism' is associated with numerous genetic risk factors including the polygenic 16p11.2 microdeletion. The balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the cerebral cortex is hypothesised to be critical for the aetiology of autism making improved understanding of how risk factors impact on the development of these cells an important area of research. In the current study we aim to combine bioinformatics analysis of human foetal cerebral cortex gene expression data with anatomical and electrophysiological analysis of a 16p11.2+/- rat model to investigate how genetic risk factors impact on inhibitory neuron development. METHODS We performed bioinformatics analysis of single cell transcriptomes from gestational week (GW) 8-26 human foetal prefrontal cortex and anatomical and electrophysiological analysis of 16p11.2+/- rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus at post-natal day (P) 21. RESULTS We identified a subset of human interneurons (INs) first appearing at GW23 with enriched expression of a large fraction of risk factor transcripts including those expressed from the 16p11.2 locus. This suggests the hypothesis that these foetal INs are vulnerable to mutations causing autism. We investigated this in a rat model of the 16p11.2 microdeletion. We found no change in the numbers or position of either excitatory or inhibitory neurons in the somatosensory cortex or CA1 of 16p11.2+/- rats but found that CA1 Sst INs were hyperexcitable with an enlarged axon initial segment, which was not the case for CA1 pyramidal cells. LIMITATIONS The human foetal gene expression data was acquired from cerebral cortex between gestational week (GW) 8 to 26. We cannot draw inferences about potential vulnerabilities to genetic autism risk factors for cells not present in the developing cerebral cortex at these stages. The analysis 16p11.2+/- rat phenotypes reported in the current study was restricted to 3-week old (P21) animals around the time of weaning and to a single interneuron cell-type while in human 16p11.2 microdeletion carriers symptoms likely involve multiple cell types and manifest in the first few years of life and on into adulthood. CONCLUSIONS We have identified developing interneurons in human foetal cerebral cortex as potentially vulnerable to monogenic autism risk factors and the 16p11.2 microdeletion and report interneuron phenotypes in post-natal 16p11.2+/- rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Yang
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.,Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Sam A Booker
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom
| | - James M Clegg
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom
| | - Idoia Quintana-Urzainqui
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.,Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69012, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Sumera
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom
| | - Zrinko Kozic
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom
| | - Owen Dando
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Martin Lorenzo
- CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, INSERM, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, IGBMC, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404, Illkirch, France
| | - Yann Herault
- CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, INSERM, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, IGBMC, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404, Illkirch, France
| | - Peter C Kind
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom
| | - David J Price
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Pratt
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom. .,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.
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17
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Wang L, Wang B, Wu C, Wang J, Sun M. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Neurodevelopmental Risk Factors, Biological Mechanism, and Precision Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031819. [PMID: 36768153 PMCID: PMC9915249 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous, behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disorder. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders has progressively increased, however, no clear diagnostic markers and specifically targeted medications for autism have emerged. As a result, neurobehavioral abnormalities, neurobiological alterations in ASD, and the development of novel ASD pharmacological therapy necessitate multidisciplinary collaboration. In this review, we discuss the development of multiple animal models of ASD to contribute to the disease mechanisms of ASD, as well as new studies from multiple disciplines to assess the behavioral pathology of ASD. In addition, we summarize and highlight the mechanistic advances regarding gene transcription, RNA and non-coding RNA translation, abnormal synaptic signaling pathways, epigenetic post-translational modifications, brain-gut axis, immune inflammation and neural loop abnormalities in autism to provide a theoretical basis for the next step of precision therapy. Furthermore, we review existing autism therapy tactics and limits and present challenges and opportunities for translating multidisciplinary knowledge of ASD into clinical practice.
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18
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Brandenburg C, Griswold AJ, Van Booven DJ, Kilander MBC, Frei JA, Nestor MW, Dykxhoorn DM, Pericak-Vance MA, Blatt GJ. Transcriptomic analysis of isolated and pooled human postmortem cerebellar Purkinje cells in autism spectrum disorders. Front Genet 2022; 13:944837. [PMID: 36437953 PMCID: PMC9683032 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.944837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, the neuronal mechanisms underlying the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have not been established. However, studies from human postmortem ASD brains have consistently revealed disruptions in cerebellar circuitry, specifically reductions in Purkinje cell (PC) number and size. Alterations in cerebellar circuitry would have important implications for information processing within the cerebellum and affect a wide range of human motor and non-motor behaviors. Laser capture microdissection was performed to obtain pure PC populations from a cohort of postmortem control and ASD cases and transcriptional profiles were compared. The 427 differentially expressed genes were enriched for gene ontology biological processes related to developmental organization/connectivity, extracellular matrix organization, calcium ion response, immune function and PC signaling alterations. Given the complexity of PCs and their far-ranging roles in response to sensory stimuli and motor function regulation, understanding transcriptional differences in this subset of cerebellar cells in ASD may inform on convergent pathways that impact neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Brandenburg
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Anthony J. Griswold
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Derek J. Van Booven
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | | | | | - Derek M. Dykxhoorn
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | - Gene J. Blatt
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
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19
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Yang D, Zhao Y, Nie B, An L, Wan X, Wang Y, Wang W, Cai G, Wu S. Progress in magnetic resonance imaging of autism model mice brain. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2022; 13:e1616. [PMID: 35930672 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by social disorder and stereotypical behaviors with an increasing incidence. ASD patients are suffering from varying degrees of mental retardation and language development abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive imaging technology to detect brain structural and functional dysfunction in vivo, playing an important role in the early diagnosisbasic research of ASD. High-field, small-animal MRI in basic research of autism model mice has provided a new approach to research the pathogenesis, characteristics, and intervention efficacy in autism. This article reviews MRI studies of mouse models of autism over the past 20 years. Reduced gray matter, abnormal connections of brain networks, and abnormal development of white matter fibers have been demonstrated in these studies, which are present in different proportions in the various mouse models. This provides a more macroscopic view for subsequent research on autism model mice. This article is categorized under: Cognitive Biology > Genes and Environment Neuroscience > Computation Neuroscience > Genes, Molecules, and Cells Neuroscience > Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingding Yang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Binbin Nie
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Radiographic Techniques and Equipment, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Leiting An
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiangdong Wan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yazhou Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenting Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Guohong Cai
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shengxi Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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20
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Recent Developments in Autism Genetic Research: A Scientometric Review from 2018 to 2022. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13091646. [PMID: 36140813 PMCID: PMC9498399 DOI: 10.3390/genes13091646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic research in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has progressed tremendously in recent decades. Dozens of genetic loci and hundreds of alterations in the genetic sequence, expression, epigenetic transformation, and interactions with other physiological and environmental systems have been found to increase the likelihood of developing ASD. There is therefore a need to represent this wide-ranging yet voluminous body of literature in a systematic manner so that this information can be synthesised and understood at a macro level. Therefore, this study made use of scientometric methods, particularly document co-citation analysis (DCA), to systematically review literature on ASD genetic research from 2018 to 2022. A total of 14,818 articles were extracted from Scopus and analyzed with CiteSpace. An optimized DCA analysis revealed that recent literature on ASD genetic research can be broadly organised into 12 major clusters representing various sub-topics. These clusters are briefly described in the manuscript and potential applications of this study are discussed.
