1
|
Hernández-del Caño C, Varela-Andrés N, Cebrián-León A, Deogracias R. Neurotrophins and Their Receptors: BDNF's Role in GABAergic Neurodevelopment and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8312. [PMID: 39125882 PMCID: PMC11311851 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158312] [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: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophins and their receptors are distinctly expressed during brain development and play crucial roles in the formation, survival, and function of neurons in the nervous system. Among these molecules, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has garnered significant attention due to its involvement in regulating GABAergic system development and function. In this review, we summarize and compare the expression patterns and roles of neurotrophins and their receptors in both the developing and adult brains of rodents, macaques, and humans. Then, we focus on the implications of BDNF in the development and function of GABAergic neurons from the cortex and the striatum, as both the presence of BDNF single nucleotide polymorphisms and disruptions in BDNF levels alter the excitatory/inhibitory balance in the brain. This imbalance has different implications in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental diseases like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Rett syndrome (RTT), and schizophrenia (SCZ). Altogether, evidence shows that neurotrophins, especially BDNF, are essential for the development, maintenance, and function of the brain, and disruptions in their expression or signaling are common mechanisms in the pathophysiology of brain diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Hernández-del Caño
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCyL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (C.H.-d.C.); (N.V.-A.); (A.C.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Natalia Varela-Andrés
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCyL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (C.H.-d.C.); (N.V.-A.); (A.C.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alejandro Cebrián-León
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCyL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (C.H.-d.C.); (N.V.-A.); (A.C.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rubén Deogracias
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCyL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (C.H.-d.C.); (N.V.-A.); (A.C.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li Y, Ma R, Hao X. Therapeutic role of PTEN in tissue regeneration for management of neurological disorders: stem cell behaviors to an in-depth review. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:268. [PMID: 38627382 PMCID: PMC11021430 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06657-y] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) represents the initial tumor suppressor gene identified to possess phosphatase activity, governing various cellular processes including cell cycle regulation, migration, metabolic pathways, autophagy, oxidative stress response, and cellular senescence. Current evidence suggests that PTEN is critical for stem cell maintenance, self-renewal, migration, lineage commitment, and differentiation. Based on the latest available evidence, we provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms by which PTEN regulates activities of different stem cell populations and influences neurological disorders, encompassing autism, stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. This review aims to elucidate the therapeutic impacts and mechanisms of PTEN in relation to neurogenesis or the stem cell niche across a range of neurological disorders, offering a foundation for innovative therapeutic approaches aimed at tissue repair and regeneration in neurological disorders. This review unravels novel therapeutic strategies for tissue restoration and regeneration in neurological disorders based on the regulatory mechanisms of PTEN on neurogenesis and the stem cell niche.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Macau, China.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Macau, China.
| | - Ruishuang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 301617, Tianjin, China
| | - Xia Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 301617, Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cullen ER, Safari M, Mittelstadt I, Weston MC. Hyperactivity of mTORC1- and mTORC2-dependent signaling mediates epilepsy downstream of somatic PTEN loss. eLife 2024; 12:RP91323. [PMID: 38446016 PMCID: PMC10942640 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91323] [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] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene variants that hyperactivate PI3K-mTOR signaling in the brain lead to epilepsy and cortical malformations in humans. Some gene variants associated with these pathologies only hyperactivate mTORC1, but others, such as PTEN, PIK3CA, and AKT, hyperactivate both mTORC1- and mTORC2-dependent signaling. Previous work established a key role for mTORC1 hyperactivity in mTORopathies, however, whether mTORC2 hyperactivity contributes is not clear. To test this, we inactivated mTORC1 and/or mTORC2 downstream of early Pten deletion in a new mouse model of somatic Pten loss-of-function (LOF) in the cortex and hippocampus. Spontaneous seizures and epileptiform activity persisted despite mTORC1 or mTORC2 inactivation alone, but inactivating both mTORC1 and mTORC2 simultaneously normalized brain activity. These results suggest that hyperactivity of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 can cause epilepsy, and that targeted therapies should aim to reduce activity of both complexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin R Cullen
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of VermontBurlingtonUnited States
| | - Mona Safari
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Center for Neurobiology ResearchRoanokeUnited States
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate ProgramRoanokeUnited States
| | - Isabelle Mittelstadt
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of VermontBurlingtonUnited States
| | - Matthew C Weston
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of VermontBurlingtonUnited States
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Center for Neurobiology ResearchRoanokeUnited States
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic and State UniversityBlacksburgUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cullen ER, Safari M, Mittelstadt I, Weston MC. Hyperactivity of mTORC1 and mTORC2-dependent signaling mediate epilepsy downstream of somatic PTEN loss. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.18.553856. [PMID: 37645923 PMCID: PMC10462128 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.18.553856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Gene variants that hyperactivate PI3K-mTOR signaling in the brain lead to epilepsy and cortical malformations in humans. Some gene variants associated with these pathologies only hyperactivate mTORC1, but others, such as PTEN, PIK3CA, and AKT, hyperactivate both mTORC1- and mTORC2-dependent signaling. Previous work established a key role for mTORC1 hyperactivity in mTORopathies, however, whether mTORC2 hyperactivity contributes is not clear. To test this, we inactivated mTORC1 and/or mTORC2 downstream of early Pten deletion in a new model of somatic Pten loss-of-function (LOF) in the cortex and hippocampus. Spontaneous seizures and epileptiform activity persisted despite mTORC1 or mTORC2 inactivation alone, but inactivating both mTORC1 and mTORC2 simultaneously normalized brain activity. These results suggest that hyperactivity of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 can cause epilepsy, and that targeted therapies should aim to reduce activity of both complexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin R. Cullen
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 05405, USA
| | - Mona Safari
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke VA, 24016, USA
| | - Isabelle Mittelstadt
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 05405, USA
| | - Matthew C. Weston
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 05405, USA
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke VA, 24016, USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg VA, 24060, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fernandez A, Sarn N, Eng C, Wright KM. Intrinsic control of DRG sensory neuron diversification by Pten. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.04.552039. [PMID: 37781577 PMCID: PMC10541114 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.04.552039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) modulates intracellular survival and differentiation signaling pathways downstream of neurotrophin receptors in the developing peripheral nervous system (PNS). Although well-studied in the context of brain development, our understanding of the in vivo role of PTEN in the PNS is limited to models of neuropathic pain and nerve injury. Here, we assessed how alterations in PTEN signaling affects the development of peripheral somatosensory circuits. We found that sensory neurons within the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in Pten heterozygous ( Pten Het ) mice exhibit defects in neuronal subtype diversification. Abnormal DRG differentiation in Pten Het mice arises early in development, with subsets of neurons expressing both progenitor and neuronal markers. DRGs in Pten Het mice show dysregulation of both mTOR and GSK-3β signaling pathways downstream of PTEN. Finally, we show that mice with an autism-associated mutation in Pten ( Pten Y68H/+ ) show abnormal DRG development. Thus, we have discovered a crucial role for PTEN signaling in the intrinsic diversification of primary sensory neuron populations in the DRG during development.
Collapse
|
6
|
Dufour BD, McBride E, Bartley T, Juarez P, Martínez-Cerdeño V. Distinct patterns of GABAergic interneuron pathology in autism are associated with intellectual impairment and stereotypic behaviors. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2023; 27:1730-1745. [PMID: 36935610 PMCID: PMC10846597 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231154053] [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] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in sociability and communication and the presence of repetitive behaviors. How specific pathological alterations of the brain contribute to the clinical profile of autism spectrum disorder remains unknown. We previously found that a specific type of inhibitory interneuron is reduced in number in the autism spectrum disorder prefrontal cortex. Here, we assessed the relationship between interneuron reduction and autism spectrum disorder symptom severity. We collected clinical records from autism spectrum disorder (n = 20) and assessed the relationship between the severity of symptoms and interneuron number. We found that the reduced number of inhibitory interneurons that we previously reported is linked to specific symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, particularly stereotypic movements and intellectual impairments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brett D Dufour
- UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, USA
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
| | - Erin McBride
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
- UC Davis Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, USA
| | - Trevor Bartley
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
- UC Davis Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, USA
| | - Pablo Juarez
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
| | - Verónica Martínez-Cerdeño
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
- UC Davis Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cheung SKK, Kwok J, Or PMY, Wong CW, Feng B, Choy KW, Chang RCC, Burbach JPH, Cheng ASL, Chan AM. Neuropathological signatures revealed by transcriptomic and proteomic analysis in Pten-deficient mouse models. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6763. [PMID: 37185447 PMCID: PMC10130134 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33869-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome is characterised by mutations in the human PTEN gene. We performed transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of neural tissues and primary cultures from heterozygous and homozygous Pten-knockout mice. The somatosensory cortex of heterozygous Pten-knockout mice was enriched in immune response and oligodendrocyte development Gene Ontology (GO) terms. Parallel proteomic analysis revealed differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) related to dendritic spine development, keratinisation and hamartoma signatures. However, primary astrocytes (ASTs) from heterozygous Pten-knockout mice were enriched in the extracellular matrix GO term, while primary cortical neurons (PCNs) were enriched in immediate-early genes. In ASTs from homozygous Pten-knockout mice, cilium-related activity was enriched, while PCNs exhibited downregulation of forebrain neuron generation and differentiation, implying an altered excitatory/inhibitory balance. By integrating DEPs with pre-filtered differentially expressed genes, we identified the enrichment of traits of intelligence, cognitive function and schizophrenia, while DEPs in ASTs were significantly associated with intelligence and depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stanley K K Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Jacinda Kwok
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Penelope M Y Or
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Chi Wai Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Bo Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Kwong Wai Choy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Raymond C C Chang
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - J Peter H Burbach
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alfred S L Cheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Andrew M Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4/F, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Nussinov R, Yavuz BR, Arici MK, Demirel HC, Zhang M, Liu Y, Tsai CJ, Jang H, Tuncbag N. Neurodevelopmental disorders, like cancer, are connected to impaired chromatin remodelers, PI3K/mTOR, and PAK1-regulated MAPK. Biophys Rev 2023; 15:163-181. [PMID: 37124926 PMCID: PMC10133437 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01054-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractNeurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and cancer share proteins, pathways, and mutations. Their clinical symptoms are different. However, individuals with NDDs have higher probabilities of eventually developing cancer. Here, we review the literature and ask how the shared features can lead to different medical conditions and why having an NDD first can increase the chances of malignancy. To explore these vital questions, we focus on dysregulated PI3K/mTOR, a major brain cell growth pathway in differentiation, and MAPK, a critical pathway in proliferation, a hallmark of cancer. Differentiation is governed by chromatin organization, making aberrant chromatin remodelers highly likely agents in NDDs. Dysregulated chromatin organization and accessibility influence the lineage of specific cell brain types at specific embryonic development stages. PAK1, with pivotal roles in brain development and in cancer, also regulates MAPK. We review, clarify, and connect dysregulated pathways with dysregulated proliferation and differentiation in cancer and NDDs and highlight PAK1 role in brain development and MAPK regulation. Exactly how PAK1 activation controls brain development, and why specific chromatin remodeler components, e.g., BAF170 encoded by SMARCC2 in autism, await clarification.