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21
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Connacher R, Williams M, Prem S, Yeung PL, Matteson P, Mehta M, Markov A, Peng C, Zhou X, McDermott CR, Pang ZP, Flax J, Brzustowicz L, Lu CW, Millonig JH, DiCicco-Bloom E. Autism NPCs from both idiopathic and CNV 16p11.2 deletion patients exhibit dysregulation of proliferation and mitogenic responses. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:1380-1394. [PMID: 35623351 PMCID: PMC9214070 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural precursor cell (NPC) dysfunction has been consistently implicated in autism. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived NPCs from two autism groups (three idiopathic [I-ASD] and two 16p11.2 deletion [16pDel]) were used to investigate if proliferation is commonly disrupted. All five individuals display defects, with all three macrocephalic individuals (two 16pDel, one I-ASD) exhibiting hyperproliferation and the other two I-ASD subjects displaying hypoproliferation. NPCs were challenged with bFGF, and all hyperproliferative NPCs displayed blunted responses, while responses were increased in hypoproliferative cells. mRNA expression studies suggest that different pathways can result in similar proliferation phenotypes. Since 16pDel deletes MAPK3, P-ERK was measured. P-ERK is decreased in hyperproliferative but increased in hypoproliferative NPCs. While these P-ERK changes are not responsible for the phenotypes, P-ERK and bFGF response are inversely correlated with the defects. Finally, we analyzed iPSCs and discovered that 16pDel displays hyperproliferation, while idiopathic iPSCs were normal. These data suggest that NPC proliferation defects are common in ASD. NPC proliferation defects are common in idiopathic and 16p11.2 CNV-deletion ASD All macrocephalic I-ASD and 16pDel individuals have hyperproliferative NPCs NPC proliferative responses to bFGF correlate inversely with P-ERK levels Both NPCs and IPSCs derived from 16pDel individuals exhibit hyperproliferation
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Connacher
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Madeline Williams
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Smrithi Prem
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Percy L Yeung
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Paul Matteson
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Monal Mehta
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Anna Markov
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Cynthia Peng
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Courtney R McDermott
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Zhiping P Pang
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Judy Flax
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | | | - Che-Wei Lu
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - James H Millonig
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
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22
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Wang D, Mai Q, Yang X, Chi X, Li R, Jiang J, Luo L, Fang X, Yun P, Liang L, Yang G, Song K, Fang L, Chen Y, Zhang Y, He Y, Li N, Pan Y. Microduplication of 16p11.2 locus potentiates hypertrophic obesity in association with imbalanced triglyceride metabolism in white adipose tissue. Mol Nutr Food Res 2022; 66:e2100241. [PMID: 35072981 PMCID: PMC9286681 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202100241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Scope Copy number variation (CNV) of 16p11.2 is a common genetic factor contributing to the etiology of abnormal weight status, while the underlying mechanism is not fully elucidated yet. Methods and Results The 16p11.2 CNV mouse model with microduplication of the 7Slx1b‐Sept1 region (dp/+) is evaluated under normal chow conditions. Compared to the wild type littermates (WT), the dp/+ mice exhibit obvious obese phenotype characterized by significant increase in body mass index, fat pad mass, and fat ratio, with visceral‐dominant fat deposits at 12‐week age. White adipose tissue (WAT), liver tissue, and plasma are sampled to assess the comorbid metabolic syndrome. In dp/+ mice, histopathologic analyses reveal hypertrophic adipocytes and hepatic steatosis; serological examinations show hyperlipemia and hyperinsulinemia. Further, by comparing lipidomic and transcriptomic profiling of epididymal WAT between dp/+ and WT mice, the study finds the triglyceride (TG) accumulation in dp/+ mice in association with the dysfunction of lipid droplets. Validation of TG‐metabolism‐associated genes in WAT and in primary cultured adipocytes show enhanced TG synthesis and declined TG hydrolysis in the dp/+ model. Conclusion This study elucidates that the imbalanced TG synthesis/hydrolysis in adipocytic lipid droplets may contribute to the hypertrophic obesity and metabolic disorders in mice with 16p11.2 microduplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilong Wang
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, Precision Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiuyan Mai
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, Precision Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiuyan Yang
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, Precision Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinjin Chi
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ruohan Li
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, Precision Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jian Jiang
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, Precision Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liang Luo
- Department of Emergency, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoyi Fang
- Department of Pediatric, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peng Yun
- Department of Endocrinology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liyang Liang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Department of Wound Repair, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kun Song
- Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liang Fang
- Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, Precision Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, Precision Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yulong He
- Center for Digestive Disease, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ningning Li
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, Precision Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yihang Pan
- Tomas Lindahl Nobel Laureate Laboratory, Precision Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
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23
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Boitnott A, Garcia-Forn M, Ung DC, Niblo K, Mendonca D, Park Y, Flores M, Maxwell S, Ellegood J, Qiu LR, Grice DE, Lerch JP, Rasin MR, Buxbaum JD, Drapeau E, De Rubeis S. Developmental and Behavioral Phenotypes in a Mouse Model of DDX3X Syndrome. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:742-755. [PMID: 34344536 PMCID: PMC8571043 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mutations in the X-linked gene DDX3X account for approximately 2% of intellectual disability in females, often comorbid with behavioral problems, motor deficits, and brain malformations. DDX3X encodes an RNA helicase with emerging functions in corticogenesis and synaptogenesis. METHODS We generated a Ddx3x haploinsufficient mouse (Ddx3x+/- females) with construct validity for DDX3X loss-of-function mutations. We used standardized batteries to assess developmental milestones and adult behaviors, as well as magnetic resonance imaging and immunostaining of cortical projection neurons to capture early postnatal changes in brain development. RESULTS Ddx3x+/- females showed physical, sensory, and motor delays that evolved into behavioral anomalies in adulthood, including hyperactivity, anxiety-like behaviors, cognitive impairments in specific tasks (e.g., contextual fear memory but not novel object recognition memory), and motor deficits. Motor function declined with age but not if mice were previously exposed to behavioral training. Developmental and behavioral changes were associated with a reduction in brain volume, with some regions (e.g., cortex and amygdala) disproportionally affected. Cortical thinning was accompanied by defective cortical lamination, indicating that Ddx3x regulates the balance of glutamatergic neurons in the developing cortex. CONCLUSIONS These data shed new light on the developmental mechanisms driving DDX3X syndrome and support construct and face validity of this novel preclinical mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Boitnott
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Marta Garcia-Forn
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Dévina C Ung
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kristi Niblo
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Danielle Mendonca
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yeaji Park
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Michael Flores
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Biology, New York University, College of Arts and Science, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Sylvia Maxwell
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,The Bronx High School of Science, NY 10468, USA
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Lily R Qiu
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Dorothy E Grice
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, ON M5T 3H7, Canada.,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Mladen-Roko Rasin
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Elodie Drapeau
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Silvia De Rubeis
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
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24
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Vasic V, Jones MSO, Haslinger D, Knaus LS, Schmeisser MJ, Novarino G, Chiocchetti AG. Translating the Role of mTOR- and RAS-Associated Signalopathies in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Models, Mechanisms and Treatment. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12111746. [PMID: 34828352 PMCID: PMC8624393 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations affecting mTOR or RAS signaling underlie defined syndromes (the so-called mTORopathies and RASopathies) with high risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These syndromes show a broad variety of somatic phenotypes including cancers, skin abnormalities, heart disease and facial dysmorphisms. Less well studied are the neuropsychiatric symptoms such as ASD. Here, we assess the relevance of these signalopathies in ASD reviewing genetic, human cell model, rodent studies and clinical trials. We conclude that signalopathies have an increased liability for ASD and that, in particular, ASD individuals with dysmorphic features and intellectual disability (ID) have a higher chance for disruptive mutations in RAS- and mTOR-related genes. Studies on rodent and human cell models confirm aberrant neuronal development as the underlying pathology. Human studies further suggest that multiple hits are necessary to induce the respective phenotypes. Recent clinical trials do only report improvements for comorbid conditions such as epilepsy or cancer but not for behavioral aspects. Animal models show that treatment during early development can rescue behavioral phenotypes. Taken together, we suggest investigating the differential roles of mTOR and RAS signaling in both human and rodent models, and to test drug treatment both during and after neuronal development in the available model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verica Vasic
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (V.V.); (M.J.S.)