Collapse
|
9
|
Romero VI, Arias-Almeida B, Aguiar SA. NSD1 gene evolves under episodic selection within primates and mutations of specific exons in humans cause Sotos syndrome. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:849. [PMID: 36550402 PMCID: PMC9783842 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-09071-w] [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: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modern human brains and skull shapes differ from other hominids. Brain growth disorders as micro- (ASPM, MCPH1) and macrocephaly (NFIX, GLI3) have been highlighted as relevant for the evolution in humans due to the impact in early brain development. Genes associated with macrocephaly have been reported to cause this change, for example NSD1 which causes Sotos syndrome. RESULTS In this study we performed a systematic literature review, located the reported variants associated to Sotos syndrome along the gene domains, compared the sequences with close primates, calculated their similarity, Ka/Ks ratios, nucleotide diversity and selection, and analyzed the sequence and structural conservation with distant primates. We aimed to understand if NSD1 in humans differs from other primates since the evolution of NSD1 has not been analyzed in primates, nor if the localization of the mutations is limited to humans. Our study found that most variations causing Sotos syndrome are in exon 19, 22 and 10. In the primate comparison we did not detect Ka/Ks ratios > 1, but a high nucleotide diversity with non-synonymous variations in exons 10, 5, 9, 11 and 23, and sites under episodic selection in exon 5 and 23, and human, macaque/colobus/tarsier/galago and tarsier/lemur/colobus. Most of the domains are conserved in distant primates with a particular progressive development from a simple PWWP1 in O. garnetti to a complex structure in Human. CONCLUSION NSD1 is a chromatin modifier that suggests that the selection could influence brain development during modern human evolution and is not present in other primates; however, nowadays the nucleotide diversity is associated with Sotos syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa I. Romero
- School of Medicine, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bastos GC, Tolezano GC, Krepischi ACV. Rare CNVs and Known Genes Linked to Macrocephaly: Review of Genomic Loci and Promising Candidate Genes. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13122285. [PMID: 36553552 PMCID: PMC9778424 DOI: 10.3390/genes13122285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrocephaly frequently occurs in single-gene disorders affecting the PI3K-AKT-MTOR pathway; however, epigenetic mutations, mosaicism, and copy number variations (CNVs) are emerging relevant causative factors, revealing a higher genetic heterogeneity than previously expected. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of rare CNVs in patients with macrocephaly and review genomic loci and known genes. We retrieved from the DECIPHER database de novo <500 kb CNVs reported on patients with macrocephaly; in four cases, a candidate gene for macrocephaly could be pinpointed: a known microcephaly gene-TRAPPC9, and three genes based on their functional roles-RALGAPB, RBMS3, and ZDHHC14. From the literature review, 28 pathogenic CNV genomic loci and over 300 known genes linked to macrocephaly were gathered. Among the genomic regions, 17 CNV loci (~61%) exhibited mirror phenotypes, that is, deletions and duplications having opposite effects on head size. Identifying structural variants affecting head size can be a preeminent source of information about pathways underlying brain development. In this study, we reviewed these genes and recurrent CNV loci associated with macrocephaly, as well as suggested novel potential candidate genes deserving further studies to endorse their involvement with this phenotype.
Collapse
|
11
|
Tariq K, Cullen E, Getz SA, Conching AK, Goyette AR, Prina ML, Wang W, Li M, Weston MC, Luikart BW. Disruption of mTORC1 rescues neuronal overgrowth and synapse function dysregulated by Pten loss. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111574. [PMID: 36323257 PMCID: PMC9743803 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a negative regulator of AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Mutations in PTEN are found in patients with autism, epilepsy, or macrocephaly. In mouse models, Pten loss results in neuronal hypertrophy, hyperexcitability, seizures, and ASD-like behaviors. The underlying molecular mechanisms of these phenotypes are not well delineated. We determined which of the Pten loss-driven aberrations in neuronal form and function are orchestrated by downstream mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1). Rapamycin-mediated inhibition of mTORC1 prevented increase in soma size, migration, spine density, and dendritic overgrowth in Pten knockout dentate gyrus granule neurons. Genetic knockout of Raptor to disrupt mTORC1 complex formation blocked Pten loss-mediated neuronal hypertrophy. Electrophysiological recordings revealed that genetic disruption of mTORC1 rescued Pten loss-mediated increase in excitatory synaptic transmission. We have identified an essential role for mTORC1 in orchestrating Pten loss-driven neuronal hypertrophy and synapse formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kamran Tariq
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Erin Cullen
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Stephanie A. Getz
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Andie K.S. Conching
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Andrew R. Goyette
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Mackenzi L. Prina
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Meijie Li
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Matthew C. Weston
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA,These authors contributed equally,Correspondence: (M.C.W.), (B.W.L.)
| | - Bryan W. Luikart
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA,These authors contributed equally,Lead contact,Correspondence: (M.C.W.), (B.W.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Jiang CC, Lin LS, Long S, Ke XY, Fukunaga K, Lu YM, Han F. Signalling pathways in autism spectrum disorder: mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:229. [PMID: 35817793 PMCID: PMC9273593 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01081-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent and complex neurodevelopmental disorder which has strong genetic basis. Despite the rapidly rising incidence of autism, little is known about its aetiology, risk factors, and disease progression. There are currently neither validated biomarkers for diagnostic screening nor specific medication for autism. Over the last two decades, there have been remarkable advances in genetics, with hundreds of genes identified and validated as being associated with a high risk for autism. The convergence of neuroscience methods is becoming more widely recognized for its significance in elucidating the pathological mechanisms of autism. Efforts have been devoted to exploring the behavioural functions, key pathological mechanisms and potential treatments of autism. Here, as we highlight in this review, emerging evidence shows that signal transduction molecular events are involved in pathological processes such as transcription, translation, synaptic transmission, epigenetics and immunoinflammatory responses. This involvement has important implications for the discovery of precise molecular targets for autism. Moreover, we review recent insights into the mechanisms and clinical implications of signal transduction in autism from molecular, cellular, neural circuit, and neurobehavioural aspects. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives are discussed with regard to novel strategies predicated on the biological features of autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chen Jiang
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Li-Shan Lin
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Sen Long
- Department of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Mental Health Center Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Ke
- Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Kohji Fukunaga
- Department of CNS Drug Innovation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Ying-Mei Lu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Feng Han
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. .,Institute of Brain Science, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China. .,Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Schrötter S, Yuskaitis CJ, MacArthur MR, Mitchell SJ, Hosios AM, Osipovich M, Torrence ME, Mitchell JR, Hoxhaj G, Sahin M, Manning BD. The non-essential TSC complex component TBC1D7 restricts tissue mTORC1 signaling and brain and neuron growth. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110824. [PMID: 35584673 PMCID: PMC9175135 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) 1 and 2 proteins associate with TBC1D7 to form the TSC complex, which is an essential suppressor of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), a ubiquitous driver of cell and tissue growth. Loss-of-function mutations in TSC1 or TSC2, but not TBC1D7, give rise to TSC, a pleiotropic disorder with aberrant activation of mTORC1 in various tissues. Here, we characterize mice with genetic deletion of Tbc1d7, which are viable with normal growth and development. Consistent with partial loss of function of the TSC complex, Tbc1d7 knockout (KO) mice display variable increases in tissue mTORC1 signaling with increased muscle fiber size but with strength and motor defects. Their most pronounced phenotype is brain overgrowth due to thickening of the cerebral cortex, with enhanced neuron-intrinsic mTORC1 signaling and growth. Thus, TBC1D7 is required for full TSC complex function in tissues, and the brain is particularly sensitive to its growth-suppressing activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Schrötter
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher J Yuskaitis
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael R MacArthur
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah J Mitchell
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aaron M Hosios
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Osipovich
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Margaret E Torrence
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James R Mitchell
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gerta Hoxhaj
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brendan D Manning
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Functional validation of variants of unknown significance using CRISPR gene editing and transcriptomics: A Kleefstra syndrome case study. Gene X 2022; 821:146287. [PMID: 35176430 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There are an estimated > 400 million people living with a rare disease globally, with genetic variants the cause of approximately 80% of cases. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) rapidly identifies genetic variants however they are often of unknown significance. Low throughput functional validation in specialist laboratories is the current ad hoc approach for functional validation of genetic variants, which creating major bottlenecks in patient diagnosis. This study investigates the application of CRISPR gene editing followed by genome wide transcriptomic profiling to facilitate patient diagnosis. As proof-of-concept, we introduced a variant in the Euchromatin histone methyl transferase (EHMT1) gene into HEK293T cells. We identified changes in the regulation of the cell cycle, neural gene expression and suppression of gene expression changes on chromosome 19 and chromosome X, that are in keeping with Kleefstra syndrome clinical phenotype and/or provide insight into disease mechanism. This study demonstrates the utility of genome editing followed by functional readouts to rapidly and systematically validating the function of variants of unknown significance in patients suffering from rare diseases.
Collapse
|
15
|
Sathyanarayana SH, Saunders JA, Slaughter J, Tariq K, Chakrabarti R, Sadanandappa MK, Luikart BW, Bosco G. Pten heterozygosity restores neuronal morphology in fragile X syndrome mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2109448119. [PMID: 35394871 PMCID: PMC9169627 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2109448119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic studies of hippocampal granule neuron development have been used to elucidate cellular functions of Pten and Fmr1. While mutations in each gene cause neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and fragile X syndrome, how Pten and Fmr1 function alone or together during normal development is not known. Moreover, Pten mRNA is bound by the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) RNA binding protein, but how this physical interaction impinges on phosphatase and tensin homolog protein (PTEN) expression is not known. To understand the interaction of PTEN and FMRP, we investigated the dentate gyrus granule neuron development in Pten and Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice. Interestingly, heterozygosity of Pten restored Fmr1 KO cellular phenotypes, including dendritic arborization, and spine density, while PTEN protein expression was significantly increased in Fmr1 KO animals. However, complete deletion of both Pten and Fmr1 resulted in a dramatic increase in dendritic length, spine density, and spine length. In addition, overexpression of PTEN in Fmr1 KO Pten heterozygous background reduced dendritic length, arborization, spine density, and spine length including pS6 levels. Our findings suggest that PTEN levels are negatively regulated by FMRP, and some Fmr1 KO phenotypes are caused by dysregulation of PTEN protein. These observations provide evidence for the genetic interaction of PTEN and FMRP and a possible mechanistic basis for the pathogenesis of Fmr1-related fragile X neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jasmine A. Saunders
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Jacob Slaughter
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Kamran Tariq
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Rajarshi Chakrabarti
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Madhumala K. Sadanandappa
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Bryan W. Luikart
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Giovanni Bosco
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Clipperton-Allen AE, Swick H, Botero V, Aceti M, Ellegood J, Lerch JP, Page DT. Pten haploinsufficiency causes desynchronized growth of brain areas involved in sensory processing. iScience 2022; 25:103796. [PMID: 35198865 PMCID: PMC8844819 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103796] [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: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
How changes in brain scaling relate to altered behavior is an important question in neurodevelopmental disorder research. Mice with germline Pten haploinsufficiency (Pten +/-) closely mirror the abnormal brain scaling and behavioral deficits seen in humans with macrocephaly/autism syndrome, which is caused by PTEN mutations. We explored whether deviation from normal patterns of growth can predict behavioral abnormalities. Brain regions associated with sensory processing (e.g., pons and inferior colliculus) had the biggest deviations from expected volume. While Pten +/- mice showed little or no abnormal behavior on most assays, both sexes showed sensory deficits, including impaired sensorimotor gating and hyporeactivity to high-intensity stimuli. Developmental analysis of this phenotype showed sexual dimorphism for hyporeactivity. Mapping behavioral phenotypes of Pten +/- mice onto relevant brain regions suggested abnormal behavior is likely when associated with relatively enlarged brain regions, while unchanged or relatively decreased brain regions have little predictive value.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hannah Swick
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Valentina Botero
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA,Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Massimiliano Aceti
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Jason P. Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Damon T. Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA,Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA,Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wu Q, Zhou D, Wu R, Shi R, Shen X, Jin N, Gu J, Gu JH, Liu F, Chu D. Excess folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy and lactation activates β-catenin in the brain of male mouse offspring. Brain Res Bull 2021; 178:133-143. [PMID: 34808323 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Folic acid (FA) supplementation in early pregnancy is recommended to protect against birth defects. But excess FA has exhibited neurodevelopmental toxicity. We previously reported that the mice treated with 2.5-fold the dietary requirement of FA one week before mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation displayed abnormal behaviors in the offspring. Here we found the levels of non-phosphorylated β-catenin (active) were increased in the brains of weaning and adult FA-exposed offspring. Meanwhile, demethylation of protein phosphatase 2 A catalytic subunit (PP2Ac), which suppresses its enzyme activity in regulatory subunit dependent manner, was significantly inhibited. Among the upstream regulators of β-catenin, PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β but not Wnt signaling was stimulated in FA-exposed brains only at weaning. In mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells, knockdown of PP2Ac or leucine carboxyl methyltransferase-1 (LCMT-1), or overexpression of PP2Ac methylation-deficient mutant decreased β-catenin dephosphorylation. These results suggest that excess FA may activate β-catenin via suppressing PP2Ac demethylation, providing a novel mechanism for the influence of FA on neurodevelopment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, China
| | - Dingwei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, China
| | - Ruozhen Wu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, China
| | - Ruirui Shi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, 226018 Nantong, China
| | - Xin Shen
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, China
| | - Nana Jin
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, China
| | - Jianlan Gu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, China
| | - Jin-Hua Gu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, 226018 Nantong, China.
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY 10314, United States.
| | - Dandan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
PTEN mutations in autism spectrum disorder and congenital hydrocephalus: developmental pleiotropy and therapeutic targets. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:961-976. [PMID: 34625286 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The lack of effective treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and congenital hydrocephalus (CH) reflects the limited understanding of the biology underlying these common neurodevelopmental disorders. Although ASD and CH have been extensively studied as independent entities, recent human genomic and preclinical animal studies have uncovered shared molecular pathophysiology. Here, we review and discuss phenotypic, genomic, and molecular similarities between ASD and CH, and identify the PTEN-PI3K-mTOR (phosphatase and tensin homolog-phosphoinositide 3-kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway as a common underlying mechanism that holds diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic promise for individuals with ASD and CH.
Collapse
|
19
|
Levy JA, LaFlamme CW, Tsaprailis G, Crynen G, Page DT. Dyrk1a Mutations Cause Undergrowth of Cortical Pyramidal Neurons via Dysregulated Growth Factor Signaling. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:295-306. [PMID: 33840455 PMCID: PMC8787822 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mutations in DYRK1A are a cause of microcephaly, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability; however, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are not well understood. METHODS We generated a conditional mouse model using Emx1-cre, including conditional heterozygous and homozygous knockouts, to investigate the necessity of Dyrk1a in the cortex during development. We used unbiased, high-throughput phosphoproteomics to identify dysregulated signaling mechanisms in the developing Dyrk1a mutant cortex as well as classic genetic modifier approaches and pharmacological therapeutic intervention to rescue microcephaly and neuronal undergrowth caused by Dyrk1a mutations. RESULTS We found that cortical deletion of Dyrk1a in mice causes decreased brain mass and neuronal size, structural hypoconnectivity, and autism-relevant behaviors. Using phosphoproteomic screening, we identified growth-associated signaling cascades dysregulated upon Dyrk1a deletion, including TrkB-BDNF (tyrosine receptor kinase B-brain-derived neurotrophic factor), an important regulator of ERK/MAPK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase) and mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling. Genetic suppression of Pten or pharmacological treatment with IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1), both of which impinge on these signaling cascades, rescued microcephaly and neuronal undergrowth in neonatal mutants. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these findings identify a previously unknown mechanism through which Dyrk1a mutations disrupt growth factor signaling in the developing brain, thus influencing neuronal growth and connectivity. Our results place DYRK1A as a critical regulator of a biological pathway known to be dysregulated in humans with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. In addition, these data position Dyrk1a within a larger group of autism spectrum disorder/intellectual disability risk genes that impinge on growth-associated signaling cascades to regulate brain size and connectivity, suggesting a point of convergence for multiple autism etiologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna A Levy
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida; Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Christy W LaFlamme
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida; The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida
| | | | - Gogce Crynen
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Damon T Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida; Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research, Jupiter, Florida.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Clipperton-Allen AE, Zhang A, Cohen OS, Page DT. Environmental Enrichment Rescues Social Behavioral Deficits and Synaptic Abnormalities in Pten Haploinsufficient Mice. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1366. [PMID: 34573348 PMCID: PMC8468545 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091366] [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: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pten germline haploinsufficient (Pten+/-) mice, which model macrocephaly/autism syndrome, show social and repetitive behavior deficits, early brain overgrowth, and cortical-subcortical hyperconnectivity. Previous work indicated that altered neuronal connectivity may be a substrate for behavioral deficits. We hypothesized that exposing Pten+/- mice to environmental enrichment after brain overgrowth has occurred may facilitate adaptation to abnormal "hard-wired" connectivity through enhancing synaptic plasticity. Thus, we reared Pten+/- mice and their wild-type littermates from weaning under either standard (4-5 mice per standard-sized cage, containing only bedding and nestlet) or enriched (9-10 mice per large-sized cage, containing objects for exploration and a running wheel, plus bedding and nestlet) conditions. Adult mice were tested on social and non-social assays in which Pten+/- mice display deficits. Environmental enrichment rescued sex-specific deficits in social behavior in Pten+/- mice and partially rescued increased repetitive behavior in Pten+/- males. We found that Pten+/- mice show increased excitatory and decreased inhibitory pre-synaptic proteins; this phenotype was also rescued by environmental enrichment. Together, our results indicate that environmental enrichment can rescue social behavioral deficits in Pten+/- mice, possibly through normalizing the excitatory synaptic protein abundance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Damon Theron Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA; (A.E.C.