| | - Mattson S. O. Jones
- Autism Therapy and Research Center of Excellence, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (M.S.O.J.); (D.H.)
- Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe University Frankfurt, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Denise Haslinger
- Autism Therapy and Research Center of Excellence, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (M.S.O.J.); (D.H.)
- Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria; (L.S.K.); (G.N.)
| | - Lisa S. Knaus
- Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria; (L.S.K.); (G.N.)
| | - Michael J. Schmeisser
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (V.V.); (M.J.S.)
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Gaia Novarino
- Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria; (L.S.K.); (G.N.)
| | - Andreas G. Chiocchetti
- Autism Therapy and Research Center of Excellence, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (M.S.O.J.); (D.H.)
- Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe University Frankfurt, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-69-6301-80658
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25
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A Rational Design of α-Helix-Shaped Peptides Employing the Hydrogen-Bond Surrogate Approach: A Modulation Strategy for Ras-RasGRF1 Interaction in Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14111099. [PMID: 34832880 PMCID: PMC8623491 DOI: 10.3390/ph14111099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last two decades, abnormal Ras (rat sarcoma protein)-ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) signalling in the brain has been involved in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, including drug addiction, certain forms of intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorder. Modulation of membrane-receptor-mediated Ras activation has been proposed as a potential target mechanism to attenuate ERK signalling in the brain. Previously, we showed that a cell penetrating peptide, RB3, was able to inhibit downstream signalling by preventing RasGRF1 (Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing factor 1), a neuronal specific GDP/GTP exchange factor, to bind Ras proteins, both in brain slices and in vivo, with an IC50 value in the micromolar range. The aim of this work was to mutate and improve this peptide through computer-aided techniques to increase its inhibitory activity against RasGRF1. The designed peptides were built based on the RB3 peptide structure corresponding to the α-helix of RasGRF1 responsible for Ras binding. For this purpose, the hydrogen-bond surrogate (HBS) approach was exploited to maintain the helical conformation of the designed peptides. Finally, residue scanning, MD simulations, and MM-GBSA calculations were used to identify 18 most promising α-helix-shaped peptides that will be assayed to check their potential activity against Ras-RasGRF1 and prevent downstream molecular events implicated in brain disorders.
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26
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ERK/MAPK signalling in the developing brain: Perturbations and consequences. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:792-805. [PMID: 34634357 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular regulated kinase/microtubule-associated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) signalling pathway transduces signals that cause an alteration in the ongoing metabolic pathways and modifies gene expression patterns; thus, influencing cellular behaviour. ERK/MAPK signalling is essential for the proper development of the nervous system from neural progenitor cells derived from the embryonic mesoderm. Several signalling molecules that regulate the well-coordinated process of neurodevelopment transduce developmental information through the ERK/MAPK signalling pathway. The ERK/MAPK is a potential novel therapeutic target in several neurodevelopmental disorders, however, despite years of study, there is still significant uncertainty about the exact mechanism by which the ERK/MAPK signalling pathway elicits specific responses in neurodevelopment. Here, we will review the evidence highlighting the role of ERK/MAPK signalling in neurodevelopment. We will also discuss the structural implication and behavioural deficits associated with perturbed ERK/MAPK signalling pathway in cortical development, whilst examining its contribution to the neuropathology of several neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Schizophrenia, Fragile X, and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.
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27
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Characterizing Sleep Problems in 16p11.2 Deletion and Duplication. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 53:1462-1475. [PMID: 34633643 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05311-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Studies of 16p11.2 copy number variants (CNVs) provide an avenue to identify mechanisms of impairment and develop targeted treatments for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. 16p11.2 deletion and duplication phenotypes are currently being ascertained; however, sleep disturbances are minimally described. In this study, we examine sleep disturbance in a well-characterized national sample of 16p11.2 CNVs, the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) database of youth and adults (n = 692). Factor analyses and multilevel models of derived sleep questionnaires for youth (n = 345) and adults (n = 347) indicate that 16p11.2 carriers show elevated sleep disturbance relative to community controls. Non-carrier family members also show elevated sleep disturbance. However, sleep duration does not differ between carriers and controls. Further studies of sleep in 16p11.2 are needed.