-A.); (A.Z.); (O.S.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Kaymakcalan H, Kaya İ, Cevher Binici N, Nikerel E, Özbaran B, Görkem Aksoy M, Erbilgin S, Özyurt G, Jahan N, Çelik D, Yararbaş K, Yalçınkaya L, Köse S, Durak S, Ercan-Sencicek AG. Prevalence and clinical/molecular characteristics of PTEN mutations in Turkish children with autism spectrum disorders and macrocephaly. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2021; 9:e1739. [PMID: 34268892 PMCID: PMC8404225 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1739] [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: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) germline mutations are associated with cancer syndromes (PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome; PHTS) and in pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and macrocephaly. The exact prevalence of PTEN mutations in patients with ASD and macrocephaly is uncertain; with prevalence rates ranging from 1% to 17%. Most studies are retrospective and contain more adult than pediatric patients, there is a need for more prospective pediatric studies. Methods We recruited 131 patients (108 males, 23 females) with ASD and macrocephaly between the ages of 3 and 18 from five child and adolescent psychiatry clinics in Turkey from July 2018 to December 2019. We defined macrocephaly as occipito‐frontal HC size at or greater than 2 standard deviations (SD) above the mean for age and sex on standard growth charts. PTEN gene sequence analysis was performed using a MiSeq next generation sequencing (NGS) platform, (Illumina). Conclusion PTEN gene sequence analyses identified three pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations [NM_000314.6; p.(Pro204Leu), (p.Arg233*) and novel (p.Tyr176Cys*8)] and two variants of uncertain significance (VUS) [NM_000314.6; p.(Ala79Thr) and c.*10del]. We also report that patient with (p.Tyr176Cys*8) mutation has Grade 1 hepatosteatosis, a phenotype not previously described. This is the first PTEN prevalence study of patients with ASD and macrocephaly in Turkey and South Eastern Europe region with a largest homogenous cohort. The prevalence of PTEN mutations was found 3.8% (VUS included) or 2.29% (VUS omitted). We recommend testing for PTEN mutations in all patients with ASD and macrocephaly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hande Kaymakcalan
- Pediatric Genetics Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Demiroglu Bilim University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - İlyas Kaya
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nagihan Cevher Binici
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr Behcet Uz Child Disease and Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Emrah Nikerel
- Department of Bioinformatics, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Burcu Özbaran
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Görkem Aksoy
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Seda Erbilgin
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Prof. Dr. Cemil Tascioglu City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gonca Özyurt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Izmir Katip Celebi University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Noor Jahan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Didem Çelik
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Kanay Yararbaş
- Department of Medical Genetics, Demiroglu Bilim University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Leyla Yalçınkaya
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University Faculty of Science, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sezen Köse
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Sibel Durak
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr Behcet Uz Child Disease and Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Adife Gulhan Ercan-Sencicek
- Masonic Medical Research Institute, Utica, New York, USA.,Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Program on Neurogenetics, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Arnett AB, Wang T, Eichler EE, Bernier RA. Reflections on the genetics-first approach to advancements in molecular genetic and neurobiological research on neurodevelopmental disorders. J Neurodev Disord 2021; 13:24. [PMID: 34148555 PMCID: PMC8215789 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-021-09371-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), are common diagnoses with highly heterogeneous phenotypes and etiology. The genetics-first approach to research on NDDs has led to the identification of hundreds of genes conferring risk for ASD, ID, and related symptoms. MAIN BODY Although relatively few individuals with NDDs share likely gene-disruptive (LGD) mutations in the same gene, characterization of overlapping functions, protein networks, and temporospatial expression patterns among these genes has led to increased understanding of the neurobiological etiology of NDDs. This shift in focus away from single genes and toward broader gene-brain-behavior pathways has been accelerated by the development of publicly available transcriptomic databases, cell type-specific research methods, and sequencing of non-coding genomic regions. CONCLUSIONS The genetics-first approach to research on NDDs has advanced the identification of critical protein function pathways and temporospatial expression patterns, expanding the impact of this research beyond individuals with single-gene mutations to the broader population of patients with NDDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne B Arnett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, CHDD, Box 357920, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Tianyun Wang
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Evan E Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, CHDD, Box 357920, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Nelson AD, Bender KJ. Dendritic Integration Dysfunction in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Dev Neurosci 2021; 43:201-221. [PMID: 34139699 PMCID: PMC8440332 DOI: 10.1159/000516657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) that affect cognition, social interaction, and learning, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), have a strong genetic component. Our current understanding of risk genes highlights two main groups of dysfunction: those in genes that act as chromatin modifiers and those in genes that encode for proteins localized at or near synapses. Understanding how dysfunction in these genes contributes to phenotypes observed in ASD and ID remains a major question in neuroscience. In this review, we highlight emerging evidence suggesting that dysfunction in dendrites - regions of neurons that receive synaptic input - may be key to understanding features of neuronal processing affected in these disorders. Dendritic integration plays a fundamental role in sensory processing, cognition, and conscious perception, processes hypothesized to be impaired in NDDs. Many high-confidence ASD genes function within dendrites where they control synaptic integration and dendritic excitability. Further, increasing evidence demonstrates that several ASD/ID genes, including chromatin modifiers and transcription factors, regulate the expression or scaffolding of dendritic ion channels, receptors, and synaptic proteins. Therefore, we discuss how dysfunction of subsets of NDD-associated genes in dendrites leads to defects in dendritic integration and excitability and may be one core phenotype in ASD and ID.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Nelson
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kevin J Bender
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Sarn N, Thacker S, Lee H, Eng C. Germline nuclear-predominant Pten murine model exhibits impaired social and perseverative behavior, microglial activation, and increased oxytocinergic activity. Mol Autism 2021; 12:41. [PMID: 34088332 PMCID: PMC8176582 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00448-4] [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: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a strong genetic etiology. Germline mutation in the tumor suppressor gene PTEN is one of the best described monogenic risk cases for ASD. Animal modeling of cell-specific Pten loss or mutation has provided insight into how disruptions to the function of PTEN affect neurodevelopment, neurobiology, and social behavior. As such, there is a growing need to understand more about how various aspects of PTEN activity and cell-compartment-specific functions, contribute to certain neurological or behavior phenotypes. METHODS To understand more about the relationship between Pten localization and downstream effects on neurophenotypes, we generated the nuclear-predominant PtenY68H/+ mouse, which is identical to the genotype of some PTEN-ASD individuals. We subjected the PtenY68H/+ mouse to morphological and behavioral phenotyping, including the three-chamber sociability, open field, rotarod, and marble burying tests. We subsequently performed in vivo and in vitro cellular phenotyping and concluded the work with a transcriptomic survey of the PtenY68H/+ cortex, which profiled gene expression. RESULTS We observe a significant increase in P-Akt downstream of canonical Pten signaling, macrocephaly, decreased sociability, decreased preference for novel social stimuli, increased repetitive behavior, and increased thigmotaxis in PtenY68H/+ six-week-old (P40) mice. In addition, we found significant microglial activation with increased expression of complement and neuroinflammatory proteins in vivo and in vitro accompanied by enhanced phagocytosis. These observations were subsequently validated with RNA-seq and qRT-PCR, which revealed overexpression of many genes involved in neuroinflammation and neuronal function, including oxytocin. Oxytocin transcript was fivefold overexpressed (P = 0.0018), and oxytocin protein was strongly overexpressed in the PtenY68H/+ hypothalamus. CONCLUSIONS The nuclear-predominant PtenY68H/+ model has clarified that Pten dysfunction links to microglial pathology and this associates with increased Akt signaling. We also demonstrate that Pten dysfunction associates with changes in the oxytocin system, an important connection between a prominent ASD risk gene and a potent neuroendocrine regulator of social behavior. These cellular and molecular pathologies may related to the observed changes in social behavior. Ultimately, the findings from this work may reveal important biomarkers and/or novel therapeutic modalities that could be explored in individuals with germline mutations in PTEN with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nick Sarn
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195 USA
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106 USA
| | - Stetson Thacker
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195 USA
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195 USA
| | - Hyunpil Lee
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195 USA
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195 USA
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106 USA
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195 USA
- Germline High Risk Focus Group, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106 USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
The role of GABAergic signalling in neurodevelopmental disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:290-307. [PMID: 33772226 PMCID: PMC9001156 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00443-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
GABAergic inhibition shapes the connectivity, activity and plasticity of the brain. A series of exciting new discoveries provides compelling evidence that disruptions in a number of key facets of GABAergic inhibition have critical roles in the aetiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). These facets include the generation, migration and survival of GABAergic neurons, the formation of GABAergic synapses and circuit connectivity, and the dynamic regulation of the efficacy of GABAergic signalling through neuronal chloride transporters. In this Review, we discuss recent work that elucidates the functions and dysfunctions of GABAergic signalling in health and disease, that uncovers the contribution of GABAergic neural circuit dysfunction to NDD aetiology and that leverages such mechanistic insights to advance precision medicine for the treatment of NDDs.