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28
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Wegscheid ML, Anastasaki C, Hartigan KA, Cobb OM, Papke JB, Traber JN, Morris SM, Gutmann DH. Patient-derived iPSC-cerebral organoid modeling of the 17q11.2 microdeletion syndrome establishes CRLF3 as a critical regulator of neurogenesis. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109315. [PMID: 34233200 PMCID: PMC8278229 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are often caused by chromosomal microdeletions comprising numerous contiguous genes. A subset of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients with severe developmental delays and intellectual disability harbors such a microdeletion event on chromosome 17q11.2, involving the NF1 gene and flanking regions (NF1 total gene deletion [NF1-TGD]). Using patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-forebrain cerebral organoids (hCOs), we identify both neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and neuronal maturation abnormalities in NF1-TGD hCOs. While increased NSC proliferation results from decreased NF1/RAS regulation, the neuronal differentiation, survival, and maturation defects are caused by reduced cytokine receptor-like factor 3 (CRLF3) expression and impaired RhoA signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrate a higher autistic trait burden in NF1 patients harboring a deleterious germline mutation in the CRLF3 gene (c.1166T>C, p.Leu389Pro). Collectively, these findings identify a causative gene within the NF1-TGD locus responsible for hCO neuronal abnormalities and autism in children with NF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Wegscheid
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Corina Anastasaki
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kelly A Hartigan
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Olivia M Cobb
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jason B Papke
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jennifer N Traber
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Stephanie M Morris
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - David H Gutmann
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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29
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Ash RT, Buffington SA, Park J, Suter B, Costa-Mattioli M, Zoghbi HY, Smirnakis SM. Inhibition of Elevated Ras-MAPK Signaling Normalizes Enhanced Motor Learning and Excessive Clustered Dendritic Spine Stabilization in the MECP2-Duplication Syndrome Mouse Model of Autism. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0056-21.2021. [PMID: 34021030 PMCID: PMC8260274 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0056-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The inflexible repetitive behaviors and "insistence on sameness" seen in autism imply a defect in neural processes controlling the balance between stability and plasticity of synaptic connections in the brain. It has been proposed that abnormalities in the Ras-ERK/MAPK pathway, a key plasticity-related cell signaling pathway known to drive consolidation of clustered synaptic connections, underlie altered learning phenotypes in autism. However, a link between altered Ras-ERK signaling and clustered dendritic spine plasticity has yet to be explored in an autism animal model in vivo The formation and stabilization of dendritic spine clusters is abnormally increased in the MECP2-duplication syndrome mouse model of syndromic autism, suggesting that ERK signaling may be increased. Here, we show that the Ras-ERK pathway is indeed hyperactive following motor training in MECP2-duplication mouse motor cortex. Pharmacological inhibition of ERK signaling normalizes the excessive clustered spine stabilization and enhanced motor learning behavior in MECP2-duplication mice. We conclude that hyperactive ERK signaling may contribute to abnormal clustered dendritic spine consolidation and motor learning in this model of syndromic autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Thomas Ash
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA 94305
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Jamaica Plain Veterans Administration Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Shelly Alexandra Buffington
- Memory and Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Jiyoung Park
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Jamaica Plain Veterans Administration Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Bernhard Suter
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Jamaica Plain Veterans Administration Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Mauro Costa-Mattioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Memory and Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Huda Yaya Zoghbi
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Stelios Manolis Smirnakis
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Jamaica Plain Veterans Administration Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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30
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Tiwari A, Rahi S, Mehan S. Elucidation of Abnormal Extracellular Regulated Kinase (ERK) Signaling and Associations with Syndromic and Non-syndromic Autism. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 22:1071-1086. [PMID: 33081671 DOI: 10.2174/1389450121666201020155010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a highly inherited and extremely complex disorder in which results from various cases indicate chromosome anomalies, unusual single-gene mutations, and multiplicative effects of particular gene variants, characterized primarily by impaired speech and social interaction and restricted behavior. The precise etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is currently unclear. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling mechanism affects neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity during the development of the central nervous mechanism. In this regard, the pathway of ERK has recently gained significant interest in the pathogenesis of ASD. The mutation occurs in a few ERK components. Besides, the ERK pathway dysfunction lies in the upstream of modified translation and contributes to synapse pathology in syndromic types of autism. In this review, we highlight the ERK pathway as a target for neurodevelopmental disorder autism. In addition, we summarize the regulation of the ERK pathway with ERK inhibitors in neurological disorders. In conclusion, a better understanding of the ERK signaling pathway provides a range of therapeutic options for autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Tiwari
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Saloni Rahi
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
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31
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Lyons-Warren AM, Herman I, Hunt PJ, Arenkiel BR. A systematic-review of olfactory deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders: From mouse to human. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:110-121. [PMID: 33610612 PMCID: PMC8142839 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Olfactory impairment is a common clinical motif across neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting olfactory circuits are particularly vulnerable to disease processes and can provide insight into underlying disease mechanisms. The mouse olfactory bulb is an ideal model system to study mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disease due to its anatomical accessibility, behavioral relevance, ease of measuring circuit input and output, and the feature of adult neurogenesis. Despite the clinical relevance and experimental benefits, olfactory testing across animal models of neurodevelopmental disease has been inconsistent and non-standardized. Here we performed a systematic literature review of olfactory function testing in mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders, and identified intriguing inconsistencies that include evidence for both increased and decreased acuity in odor detection in various mouse models of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Based on our identified gaps in the literature, we recommend direct comparison of different mouse models of ASD using standardized tests for odor detection and discrimination. This review provides a framework to guide future olfactory function testing in mouse models of neurodevelopmental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel M Lyons-Warren
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience; Clinical Care Center, Suite 1250, 6621 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America;,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Isabella Herman
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience; Clinical Care Center, Suite 1250, 6621 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America;,Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular & Human Genetics; 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1170.12, Houston TX 77030, United States of America
| | - Patrick J Hunt
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular & Human Genetics; 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1170.12, Houston TX 77030, United States of America
| | - Benjamin R Arenkiel
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular & Human Genetics; 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1170.12, Houston TX 77030, United States of America;,Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience; 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1170.12, Houston TX 77030, United States of America;,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030 USA.,McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
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32
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Morson S, Yang Y, Price DJ, Pratt T. Expression of Genes in the 16p11.2 Locus during Development of the Human Fetal Cerebral Cortex. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:4038-4052. [PMID: 33825894 PMCID: PMC8328201 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The 593 kbp 16p11.2 copy number variation (CNV) affects the gene dosage of 29 protein coding genes, with heterozygous 16p11.2 microduplication or microdeletion implicated in about 1% of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases. The 16p11.2 CNV is frequently associated with macrocephaly or microcephaly indicating early defects of neurogenesis may contribute to subsequent ASD symptoms, but it is unknown which 16p11.2 transcripts are expressed in progenitors and whose levels are likely, therefore, to influence neurogenesis. Analysis of human fetal gene expression data revealed that KIF22, ALDOA, HIRIP3, PAGR1, and MAZ transcripts are expressed in neural progenitors with ALDOA and KIF22 significantly enriched compared to post-mitotic cells. To investigate the possible roles of ALDOA and KIF22 proteins in human cerebral cortex development we used immunohistochemical staining to describe their expression in late first and early second trimester human cerebral cortex. KIF22 protein is restricted to proliferating cells with its levels increasing during the cell cycle and peaking at mitosis. ALDOA protein is expressed in all cell types and does not vary with cell-cycle phase. Our expression analysis suggests the hypothesis that altered neurogenesis in the cerebral cortex contributes to ASD in 16p11.2 CNV patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Morson
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh Medical School Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh Medical School Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Yifei Yang
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh Medical School Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh Medical School Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - David J Price
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh Medical School Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh Medical School Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Thomas Pratt
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh Medical School Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh Medical School Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
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33
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Nomura Y, Nomura J, Kamiguchi H, Nishikawa T, Takumi T. Transcriptome analysis of human neural cells derived from isogenic embryonic stem cells with 16p11.2 deletion. Neurosci Res 2021; 171:114-123. [PMID: 33785412 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
16p11.2 deletion is one of the most influential copy number variations (CNVs) associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous studies have investigated the pathophysiology of 16p11.2 deletion both in vitro and in vivo, and have identified features such as NMDAR dysfunction, excitation-inhibition imbalance, transcriptional dysregulation, and impaired cortical development. However, little is known about the transcriptional profiles of human neural cells. Here, we constructed an isogenic human embryonic stem (hES) cell model with 16p11.2 deletion using a CRISPR/Cas9 system and performed transcriptome analyses of hES-derived 2-dimensional neural cells. We identified several characteristics which may correlate with the neuropathology of 16p11.2 deletion: predisposition to differentiate into neural lineages, enhanced neurogenesis, and dysregulation of G protein-coupled receptor signaling and RAF/MAPK pathway. We also found upregulation of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) target genes including GRM5, which is implicated as a common trait between 16p11.2 deletion and fragile X syndrome. Extending our knowledge into other ASD models would help us to understand the molecular pathology of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiko Nomura
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences (Medicine), Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Jun Nomura
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan
| | | | - Toru Nishikawa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences (Medicine), Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Pharmacological Research Center, Showa University, Shinagawa, Tokyo, 142-8555, Japan
| | - Toru Takumi
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences (Medicine), Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.
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34
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Alterations in Tau Protein Level and Phosphorylation State in the Brain of the Autistic-Like Rats Induced by Prenatal Exposure to Valproic Acid. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063209. [PMID: 33809910 PMCID: PMC8004207 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficient social interaction and communication besides repetitive, stereotyped behaviours. A characteristic feature of ASD is altered dendritic spine density and morphology associated with synaptic plasticity disturbances. Since microtubules (MTs) regulate dendritic spine morphology and play an important role in spine development and plasticity the aim of the present study was to investigate the alterations in the content of neuronal α/β-tubulin and Tau protein level as well as phosphorylation state in the valproic acid (VPA)-induced rat model of autism. Our results indicated that maternal exposure to VPA induces: (1) decrease the level of α/β-tubulin along with Tau accumulation in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex; (2) excessive Tau phosphorylation and activation of Tau-kinases: CDK5, ERK1/2, and p70S6K in the cerebral cortex; (3) up-regulation of mTOR kinase-dependent signalling in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of adolescent rat offspring. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining showed histopathological changes in neurons (chromatolysis) in both analysed brain structures of rats prenatally exposed to VPA. The observed changes in Tau protein together with an excessive decrease in α/β-tubulin level may suggest destabilization and thus dysfunction of the MT cytoskeleton network, which in consequence may lead to the disturbance in synaptic plasticity and the development of autistic-like behaviours.
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35
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Tiwari A, Khera R, Rahi S, Mehan S, Makeen HA, Khormi YH, Rehman MU, Khan A. Neuroprotective Effect of α-Mangostin in the Ameliorating Propionic Acid-Induced Experimental Model of Autism in Wistar Rats. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11030288. [PMID: 33669120 PMCID: PMC7996534 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11030288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have documented the role of hyper-activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) in Autism pathogenesis. Alpha-mangostin (AMG) is a phytoconstituents with anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory, and ERK inhibition properties in many diseases. Our research aims to investigate the neuroprotective effect of AMG in the rat model of intracerebroventricular-propionic acid (ICV-PPA) induced autism with a confirmation of its effect on the ERK signaling. Autism was induced in Wistar rats (total 36 rats; 18 male/18 female) by multiple doses of PPA through ICV injection for 11 days. Actophotometer and beam walking tasks were used to evaluate animals’ motor abilities, and the Morris water maze task was utilized to confirm the cognition and memory in animals. Long term administration of AMG100 mg/kg and AMG200 mg/kg continued from day 12 to day 44 of the experiment. Before that, animals were sacrificed, brains isolated, morphological, gross pathological studies were performed, and neurochemical analysis was performed in the brain homogenates. Cellular and molecular markers, including ERK, myelin basic protein, apoptotic markers including caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, neuroinflammatory markers, neurotransmitters, and oxidative stress markers, have been tested throughout the brain. Thus, AMG reduces the overactivation of the ERK signaling and also restored autism-like behavioral and neurochemical alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Tiwari
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology Division, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab 142001, India; (A.T.); (R.K.); (S.R.)
| | - Rishabh Khera
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology Division, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab 142001, India; (A.T.); (R.K.); (S.R.)
| | - Saloni Rahi
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology Division, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab 142001, India; (A.T.); (R.K.); (S.R.)
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology Division, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab 142001, India; (A.T.); (R.K.); (S.R.)
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (A.K.); Tel.: +91-80-5988-9909 (S.M.)
| | - Hafiz Antar Makeen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Yahya H. Khormi
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Muneeb U Rehman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Andleeb Khan
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (A.K.); Tel.: +91-80-5988-9909 (S.M.)
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36
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Holter MC, Hewitt LT, Nishimura KJ, Knowles SJ, Bjorklund GR, Shah S, Fry NR, Rees KP, Gupta TA, Daniels CW, Li G, Marsh S, Treiman DM, Olive MF, Anderson TR, Sanabria F, Snider WD, Newbern JM. Hyperactive MEK1 Signaling in Cortical GABAergic Neurons Promotes Embryonic Parvalbumin Neuron Loss and Defects in Behavioral Inhibition. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:3064-3081. [PMID: 33570093 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many developmental syndromes have been linked to genetic mutations that cause abnormal ERK/MAPK activity; however, the neuropathological effects of hyperactive signaling are not fully understood. Here, we examined whether hyperactivation of MEK1 modifies the development of GABAergic cortical interneurons (CINs), a heterogeneous population of inhibitory neurons necessary for cortical function. We show that GABAergic-neuron specific MEK1 hyperactivation in vivo leads to increased cleaved caspase-3 labeling in a subpopulation of immature neurons in the embryonic subpallial mantle zone. Adult mutants displayed a significant loss of parvalbumin (PV), but not somatostatin, expressing CINs and a reduction in perisomatic inhibitory synapses on excitatory neurons. Surviving mutant PV-CINs maintained a typical fast-spiking phenotype but showed signs of decreased intrinsic excitability that coincided with an increased risk of seizure-like phenotypes. In contrast to other mouse models of PV-CIN loss, we discovered a robust increase in the accumulation of perineuronal nets, an extracellular structure thought to restrict plasticity. Indeed, we found that mutants exhibited a significant impairment in the acquisition of behavioral response inhibition capacity. Overall, our data suggest PV-CIN development is particularly sensitive to hyperactive MEK1 signaling, which may underlie certain neurological deficits frequently observed in ERK/MAPK-linked syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Holter
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Lauren T Hewitt
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Kenji J Nishimura
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Sara J Knowles
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | | | - Shiv Shah
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Noah R Fry
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Katherina P Rees
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Tanya A Gupta
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Carter W Daniels
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Guohui Li
- College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Steven Marsh
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | | | | | - Trent R Anderson
- College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Federico Sanabria
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - William D Snider
- University of North Carolina Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jason M Newbern
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
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37
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Hartig R, Wolf D, Schmeisser MJ, Kelsch W. Genetic influences of autism candidate genes on circuit wiring and olfactory decoding. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:581-595. [PMID: 33515293 PMCID: PMC7872953 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03390-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Olfaction supports a multitude of behaviors vital for social communication and interactions between conspecifics. Intact sensory processing is contingent upon proper circuit wiring. Disturbances in genetic factors controlling circuit assembly and synaptic wiring can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), where impaired social interactions and communication are core symptoms. The variability in behavioral phenotype expression is also contingent upon the role environmental factors play in defining genetic expression. Considering the prevailing clinical diagnosis of ASD, research on therapeutic targets for autism is essential. Behavioral impairments may be identified along a range of increasingly complex social tasks. Hence, the assessment of social behavior and communication is progressing towards more ethologically relevant tasks. Garnering a more accurate understanding of social processing deficits in the sensory domain may greatly contribute to the development of therapeutic targets. With that framework, studies have found a viable link between social behaviors, circuit wiring, and altered neuronal coding related to the processing of salient social stimuli. Here, the relationship between social odor processing in rodents and humans is examined in the context of health and ASD, with special consideration for how genetic expression and neuronal connectivity may regulate behavioral phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée Hartig
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.,Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - David Wolf