Collapse
|
26
|
Geisler SM, Benedetti A, Schöpf CL, Schwarzer C, Stefanova N, Schwartz A, Obermair GJ. Phenotypic Characterization and Brain Structure Analysis of Calcium Channel Subunit α 2δ-2 Mutant (Ducky) and α 2δ Double Knockout Mice. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 13:634412. [PMID: 33679366 PMCID: PMC7933509 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.634412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Auxiliary α2δ subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels modulate channel trafficking, current properties, and synapse formation. Three of the four isoforms (α2δ-1, α2δ-2, and α2δ-3) are abundantly expressed in the brain; however, of the available knockout models, only α2δ-2 knockout or mutant mice display an obvious abnormal neurological phenotype. Thus, we hypothesize that the neuronal α2δ isoforms may have partially specific as well as redundant functions. To address this, we generated three distinct α2δ double knockout mouse models by crossbreeding single knockout (α2δ-1 and -3) or mutant (α2δ-2/ducky) mice. Here, we provide a first phenotypic description and brain structure analysis. We found that genotypic distribution of neonatal litters in distinct α2δ-1/-2, α2δ-1/-3, and α2δ-2/-3 breeding combinations did not conform to Mendel's law, suggesting premature lethality of single and double knockout mice. Notably, high occurrences of infant mortality correlated with the absence of specific α2δ isoforms (α2Δ-2 > α2δ-1 > α2δ-3), and was particularly observed in cages with behaviorally abnormal parenting animals of α2δ-2/-3 cross-breedings. Juvenile α2δ-1/-2 and α2δ-2/-3 double knockout mice displayed a waddling gate similar to ducky mice. However, in contrast to ducky and α2δ-1/-3 double knockout animals, α2δ-1/-2 and α2δ-2/-3 double knockout mice showed a more severe disease progression and highly impaired development. The observed phenotypes within the individual mouse lines may be linked to differences in the volume of specific brain regions. Reduced cortical volume in ducky mice, for example, was associated with a progressively decreased space between neurons, suggesting a reduction of total synaptic connections. Taken together, our findings show that α2δ subunits differentially regulate premature survival, postnatal growth, brain development, and behavior, suggesting specific neuronal functions in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie M. Geisler
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ariane Benedetti
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Clemens L. Schöpf
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Schwarzer
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nadia Stefanova
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Arnold Schwartz
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Gerald J. Obermair
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Division Physiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Sarn N, Jaini R, Thacker S, Lee H, Dutta R, Eng C. Cytoplasmic-predominant Pten increases microglial activation and synaptic pruning in a murine model with autism-like phenotype. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1458-1471. [PMID: 32055008 PMCID: PMC8159731 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0681-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Germline mutations in PTEN account for ~10% of cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with coincident macrocephaly. To explore the importance of nuclear PTEN in the development of ASD and macrocephaly, we previously generated a mouse model with predominantly cytoplasmic localization of Pten (Ptenm3m4/m3m4).Cytoplasmic predominant Pten localization results in a phenotype of extreme macrocephaly and autistic-like traits. Transcriptomic analysis of the Ptenm3m4/m3m4 cortex found upregulated gene pathways related to myeloid cell activation, myeloid cell migration, and phagocytosis. These transcriptomic findings were used to direct in vitro assays on Pten wild-type and Ptenm3m4/m3m4 microglia. We found increased Iba1 and C1q expression with enhanced phagocytic capacity in Ptenm3m4/m3m4 microglia, indicating microglial activation. Moreover, through a series of neuron-microglia co-culture experiments, we found Ptenm3m4/m3m4 microglia are more efficient at synaptic pruning compared with wild-type controls. In addition, we found evidence for neuron-microglia cross-talk, where Ptenm3m4/m3m4 neurons elicit enhanced pruning from innately activated microglia. Subsequent in vivo studies validated our in vitro findings. We observed a concurrent decline in the expression of Pten and synaptic markers in the Ptenm3m4/m3m4 cortex. At ~3 weeks of age, with a 50% drop in Pten expression compared with wild-type levels, we observed enhanced activation of microglia in the Ptenm3m4/m3m4 brain. Collectively, our data provide evidence that dysregulated Pten in microglia has an etiological role in microglial activation, phagocytosis, and synaptic pruning, creating avenues for future studies on the importance of PTEN in maintaining microglia homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Sarn
- grid.239578.20000 0001 0675 4725Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA ,Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Cleveland, OH USA
| | - Ritika Jaini
- grid.239578.20000 0001 0675 4725Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA ,grid.67105.350000 0001 2164 3847Germline High Risk Cancer Focus Group, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH USA ,grid.254293.b0000 0004 0435 0569Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44195 USA
| | - Stetson Thacker
- grid.239578.20000 0001 0675 4725Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA ,grid.254293.b0000 0004 0435 0569Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44195 USA
| | - Hyunpil Lee
- grid.239578.20000 0001 0675 4725Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA
| | - Ranjan Dutta
- grid.254293.b0000 0004 0435 0569Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44195 USA ,grid.239578.20000 0001 0675 4725Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. .,Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Cleveland, OH, USA. .,Germline High Risk Cancer Focus Group, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. .,Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Harlan De Crescenzo A, Panoutsopoulos AA, Tat L, Schaaf Z, Racherla S, Henderson L, Leung KY, Greene NDE, Green R, Zarbalis KS. Deficient or Excess Folic Acid Supply During Pregnancy Alter Cortical Neurodevelopment in Mouse Offspring. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:635-649. [PMID: 32995858 PMCID: PMC7727343 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Folate is an essential micronutrient required for both cellular proliferation through de novo nucleotide synthesis and epigenetic regulation of gene expression through methylation. This dual requirement places a particular demand on folate availability during pregnancy when both rapid cell generation and programmed differentiation of maternal, extraembryonic, and embryonic/fetal tissues are required. Accordingly, prenatal neurodevelopment is particularly susceptible to folate deficiency, which can predispose to neural tube defects, or when effective transport into the brain is impaired, cerebral folate deficiency. Consequently, adequate folate consumption, in the form of folic acid (FA) fortification and supplement use, is widely recommended and has led to a substantial increase in the amount of FA intake during pregnancy in some populations. Here, we show that either maternal folate deficiency or FA excess in mice results in disruptions in folate metabolism of the offspring, suggesting diversion of the folate cycle from methylation to DNA synthesis. Paradoxically, either intervention causes comparable neurodevelopmental changes by delaying prenatal cerebral cortical neurogenesis in favor of late-born neurons. These cytoarchitectural and biochemical alterations are accompanied by behavioral abnormalities in FA test groups compared with controls. Our findings point to overlooked potential neurodevelopmental risks associated with excessively high levels of prenatal FA intake.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Harlan De Crescenzo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Alexios A Panoutsopoulos
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Lyvin Tat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Zachary Schaaf
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Shailaja Racherla
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Lyle Henderson
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Kit-Yi Leung
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nicholas D E Greene
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ralph Green
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Konstantinos S Zarbalis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Garcia-Forn M, Boitnott A, Akpinar Z, De Rubeis S. Linking Autism Risk Genes to Disruption of Cortical Development. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112500. [PMID: 33218123 PMCID: PMC7698947 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social communication and social interaction, and the presence of repetitive behaviors and/or restricted interests. In the past few years, large-scale whole-exome sequencing and genome-wide association studies have made enormous progress in our understanding of the genetic risk architecture of ASD. While showing a complex and heterogeneous landscape, these studies have led to the identification of genetic loci associated with ASD risk. The intersection of genetic and transcriptomic analyses have also begun to shed light on functional convergences between risk genes, with the mid-fetal development of the cerebral cortex emerging as a critical nexus for ASD. In this review, we provide a concise summary of the latest genetic discoveries on ASD. We then discuss the studies in postmortem tissues, stem cell models, and rodent models that implicate recently identified ASD risk genes in cortical development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Garcia-Forn
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.G.-F.); (A.B.); (Z.A.)
- 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
| | - Andrea Boitnott
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.G.-F.); (A.B.); (Z.A.)
- 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
| | - Zeynep Akpinar
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.G.-F.); (A.B.); (Z.A.)
- 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 Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Silvia De Rubeis
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.G.-F.); (A.B.); (Z.A.)
- 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
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-212-241-0179
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
The influence of circadian rhythms and aerobic glycolysis in autism spectrum disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:400. [PMID: 33199680 PMCID: PMC7669888 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01086-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Intellectual abilities and their clinical presentations are extremely heterogeneous in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The main causes of ASD remain unclear. ASD is frequently associated with sleep disorders. Biologic rhythms are complex systems interacting with the environment and controlling several physiological pathways, including brain development and behavioral processes. Recent findings have shown that the deregulation of the core clock neurodevelopmental signaling is correlated with ASD clinical presentation. One of the main pathways involved in developmental cognitive disorders is the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway. Circadian clocks have a main role in some tissues by driving circadian expression of genes involved in physiologic and metabolic functions. In ASD, the increase of the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway is enhancing by the dysregulation of circadian rhythms. ASD progression is associated with a major metabolic reprogramming, initiated by aberrant WNT/β-catenin pathway, the aerobic glycolysis. This review focuses on the interest of circadian rhythms dysregulation in metabolic reprogramming in ASD through the aberrant upregulation of the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway.
Collapse
|
31
|
Prem S, Millonig JH, DiCicco-Bloom E. Dysregulation of Neurite Outgrowth and Cell Migration in Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 25:109-153. [PMID: 32578146 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-45493-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Despite decades of study, elucidation of the underlying etiology of complex developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia (SCZ), intellectual disability (ID), and bipolar disorder (BPD) has been hampered by the inability to study human neurons, the heterogeneity of these disorders, and the relevance of animal model systems. Moreover, a majority of these developmental disorders have multifactorial or idiopathic (unknown) causes making them difficult to model using traditional methods of genetic alteration. Examination of the brains of individuals with ASD and other developmental disorders in both post-mortem and MRI studies shows defects that are suggestive of dysregulation of embryonic and early postnatal development. For ASD, more recent genetic studies have also suggested that risk genes largely converge upon the developing human cerebral cortex between weeks 8 and 24 in utero. Yet, an overwhelming majority of studies in autism rodent models have focused on postnatal development or adult synaptic transmission defects in autism related circuits. Thus, studies looking at early developmental processes such as proliferation, cell migration, and early differentiation, which are essential to build the brain, are largely lacking. Yet, interestingly, a few studies that did assess early neurodevelopment found that alterations in brain structure and function associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) begin as early as the initial formation and patterning of the neural tube. By the early to mid-2000s, the derivation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and later induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) allowed us to study living human neural cells in culture for the first time. Specifically, iPSCs gave us the unprecedented ability to study cells derived from individuals with idiopathic disorders. Studies indicate that iPSC-derived neural cells, whether precursors or "matured" neurons, largely resemble cortical cells of embryonic humans from weeks 8 to 24. Thus, these cells are an excellent model to study early human neurodevelopment, particularly in the context of genetically complex diseases. Indeed, since 2011, numerous studies have assessed developmental phenotypes in neurons derived from individuals with both genetic and idiopathic forms of ASD and other NDDs. However, while iPSC-derived neurons are fetal in nature, they are post-mitotic and thus cannot be used to study developmental processes that occur before terminal differentiation. Moreover, it is important to note that during the 8-24-week window of human neurodevelopment, neural precursor cells are actively undergoing proliferation, migration, and early differentiation to form the basic cytoarchitecture of the brain. Thus, by studying NPCs specifically, we could gain insight into how early neurodevelopmental processes contribute to the pathogenesis of NDDs. Indeed, a few studies have explored NPC phenotypes in NDDs and have uncovered dysregulations in cell proliferation. Yet, few studies have explored migration and early differentiation phenotypes of NPCs in NDDs. In this chapter, we will discuss cell migration and neurite outgrowth and the role of these processes in neurodevelopment and NDDs. We will begin by reviewing the processes that are important in early neurodevelopment and early cortical development. We will then delve into the roles of neurite outgrowth and cell migration in the formation of the brain and how errors in these processes affect brain development. We also provide review of a few key molecules that are involved in the regulation of neurite outgrowth and migration while discussing how dysregulations in these molecules can lead to abnormalities in brain structure and function thereby highlighting their contribution to pathogenesis of NDDs. Then we will discuss whether neurite outgrowth, migration, and the molecules that regulate these processes are associated with ASD. Lastly, we will review the utility of iPSCs in modeling NDDs and discuss future goals for the study of NDDs using this technology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Smrithi Prem
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - James H Millonig
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology/Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Guo H, Zhang Q, Dai R, Yu B, Hoekzema K, Tan J, Tan S, Jia X, Chung WK, Hernan R, Alkuraya FS, Alsulaiman A, Al-Muhaizea MA, Lesca G, Pons L, Labalme A, Laux L, Bryant E, Brown NJ, Savva E, Ayres S, Eratne D, Peeters H, Bilan F, Letienne-Cejudo L, Gilbert-Dussardier B, Ruiz-Arana IL, Merlini JM, Boizot A, Bartoloni L, Santoni F, Karlowicz D, McDonald M, Wu H, Hu Z, Chen G, Ou J, Brasch-Andersen C, Fagerberg CR, Dreyer I, Chun-Hui Tsai A, Slegesky V, McGee RB, Daniels B, Sellars EA, Carpenter LA, Schaefer B, Sacoto MJG, Begtrup A, Schnur RE, Punj S, Wentzensen IM, Rhodes L, Pan Q, Bernier RA, Chen C, Eichler EE, Xia K. NCKAP1 Disruptive Variants Lead to a Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Core Features of Autism. Am J Hum Genet 2020; 107:963-976. [PMID: 33157009 PMCID: PMC7674997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
NCKAP1/NAP1 regulates neuronal cytoskeletal dynamics and is essential for neuronal differentiation in the developing brain. Deleterious variants in NCKAP1 have been identified in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability; however, its clinical significance remains unclear. To determine its significance, we assemble genotype and phenotype data for 21 affected individuals from 20 unrelated families with predicted deleterious variants in NCKAP1. This includes 16 individuals with de novo (n = 8), transmitted (n = 6), or inheritance unknown (n = 2) truncating variants, two individuals with structural variants, and three with potentially disruptive de novo missense variants. We report a de novo and ultra-rare deleterious variant burden of NCKAP1 in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders which needs further replication. ASD or autistic features, language and motor delay, and variable expression of intellectual or learning disability are common clinical features. Among inherited cases, there is evidence of deleterious variants segregating with neuropsychiatric disorders. Based on available human brain transcriptomic data, we show that NCKAP1 is broadly and highly expressed in both prenatal and postnatal periods and demostrate enriched expression in excitatory neurons and radial glias but depleted expression in inhibitory neurons. Mouse in utero electroporation experiments reveal that Nckap1 loss of function promotes neuronal migration during early cortical development. Combined, these data support a role for disruptive NCKAP1 variants in neurodevelopmental delay/autism, possibly by interfering with neuronal migration early in cortical development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Guo
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China; Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| | - Qiumeng Zhang
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Rujia Dai
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China; Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Bin Yu
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Kendra Hoekzema
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jieqiong Tan
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Senwei Tan
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Xiangbin Jia
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Wendy K Chung
- Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Rebecca Hernan
- Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Fowzan S Alkuraya
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahood Alsulaiman
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad A Al-Muhaizea
- Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gaetan Lesca
- Department of Medical Genetics, Lyon University Hospital, Lyon 69000, France
| | - Linda Pons
- Department of Medical Genetics, Lyon University Hospital, Lyon 69000, France
| | - Audrey Labalme
- Department of Medical Genetics, Lyon University Hospital, Lyon 69000, France
| | - Linda Laux
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Emily Bryant
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Natasha J Brown
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Elena Savva
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Samantha Ayres
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Dhamidhu Eratne
- Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Neuropsychiatry, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Hilde Peeters
- Centre for Human Genetics, KU Leuven and Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Bilan
- Service de Génétique, CHU de Poitiers, Poitiers 86000, France
| | | | | | - Inge-Lore Ruiz-Arana
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Jenny Meylan Merlini
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Alexia Boizot
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Lucia Bartoloni
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Federico Santoni
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland; Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1005, Switzerland
| | - Danielle Karlowicz
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Marie McDonald
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Huidan Wu
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Zhengmao Hu
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Guodong Chen
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Jianjun Ou
- Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | | | | | - Inken Dreyer
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Sønderjylland, Aabenraa 6200, Denmark
| | - Anne Chun-Hui Tsai
- Department of Pediatrics/Section of Genetics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, OK 73019, USA; Section of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Valerie Slegesky
- Section of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Rose B McGee
- Division of Cancer Predisposition, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brina Daniels
- Section of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72701, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Sellars
- Section of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72701, USA
| | - Lori A Carpenter
- Saint Francis Health System, Inc. St Francis Health Systems, Tulsa, OK 74101, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Qian Pan
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Chao Chen
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Evan E Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Kun Xia
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligences Technology (CEBSIT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Ramírez-Jarquín UN, Shahani N, Pryor W, Usiello A, Subramaniam S. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase mediates haloperidol-induced cataleptic behavior. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:336. [PMID: 33009372 PMCID: PMC7532208 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01014-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase protein complex (mTORC1 or mTORC2) that orchestrates diverse functions ranging from embryonic development to aging. However, its brain tissue-specific roles remain less explored. Here, we have identified that the depletion of the mTOR gene in the mice striatum completely prevented the extrapyramidal motor side effects (catalepsy) induced by the dopamine 2 receptor (D2R) antagonist haloperidol, which is the most widely used typical antipsychotic drug. Conversely, a lack of striatal mTOR in mice did not affect catalepsy triggered by the dopamine 1 receptor (D1R) antagonist SCH23390. Along with the lack of cataleptic effects, the administration of haloperidol in mTOR mutants failed to increase striatal phosphorylation levels of ribosomal protein pS6 (S235/236) as seen in control animals. To confirm the observations of the genetic approach, we used a pharmacological method and determined that the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin has a profound influence upon post-synaptic D2R-dependent functions. We consistently found that pretreatment with rapamycin entirely prevented (in a time-dependent manner) the haloperidol-induced catalepsy, and pS6K (T389) and pS6 (S235/236) signaling upregulation, in wild-type mice. Collectively, our data indicate that striatal mTORC1 blockade may offer therapeutic benefits with regard to the prevention of D2R-dependent extrapyramidal motor side effects of haloperidol in psychiatric illness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uri Nimrod Ramírez-Jarquín
- grid.214007.00000000122199231Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida, Jupiter, Florida 33458 USA
| | - Neelam Shahani
- grid.214007.00000000122199231Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida, Jupiter, Florida 33458 USA
| | - William Pryor
- grid.214007.00000000122199231Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida, Jupiter, Florida 33458 USA
| | - Alessandro Usiello
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888Department of Environmental, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy ,grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XLaboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Srinivasa Subramaniam
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Florida, Jupiter, Florida, 33458, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Chan WK, Griffiths R, Price DJ, Mason JO. Cerebral organoids as tools to identify the developmental roots of autism. Mol Autism 2020; 11:58. [PMID: 32660622 PMCID: PMC7359249 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00360-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Some autism spectrum disorders (ASD) likely arise as a result of abnormalities during early embryonic development of the brain. Studying human embryonic brain development directly is challenging, mainly due to ethical and practical constraints. However, the recent development of cerebral organoids provides a powerful tool for studying both normal human embryonic brain development and, potentially, the origins of neurodevelopmental disorders including ASD. Substantial evidence now indicates that cerebral organoids can mimic normal embryonic brain development and neural cells found in organoids closely resemble their in vivo counterparts. However, with prolonged culture, significant differences begin to arise. We suggest that cerebral organoids, in their current form, are most suitable to model earlier neurodevelopmental events and processes such as neurogenesis and cortical lamination. Processes implicated in ASDs which occur at later stages of development, such as synaptogenesis and neural circuit formation, may also be modeled using organoids. The accuracy of such models will benefit from continuous improvements to protocols for organoid differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wai Kit Chan