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael J Schmeisser
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kelsch
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany. .,Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany. .,Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
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38
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Salcedo-Arellano MJ, Cabal-Herrera AM, Punatar RH, Clark CJ, Romney CA, Hagerman RJ. Overlapping Molecular Pathways Leading to Autism Spectrum Disorders, Fragile X Syndrome, and Targeted Treatments. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:265-283. [PMID: 33215285 PMCID: PMC8116395 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00968-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are subdivided into idiopathic (unknown) etiology and secondary, based on known etiology. There are hundreds of causes of ASD and most of them are genetic in origin or related to the interplay of genetic etiology and environmental toxicology. Approximately 30 to 50% of the etiologies can be identified when using a combination of available genetic testing. Many of these gene mutations are either core components of the Wnt signaling pathway or their modulators. The full mutation of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene leads to fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common cause of monogenic origin of ASD, accounting for ~ 2% of the cases. There is an overlap of molecular mechanisms in those with idiopathic ASD and those with FXS, an interaction between various signaling pathways is suggested during the development of the autistic brain. This review summarizes the cross talk between neurobiological pathways found in ASD and FXS. These signaling pathways are currently under evaluation to target specific treatments in search of the reversal of the molecular abnormalities found in both idiopathic ASD and FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jimena Salcedo-Arellano
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute UCDHS, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Ana Maria Cabal-Herrera
- Group on Congenital Malformations and Dysmorphology, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, 00000, Colombia
| | - Ruchi Harendra Punatar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute UCDHS, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Courtney Jessica Clark
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute UCDHS, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Christopher Allen Romney
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute UCDHS, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Randi J Hagerman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute UCDHS, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
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39
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Urresti J, Zhang P, Moran-Losada P, Yu NK, Negraes PD, Trujillo CA, Antaki D, Amar M, Chau K, Pramod AB, Diedrich J, Tejwani L, Romero S, Sebat J, Yates III JR, Muotri AR, Iakoucheva LM. Cortical organoids model early brain development disrupted by 16p11.2 copy number variants in autism. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:7560-7580. [PMID: 34433918 PMCID: PMC8873019 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01243-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Reciprocal deletion and duplication of the 16p11.2 region is the most common copy number variation (CNV) associated with autism spectrum disorders. We generated cortical organoids from skin fibroblasts of patients with 16p11.2 CNV to investigate impacted neurodevelopmental processes. We show that organoid size recapitulates macrocephaly and microcephaly phenotypes observed in the patients with 16p11.2 deletions and duplications. The CNV dosage affects neuronal maturation, proliferation, and synapse number, in addition to its effect on organoid size. We demonstrate that 16p11.2 CNV alters the ratio of neurons to neural progenitors in organoids during early neurogenesis, with a significant excess of neurons and depletion of neural progenitors observed in deletions. Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling revealed multiple pathways dysregulated by the 16p11.2 CNV, including neuron migration, actin cytoskeleton, ion channel activity, synaptic-related functions, and Wnt signaling. The level of the active form of small GTPase RhoA was increased in both, deletions and duplications. Inhibition of RhoA activity rescued migration deficits, but not neurite outgrowth. This study provides insights into potential neurobiological mechanisms behind the 16p11.2 CNV during neocortical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Urresti
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Pan Zhang
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Patricia Moran-Losada
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Nam-Kyung Yu
- grid.214007.00000000122199231Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Priscilla D. Negraes
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Cleber A. Trujillo
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Danny Antaki
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Megha Amar
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Kevin Chau
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Akula Bala Pramod
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Jolene Diedrich
- grid.214007.00000000122199231Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Leon Tejwani
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Sarah Romero
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Jonathan Sebat
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242University of California San Diego, Beyster Center for Psychiatric Genomics, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - John R. Yates III
- grid.214007.00000000122199231Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Alysson R. Muotri
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242University of California San Diego, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, La Jolla, CA USA ,Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Lilia M. Iakoucheva
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
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Roth JG, Muench KL, Asokan A, Mallett VM, Gai H, Verma Y, Weber S, Charlton C, Fowler JL, Loh KM, Dolmetsch RE, Palmer TD. 16p11.2 microdeletion imparts transcriptional alterations in human iPSC-derived models of early neural development. eLife 2020; 9:58178. [PMID: 33169669 PMCID: PMC7695459 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microdeletions and microduplications of the 16p11.2 chromosomal locus are associated with syndromic neurodevelopmental disorders and reciprocal physiological conditions such as macro/microcephaly and high/low body mass index. To facilitate cellular and molecular investigations into these phenotypes, 65 clones of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were generated from 13 individuals with 16p11.2 copy number variations (CNVs). To ensure these cell lines were suitable for downstream mechanistic investigations, a customizable bioinformatic strategy for the detection of random integration and expression of reprogramming vectors was developed and leveraged towards identifying a subset of ‘footprint’-free hiPSC clones. Transcriptomic profiling of cortical neural progenitor cells derived from these hiPSCs identified alterations in gene expression patterns which precede morphological abnormalities reported at later neurodevelopmental stages. Interpreting clinical information—available with the cell lines by request from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative—with this transcriptional data revealed disruptions in gene programs related to both nervous system function and cellular metabolism. As demonstrated by these analyses, this publicly available resource has the potential to serve as a powerful medium for probing the etiology of developmental disorders associated with 16p11.2 CNVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien G Roth
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Kristin L Muench
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Aditya Asokan
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Victoria M Mallett
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Hui Gai
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Yogendra Verma
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Stephen Weber
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Carol Charlton
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Jonas L Fowler
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Kyle M Loh
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Ricardo E Dolmetsch
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Theo D Palmer
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
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41