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Rosie Griffiths
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - David J Price
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - John O Mason
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Breen MS, Browne A, Hoffman GE, Stathopoulos S, Brennand K, Buxbaum JD, Drapeau E. Transcriptional signatures of participant-derived neural progenitor cells and neurons implicate altered Wnt signaling in Phelan-McDermid syndrome and autism. Mol Autism 2020; 11:53. [PMID: 32560742 PMCID: PMC7304190 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00355-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) is a rare genetic disorder with high risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, and language delay, and is caused by 22q13.3 deletions or mutations in the SHANK3 gene. To date, the molecular and pathway changes resulting from SHANK3 haploinsufficiency in PMS remain poorly understood. Uncovering these mechanisms is critical for understanding pathobiology of PMS and, ultimately, for the development of new therapeutic interventions. METHODS We developed human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-based models of PMS by reprogramming peripheral blood samples from individuals with PMS (n = 7) and their unaffected siblings (n = 6). For each participant, up to three hiPSC clones were generated and differentiated into induced neural progenitor cells (hiPSC-NPCs; n = 39) and induced forebrain neurons (hiPSC-neurons; n = 41). Genome-wide RNA-sequencing was applied to explore transcriptional differences between PMS probands and unaffected siblings. RESULTS Transcriptome analyses identified 391 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in hiPSC-NPCs and 82 DEGs in hiPSC-neurons, when comparing cells from PMS probands and unaffected siblings (FDR < 5%). Genes under-expressed in PMS were implicated in Wnt signaling, embryonic development, and protein translation, while over-expressed genes were enriched for pre- and postsynaptic density genes, regulation of synaptic plasticity, and G-protein-gated potassium channel activity. Gene co-expression network analysis identified two modules in hiPSC-neurons that were over-expressed in PMS, implicating postsynaptic signaling and GDP binding, and both modules harbored a significant enrichment of genetic risk loci for developmental delay and intellectual disability. Finally, PMS-associated genes were integrated with other ASD hiPSC transcriptome findings and several points of convergence were identified, indicating altered Wnt signaling and extracellular matrix. LIMITATIONS Given the rarity of the condition, we could not carry out experimental validation in independent biological samples. In addition, functional and morphological phenotypes caused by loss of SHANK3 were not characterized here. CONCLUSIONS This is the largest human neural sample analyzed in PMS. Genome-wide RNA-sequencing in hiPSC-derived neural cells from individuals with PMS revealed both shared and distinct transcriptional signatures across hiPSC-NPCs and hiPSC-neurons, including many genes implicated in risk for ASD, as well as specific neurobiological pathways, including the Wnt pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Breen
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Andrew Browne
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Gabriel E Hoffman
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Sofia Stathopoulos
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Kristen Brennand
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
| | - Elodie Drapeau
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Courchesne E, Gazestani VH, Lewis NE. Prenatal Origins of ASD: The When, What, and How of ASD Development. Trends Neurosci 2020; 43:326-342. [PMID: 32353336 PMCID: PMC7373219 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a largely heritable, multistage prenatal disorder that impacts a child's ability to perceive and react to social information. Most ASD risk genes are expressed prenatally in many ASD-relevant brain regions and fall into two categories: broadly expressed regulatory genes that are expressed in the brain and other organs, and brain-specific genes. In trimesters one to three (Epoch-1), one set of broadly expressed (the majority) and brain-specific risk genes disrupts cell proliferation, neurogenesis, migration, and cell fate, while in trimester three and early postnatally (Epoch-2) another set (the majority being brain specific) disrupts neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, and the 'wiring' of the cortex. A proposed model is that upstream, highly interconnected regulatory ASD gene mutations disrupt transcriptional programs or signaling pathways resulting in dysregulation of downstream processes such as proliferation, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and neural activity. Dysregulation of signaling pathways is correlated with ASD social symptom severity. Since the majority of ASD risk genes are broadly expressed, many ASD individuals may benefit by being treated as having a broader medical disorder. An important future direction is the noninvasive study of ASD cell biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Courchesne
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Autism Center of Excellence, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Vahid H Gazestani
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Autism Center of Excellence, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nathan E Lewis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Gao J, Liao Y, Qiu M, Shen W. Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Neural Stem Cell Homeostasis and Neurological Diseases. Neuroscientist 2020; 27:58-72. [PMID: 32242761 DOI: 10.1177/1073858420914509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) maintain the ability of self-renewal and differentiation and compose the complex nervous system. Wnt signaling is thought to control the balance of NSC proliferation and differentiation via the transcriptional coactivator β-catenin during brain development and adult tissue homeostasis. Disruption of Wnt signaling may result in developmental defects and neurological diseases. Here, we summarize recent findings of the roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling components in NSC homeostasis for the regulation of functional brain circuits. We also suggest that the potential role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling might lead to new therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases, including, but not limited to, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juanmei Gao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,College of Life and Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuan Liao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengsheng Qiu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,College of Life and Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wanhua Shen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Skelton PD, Stan RV, Luikart BW. The Role of PTEN in Neurodevelopment. MOLECULAR NEUROPSYCHIATRY 2020; 5:60-71. [PMID: 32399470 PMCID: PMC7206585 DOI: 10.1159/000504782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PTEN is a lipid and protein phosphatase that regulates cell growth and survival. Mutations to PTEN are highly penetrant for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we briefly review the evidence linking PTEN mutations to ASD and the mouse models that have been used to study the role of PTEN in neurodevelopment. We then focus on the cellular phenotypes associated with PTEN loss in neurons, highlighting the role PTEN plays in neuronal proliferation, migration, survival, morphology, and plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick D. Skelton
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Radu V. Stan
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Bryan W. Luikart
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Zhang W, Ma L, Yang M, Shao Q, Xu J, Lu Z, Zhao Z, Chen R, Chai Y, Chen JF. Cerebral organoid and mouse models reveal a RAB39b-PI3K-mTOR pathway-dependent dysregulation of cortical development leading to macrocephaly/autism phenotypes. Genes Dev 2020; 34:580-597. [PMID: 32115408 PMCID: PMC7111266 DOI: 10.1101/gad.332494.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of early neurodevelopment is implicated in macrocephaly/autism disorders. However, the mechanism underlying this dysregulation, particularly in human cells, remains poorly understood. Mutations in the small GTPase gene RAB39b are associated with X-linked macrocephaly, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and intellectual disability. The in vivo roles of RAB39b in the brain remain unknown. We generated Rab39b knockout (KO) mice and found that they exhibited cortical neurogenesis impairment, macrocephaly, and hallmark ASD behaviors, which resembled patient phenotypes. We also produced mutant human cerebral organoids that were substantially enlarged due to the overproliferation and impaired differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs), which resemble neurodevelopmental deficits in KO mice. Mechanistic studies reveal that RAB39b interacts with PI3K components and its deletion promotes PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling in NPCs of mouse cortex and cerebral organoids. The mTOR activity is robustly enhanced in mutant outer radial glia cells (oRGs), a subtype of NPCs barely detectable in rodents but abundant in human brains. Inhibition of AKT signaling rescued enlarged organoid sizes and NPC overproliferation caused by RAB39b mutations. Therefore, RAB39b mutation promotes PI3K-AKT-mTOR activity and alters cortical neurogenesis, leading to macrocephaly and autistic-like behaviors. Our studies provide new insights into neurodevelopmental dysregulation and common pathways associated with ASD across species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
| | - Li Ma
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
| | - Mei Yang
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
| | - Qiang Shao
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
| | - Jian Xu
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
| | - Zhipeng Lu
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
| | - Rong Chen
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
| | - Yang Chai
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
| | - Jian-Fu Chen
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Alsabban AH, Morikawa M, Tanaka Y, Takei Y, Hirokawa N. Kinesin Kif3b mutation reduces NMDAR subunit NR2A trafficking and causes schizophrenia-like phenotypes in mice. EMBO J 2020; 39:e101090. [PMID: 31746486 PMCID: PMC6939202 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2018101090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The transport of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) is crucial for neuronal plasticity and synapse formation. Here, we show that KIF3B, a member of the kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs), supports the transport of vesicles simultaneously containing NMDAR subunit 2A (NR2A) and the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) complex. Kif3b+/- neurons exhibited a reduction in dendritic levels of both NR2A and NR2B due to the impaired transport of NR2A and increased degradation of NR2B. In Kif3b+/- hippocampal slices, electrophysiological NMDAR response was found decreased and synaptic plasticity was disrupted, which corresponded to a common feature of schizophrenia (SCZ). The histological features of Kif3b+/- mouse brain also mimicked SCZ features, and Kif3b+/- mice exhibited behavioral defects in prepulse inhibition (PPI), social interest, and cognitive flexibility. Indeed, a mutation of KIF3B was specifically identified in human SCZ patients, which was revealed to be functionally defective in a rescue experiment. Therefore, we propose that KIF3B transports NR2A/APC complex and that its dysfunction is responsible for SCZ pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashwaq Hassan Alsabban
- Department of Cell Biology and AnatomyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
- Department of Biological ScienceFaculty of SciencesKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
- Unit of Neurological DisordersDepartment of Genetic MedicineFaculty of MedicinePrincess Al‐Jawhara Center of Excellence in Research of Hereditary Disorders (PACER.HD)King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | - Momo Morikawa
- Department of Cell Biology and AnatomyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Yosuke Tanaka
- Department of Cell Biology and AnatomyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Yosuke Takei
- Department of Cell Biology and AnatomyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
- Department of Anatomy and NeuroscienceFaculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaIbarakiJapan
| | - Nobutaka Hirokawa
- Department of Cell Biology and AnatomyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