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Farr CV, El-Kasaby A, Freissmuth M, Sucic S. The Creatine Transporter Unfolded: A Knotty Premise in the Cerebral Creatine Deficiency Syndrome. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2020; 12:588954. [PMID: 33192443 PMCID: PMC7644880 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2020.588954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Creatine provides cells with high-energy phosphates for the rapid reconstitution of hydrolyzed adenosine triphosphate. The eponymous creatine transporter (CRT1/SLC6A8) belongs to a family of solute carrier 6 (SLC6) proteins. The key role of CRT1 is to translocate creatine across tissue barriers and into target cells, such as neurons and myocytes. Individuals harboring mutations in the coding sequence of the human CRT1 gene develop creatine transporter deficiency (CTD), one of the pivotal underlying causes of cerebral creatine deficiency syndrome. CTD encompasses an array of clinical manifestations, including severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, autism, development delay, and motor dysfunction. CTD is characterized by the absence of cerebral creatine, which implies an indispensable role for CRT1 in supplying the brain cells with creatine. CTD-associated variants dramatically reduce or abolish creatine transport activity by CRT1. Many of these are point mutations that are known to trigger folding defects, leading to the retention of encoded CRT1 proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and precluding their delivery to the cell surface. Misfolding of several related SLC6 transporters also gives rise to detrimental pathologic conditions in people; e.g., mutations in the dopamine transporter induce infantile parkinsonism/dystonia, while mutations in the GABA transporter 1 cause treatment-resistant epilepsy. In some cases, folding defects are amenable to rescue by small molecules, known as pharmacological and chemical chaperones, which restore the cell surface expression and transport activity of the previously non-functional proteins. Insights from the recent molecular, animal and human case studies of CTD add toward our understanding of this complex disorder and reveal the wide-ranging effects elicited upon CRT1 dysfunction. This grants novel therapeutic prospects for the treatment of patients afflicted with CTD, e.g., modifying the creatine molecule to facilitate CRT1-independent entry into brain cells, or correcting folding-deficient and loss-of-function CTD variants using pharmacochaperones and/or allosteric modulators. The latter justifies a search for additional compounds with a capacity to correct mutation-specific defects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sonja Sucic
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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42
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Lynch JF, Ferri SL, Angelakos C, Schoch H, Nickl-Jockschat T, Gonzalez A, O'Brien WT, Abel T. Comprehensive Behavioral Phenotyping of a 16p11.2 Del Mouse Model for Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Autism Res 2020; 13:1670-1684. [PMID: 32857907 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The microdeletion of copy number variant 16p11.2 is one of the most common genetic mutations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Here, we describe our comprehensive behavioral phenotyping of the 16p11.2 deletion line developed by Alea Mills on a C57BL/6J and 129S1/SvImJ F1 background (Delm ). Male and female Delm mice were tested in developmental milestones as preweanlings (PND2-PND12), and were tested in open field activity, elevated zero maze, rotarod, novel object recognition, fear conditioning, social approach, and other measures during post-weaning (PND21), adolescence (PND42), and adulthood (>PND70). Developmentally, Delm mice show distinct weight reduction that persists into adulthood. Delm males also have reduced grasp reflexes and limb strength during development, but no other reflexive deficits whereas Delm females show limb strength deficits and decreased sensitivity to heat. In a modified version of a rotarod task that measures balance and coordinated motor activity, Delm males, but not females, show improved performance at high speeds. Delm males and females also show age-specific reductions in anxiety-like behavior compared with WTs, but neither sex show deficits in a social preference task. When assessing learning and memory, Delm males and females show age-specific impairments in a novel object or spatial object recognition, but no deficits in contextual fear memory. This work extends the understanding of the behavioral phenotypes seen with 16p11.2 deletion by emphasizing age and sex-specific deficits; important variables to consider when studying mouse models for neurodevelopmental disorders. LAY SUMMARY: Autism spectrum disorder is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that causes repetitive behavior and impairments in social interaction and communication. Here, we assess the effects of one of the most common genetic alterations in ASDs, a deletion of one copy of 29 genes, using a mouse model. These animals show differences in behavior between males and females and across ages compared with control animals, including changes in development, cognition, and motor coordination. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1670-1684. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph F Lynch
- Department of Psychology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sarah L Ferri
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Christopher Angelakos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Hannah Schoch
- Eison S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University Spokane, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Thomas Nickl-Jockschat
- Department of Psychiatry, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Arnold Gonzalez
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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43
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Moyses-Oliveira M, Yadav R, Erdin S, Talkowski ME. New gene discoveries highlight functional convergence in autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2020; 65:195-206. [PMID: 32846283 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the last two years, remarkable gene discovery efforts have implicated disruption of pathways involving gene regulatory functions and neuronal processes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and more broadly defined neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Functional studies in the developing brain and across cell types demonstrate that the spatiotemporal expression patterns of many of these genes coalesce on subnetworks with distinct developmental trajectories. Here, we review the convergent biological processes derived from gene discovery and functional genomics in ASD and NDD from 2018-2020. We further probe the mechanistic insights that suggest these frequently perturbed pathways are interconnected and, ultimately, converge on specific functional deficits in human neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Moyses-Oliveira
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA, United States; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, United States; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge MA, United States; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Rachita Yadav
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA, United States; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, United States; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge MA, United States; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Serkan Erdin
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA, United States; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge MA, United States; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Michael E Talkowski
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA, United States; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, United States; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge MA, United States; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States.
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44
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Albert-Gascó H, Ros-Bernal F, Castillo-Gómez E, Olucha-Bordonau FE. MAP/ERK Signaling in Developing Cognitive and Emotional Function and Its Effect on Pathological and Neurodegenerative Processes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4471. [PMID: 32586047 PMCID: PMC7352860 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The signaling pathway of the microtubule-associated protein kinase or extracellular regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) is a common mechanism of extracellular information transduction from extracellular stimuli to the intracellular space. The transduction of information leads to changes in the ongoing metabolic pathways and the modification of gene expression patterns. In the central nervous system, ERK is expressed ubiquitously, both temporally and spatially. As for the temporal ubiquity, this signaling system participates in three key moments: (i) Embryonic development; (ii) the early postnatal period; and iii) adulthood. During embryonic development, the system is partly responsible for the patterning of segmentation in the encephalic vesicle through the FGF8-ERK pathway. In addition, during this period, ERK directs neurogenesis migration and the final fate of neural progenitors. During the early postnatal period, ERK participates in the maturation process of dendritic trees and synaptogenesis. During adulthood, ERK participates in social and emotional behavior and memory processes, including long-term potentiation. Alterations in mechanisms related to ERK are associated with different pathological outcomes. Genetic alterations in any component of the ERK pathway result in pathologies associated with neural crest derivatives and mental dysfunctions associated with autism spectrum disorders. The MAP-ERK pathway is a key element of the neuroinflammatory pathway triggered by glial cells during the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as prionic diseases. The process triggered by MAPK/ERK activation depends on the stage of development (mature or senescence), the type of cellular element in which the pathway is activated, and the anatomic neural structure. However, extensive gaps exist with regards to the targets of the phosphorylated ERK in many of these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Albert-Gascó
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK;
| | - Francisco Ros-Bernal
- U.P Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain; (F.R.-B.); (E.C.-G.)
| | - Esther Castillo-Gómez
- U.P Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain; (F.R.-B.); (E.C.-G.)
- Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco E. Olucha-Bordonau
- U.P Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain; (F.R.-B.); (E.C.-G.)
- Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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45
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Baranova J, Dragunas G, Botellho MCS, Ayub ALP, Bueno-Alves R, Alencar RR, Papaiz DD, Sogayar MC, Ulrich H, Correa RG. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Signaling Pathways and Prospective Therapeutic Targets. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2020; 41:619-649. [PMID: 32468442 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00882-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) consists of a prevalent and heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental diseases representing a severe burden to affected individuals and their caretakers. Despite substantial improvement towards understanding of ASD etiology and pathogenesis, as well as increased social awareness and more intensive research, no effective drugs have been successfully developed to resolve the main and most cumbersome ASD symptoms. Hence, finding better treatments, which may act as "disease-modifying" agents, and novel biomarkers for earlier ASD diagnosis and disease stage determination are needed. Diverse mutations of core components and consequent malfunctions of several cell signaling pathways have already been found in ASD by a series of experimental platforms, including genetic associations analyses and studies utilizing pre-clinical animal models and patient samples. These signaling cascades govern a broad range of neurological features such as neuronal development, neurotransmission, metabolism, and homeostasis, as well as immune regulation and inflammation. Here, we review the current knowledge on signaling pathways which are commonly disrupted in ASD and autism-related conditions. As such, we further propose ways to translate these findings into the development of genetic and biochemical clinical tests for early autism detection. Moreover, we highlight some putative druggable targets along these pathways, which, upon further research efforts, may evolve into novel therapeutic interventions for certain ASD conditions. Lastly, we also refer to the crosstalk among these major signaling cascades as well as their putative implications in therapeutics. Based on this collective information, we believe that a timely and accurate modulation of these prominent pathways may shape the neurodevelopment and neuro-immune regulation of homeostatic patterns and, hopefully, rescue some (if not all) ASD phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Baranova
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Dragunas
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1524, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Mayara C S Botellho
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ana Luisa P Ayub
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo 669, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Rebeca Bueno-Alves
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Rebeca R Alencar
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Debora D Papaiz
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo 669, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Mari C Sogayar
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.,Cell and Molecular Therapy Center, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Rua Pangaré 100 (Edifício NUCEL), Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05360-130, Brazil
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ricardo G Correa
- NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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Sultana R, Shrestha A, Lee CC, Ogundele OM. Disc1 Carrier Mice Exhibit Alterations in Neural pIGF-1Rβ and Related Kinase Expression. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:94. [PMID: 32431597 PMCID: PMC7214624 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutation of the disc1 gene underlies a broad range of developmental neuropsychiatric defects, including schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder. The pathophysiological phenotypes linked with disc1 mutation are due to the truncation of the DISC1 primary protein structure. This leads to a defective post-synaptic scaffolding and kinase—GSK3β and Erk1/2—signaling. As a result, synaptic function and maintenance are significantly impaired in the disc1 mutant brain. Among several other pathways, GSK3β and Erk1/2 are involved in insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1Rβ) kinase signaling. Although disc1 mutation alters these kinases, it is unclear if the mutation impacts IGF-1R expression and activity in the brain. Here, we demonstrate that the expression of active IGF-1Rβ (pIGF-1Rβ) is altered in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of disc1 mutant mice and vary with the dose of the mutation (homozygous and heterozygous). The expression of pIGF-1Rβ decreased significantly in 129S (hom, disc1−/−) brains. In contrast, 129S:B6 (het, disc1+/−) brains were characterized by an increase in pIGF-1Rβ when compared with the C57BL/6 (disc1+/+) level. The decrease in pIGF-1Rβ level for the 129S brains was accompanied by the loss of Akt activity (S473 pAkt) and decreased Ser9 phosphorylation of GSK3β (increased basal GSK3β). Additionally, hippocampal and cortical pErk1/2 activity increased in the 129S hippocampus and cortex. Although 129S:B6 recorded alterations in pIGF-1Rβ-pAkt-GSK3β (like 129S), there was no observable change in pErk1/2 activity for the heterozygote (disc1+/−) mutant. In addition to GSK3β inhibition, we conclude that pIGF-1R, pAkt, and pErk1/2 are potential targets in disc1−/− mutant brain. On the other hand, pIGF-1R and pAkt can be further explored in disc1+/− brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razia Sultana
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Amita Shrestha
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Charles C Lee
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Olalekan M Ogundele
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
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47
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Morè L, Lauterborn JC, Papaleo F, Brambilla R. Enhancing cognition through pharmacological and environmental interventions: Examples from preclinical models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 110:28-45. [PMID: 30981451 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In this review we discuss the role of environmental and pharmacological treatments to enhance cognition with special regards to neurodevelopmental related disorders and aging. How the environment influences brain structure and function, and the interactions between rearing conditions and gene expression, are fundamental questions that are still poorly understood. We propose a model that can explain some of the discrepancies in findings for effects of environmental enrichment on outcome measures. Evidence of a direct causal correlation of nootropics and treatments that enhanced cognition also will be presented, and possible molecular mechanisms that include neurotrophin signaling and downstream pathways underlying these processes are discussed. Finally we review recent findings achieved with a wide set of behavioral and cognitive tasks that have translational validity to humans, and should be useful for future work on devising appropriate therapies. As will be discussed, the collective findings suggest that a combinational therapeutic approach of environmental enrichment and nootropics could be particularly successful for improving learning and memory in both developmental disorders and normal aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Morè
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, PR1 2XT, Preston, UK.
| | - Julie C Lauterborn
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA.
| | - Francesco Papaleo
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163, Genova, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Brambilla
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI), Division of Neuroscience, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, Cardiff, UK.
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48
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Afroz KF, Alviña K. Maternal elevated salt consumption and the development of autism spectrum disorder in the offspring. J Neuroinflammation 2019; 16:265. [PMID: 31837704 PMCID: PMC6911292 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-019-1666-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition with no known etiology or cure. Several possible contributing factors, both genetic and environmental, are being actively investigated. Amongst these, maternal immune dysregulation has been identified as potentially involved in promoting ASD in the offspring. Indeed, ASD-like behaviors have been observed in studies using the maternal immune activation mouse model. Furthermore, recent studies have shed light on maternal dietary habits and their impact on the gut microbiome as factors possibly facilitating ASD. However, most of these studies have been limited to the effects of high fat and/or high sugar. More recent data, however, have shown that elevated salt consumption has a significant effect on the immune system and gut microbiome, often resulting in gut dysbiosis and induction of pro-inflammatory pathways. Specifically, high salt alters the gut microbiome and induces the differentiation of T helper-17 cells that produce pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-17 and interleukin-23. Moreover, elevated salt can also reduce the differentiation of regulatory T cells that help maintaining a balanced immune system. While in the innate immune system, high salt can cause over activation of M1 pro-inflammatory macrophages and downregulation of M2 regulatory macrophages. These changes to the immune system are alarming because excessive consumption of salt is a documented worldwide problem. Thus, in this review, we discuss recent findings on high salt intake, gut microbiome, and immune system dysregulation while proposing a hypothesis to link maternal overconsumption of salt and children’s ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazi Farhana Afroz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St. Room #05, Biology Building, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - Karina Alviña
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St. Room #05, Biology Building, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, 1149 Newell Drive, Room L1-100, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
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49
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Association of genes with phenotype in autism spectrum disorder. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 11:10742-10770. [PMID: 31744938 PMCID: PMC6914398 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a genetic heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by impairments in social interaction and speech development and is accompanied by stereotypical behaviors such as body rocking, hand flapping, spinning objects, sniffing and restricted behaviors. The considerable significance of the genetics associated with autism has led to the identification of many risk genes for ASD used for the probing of ASD specificity and shared cognitive features over the past few decades. Identification of ASD risk genes helps to unravel various genetic variants and signaling pathways which are involved in ASD. This review highlights the role of ASD risk genes in gene transcription and translation regulation processes, as well as neuronal activity modulation, synaptic plasticity, disrupted key biological signaling pathways, and the novel candidate genes that play a significant role in the pathophysiology of ASD. The current emphasis on autism spectrum disorders has generated new opportunities in the field of neuroscience, and further advancements in the identification of different biomarkers, risk genes, and genetic pathways can help in the early diagnosis and development of new clinical and pharmacological treatments for ASD.
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50
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Montrenes JJ, Matson JL. How can pharmacotherapy impact the quality of life of individuals with high functioning autism? Expert Opin Pharmacother 2019; 20:2059-2061. [PMID: 31496312 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2019.1663824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Johnny L Matson
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA
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