- Center of Excellence in Genome Medicine ResearchKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Skelton PD, Poquerusse J, Salinaro JR, Li M, Luikart BW. Activity-dependent dendritic elaboration requires Pten. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104703. [PMID: 31838155 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pten, a gene associated with autism spectrum disorder, is an upstream regulator of receptor tyrosine kinase intracellular signaling pathways that mediate extracellular cues to inform cellular development and activity-dependent plasticity. We therefore hypothesized that Pten loss would interfere with activity dependent dendritic growth. We investigated the effects of this interaction on the maturation of retrovirally labeled postnatally generated wild-type and Pten knockout granule neurons in male and female mouse dentate gyrus while using chemogenetics to manipulate the activity of the perforant path afferents. We find that enhancing network activity accelerates the dendritic outgrowth of wild-type, but not Pten knockout, neurons. This was specific to immature neurons during an early developmental window. We also examined synaptic connectivity and physiological measures of neuron maturation. The input resistance, membrane capacitance, dendritic spine morphology, and frequency of spontaneous synaptic events were not differentially altered by activity in wild-type versus Pten knockout neurons. Therefore, Pten and its downstream signaling pathways regulate the activity-dependent sculpting of the dendritic arbor during neuronal maturation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick D Skelton
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, United States
| | - Jessie Poquerusse
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, United States
| | - Julia R Salinaro
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, United States
| | - Meijie Li
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, United States
| | - Bryan W Luikart
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Pten haploinsufficiency disrupts scaling across brain areas during development in mice. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:329. [PMID: 31804455 PMCID: PMC6895202 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0656-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Haploinsufficiency for PTEN is a cause of autism spectrum disorder and brain overgrowth; however, it is not known if PTEN mutations disrupt scaling across brain areas during development. To address this question, we used magnetic resonance imaging to analyze brains of male Pten haploinsufficient (Pten+/-) mice and wild-type littermates during early postnatal development and adulthood. Adult Pten+/- mice display a consistent pattern of abnormal scaling across brain areas, with white matter (WM) areas being particularly affected. This regional and WM enlargement recapitulates structural abnormalities found in individuals with PTEN haploinsufficiency and autism. Early postnatal Pten+/- mice do not display the same pattern, instead exhibiting greater variability across mice and brain regions than controls. This suggests that Pten haploinsufficiency may desynchronize growth across brain regions during early development before stabilizing by maturity. Pten+/- cortical cultures display increased proliferation of glial cell populations, indicating a potential substrate of WM enlargement, and provide a platform for testing candidate therapeutics. Pten haploinsufficiency dysregulates coordinated growth across brain regions during development. This results in abnormally scaled brain areas and associated behavioral deficits, potentially explaining the relationship between PTEN mutations and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
|
43
|
Rademacher S, Eickholt BJ. PTEN in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2019; 9:cshperspect.a036780. [PMID: 31427284 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a036780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a classical tumor suppressor that antagonizes phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling. Although there is a strong association of PTEN germline mutations with cancer syndromes, they have also been described in a subset of patients with autism spectrum disorders with macrocephaly characterized by impairments in social interactions and communication, repetitive behavior and, occasionally, epilepsy. To investigate PTEN's role during neurodevelopment and its implication for autism, several conditional Pten knockout mouse models have been generated. These models are valuable tools to understand PTEN's spatiotemporal roles during neurodevelopment. In this review, we will highlight the anatomical and phenotypic results from animal studies and link them to cellular and molecular findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Rademacher
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Britta J Eickholt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Pten loss results in inappropriate excitatory connectivity. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:1627-1640. [PMID: 30967683 PMCID: PMC6785382 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0412-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Pten mutations are associated with autism spectrum disorder. Pten loss of function in neurons increases excitatory synaptic connectivity, contributing to an imbalance between excitation and inhibition. We aimed to determine whether Pten loss results in aberrant connectivity in neural circuits. We compared postnatally generated wild-type and Pten knockout granule neurons integrating into the dentate gyrus using a variety of methods to examine their connectivity. We found that postsynaptic Pten loss provides an advantage to dendritic spines in competition over a limited pool of presynaptic boutons. Retrograde monosynaptic tracing with rabies virus reveals that this results in synaptic contact with more presynaptic partners. Using independently excitable opsins to interrogate multiple inputs onto a single neuron, we found that excess connectivity is established indiscriminately from among glutamatergic afferents. Therefore, Pten loss results in inappropriate connectivity whereby neurons are coupled to a greater number of synaptic partners.
Collapse
|
45
|
Andries L, De Groef L, Moons L. Neuroinflammation and Optic Nerve Regeneration: Where Do We Stand in Elucidating Underlying Cellular and Molecular Players? Curr Eye Res 2019; 45:397-409. [PMID: 31567007 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2019.1669664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system (CNS) trauma are highly irreversible, in part because adult mammals lack a robust regenerative capacity. A multifactorial problem underlies the limited axonal regeneration potential. Strikingly, neuroinflammation seems able to induce axonal regrowth in the adult mammalian CNS. It is increasingly clear that both blood-borne and resident inflammatory cells as well as reactivated glial cells affect axonal regeneration. The scope of this review is to give a comprehensive overview of the knowledge that links inflammation (with a focus on the innate immune system) to axonal regeneration and to critically reflect on the controversy that still prevails about the cells, molecules and pathways that are dominating the scene. Also, a brief overview is given of what is already known about the crosstalk between and the heterogeneity of cell types that might play a role in axonal regeneration. Recent research indicates that inflammation-induced axonal regrowth is not solely driven by a single-cell population but probably relies on the crosstalk between multiple cell types and the strong regulation of these cell populations in time and space. Moreover, there is growing evidence that the different cell populations are highly heterogeneous and as such can react differently upon injury. This could explain the controversial results that have been obtained over the past years. The primary focus of this manuscript is the retinofugal system of adult mammals, however, when relevant, insights or examples of the spontaneous regenerating zebrafish model and spinal cord research are added.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lien Andries
- Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Huang WC, Chen Y, Page DT. Genetic Suppression of mTOR Rescues Synaptic and Social Behavioral Abnormalities in a Mouse Model of Pten Haploinsufficiency. Autism Res 2019; 12:1463-1471. [PMID: 31441226 PMCID: PMC7141489 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Heterozygous mutations in PTEN, which encodes a negative regulator of the mTOR and β-catenin signaling pathways, cause macrocephaly/autism syndrome. However, the neurobiological substrates of the core symptoms of this syndrome are poorly understood. Here, we investigate the relationship between cerebral cortical overgrowth and social behavior deficits in conditional Pten heterozygous female mice (Pten cHet) using Emx1-Cre, which is expressed in cortical pyramidal neurons and a subset of glia. We found that conditional heterozygous mutation of Ctnnb1 (encoding β-catenin) suppresses Pten cHet cortical overgrowth, but not social behavioral deficits, whereas conditional heterozygous mutation of Mtor suppresses social behavioral deficits, but not cortical overgrowth. Neuronal activity in response to social cues and excitatory synapse markers are elevated in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of Pten cHet mice, and heterozygous mutation in Mtor, but not Ctnnb1, rescues these phenotypes. These findings indicate that macroscale cerebral cortical overgrowth and social behavioral phenotypes caused by Pten haploinsufficiency can be dissociated based on responsiveness to genetic suppression of Ctnnb1 or Mtor. Furthermore, neuronal connectivity appears to be one potential substrate for mTOR-mediated suppression of social behavioral deficits in Pten haploinsufficient mice. Autism Res 2019, 12: 1463-1471. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: A subgroup of individuals with autism display overgrowth of the head and the brain during development. Using a mouse model of an autism risk gene, Pten, that displays both brain overgrowth and social behavioral deficits, we show here that that these two symptoms can be dissociated. Reversal of social behavioral deficits in this model is associated with rescue of abnormal synaptic markers and neuronal activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Chin Huang
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida
- The Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California
| | - Youjun Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Damon T Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida
- The Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
The reliability of the isotropic fractionator method for counting total cells and neurons. J Neurosci Methods 2019; 326:108392. [PMID: 31394117 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.108392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Isotropic Fractionator (IF) is a method to determine the cellular composition of nervous tissue. It has been mostly applied to assess variation across species, where differences are expected to be large enough not to be masked by methodological error. However, understanding the sources of variation in the method is important if the goal is to detect smaller differences, for example, in same-species comparisons. Comparisons between different mice strains suggest that the IF is consistent enough to detect these differences. Nevertheless, the reliability of the method has not yet been examined directly. METHOD In this study, we evaluate the reliability of the method for the determination of cellular and neuronal numbers of Swiss mice. We performed repeated cell counts of the same material by different experimenters to quantify different sources of variation. RESULTS In total cell counts, we observed that for the cerebral cortex most of the variance was at the counter level. For the cerebellum, most of the variance is attributed to the sample itself. As for neurons, random error along with the immunostaining correspond to most of the variation, both in the cerebral cortex and in the cerebellum. Test-retest reliability coefficients were relatively high, especially for cell counts. CONCLUSIONS Although biases between counters and random variation in staining could be problematic when aggregating data from different sources, we offer practical suggestions to improve the reliability of the method. While small, this study is a most needed step towards more precise measurement of the brain's cellular composition.
Collapse
|
48
|
Saiepour MH, Min R, Kamphuis W, Heimel JA, Levelt CN. β-Catenin in the Adult Visual Cortex Regulates NMDA-Receptor Function and Visual Responses. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:1183-1194. [PMID: 28184425 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation, plasticity and maintenance of synaptic connections is regulated by molecular and electrical signals. β-Catenin is an important protein in these events and regulates cadherin-mediated cell adhesion and the recruitment of pre- and postsynaptic proteins in an activity-dependent fashion. Mutations in the β-catenin gene can cause cognitive disability and autism, with life-long consequences. Understanding its synaptic function may thus be relevant for the treatment of these disorders. So far, β-catenin's function has been studied predominantly in cell culture and during development but knowledge on its function in adulthood is limited. Here, we show that ablating β-catenin in excitatory neurons of the adult visual cortex does not cause the same synaptic deficits previously observed during development. Instead, it reduces NMDA-receptor currents and impairs visual processing. We conclude that β-catenin remains important for adult cortical function but through different mechanisms than during development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Hadi Saiepour
- Department of Molecular Visual Plasticity, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rogier Min
- Department of Molecular Visual Plasticity, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Willem Kamphuis
- Department of Molecular Visual Plasticity, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - J Alexander Heimel
- Department of Molecular Visual Plasticity, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Christiaan N Levelt
- Department of Molecular Visual Plasticity, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Kuhlwilm M, Boeckx C. A catalog of single nucleotide changes distinguishing modern humans from archaic hominins. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8463. [PMID: 31186485 PMCID: PMC6560109 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44877-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout the past decade, studying ancient genomes has provided unique insights into human prehistory, and differences between modern humans and other branches like Neanderthals can enrich our understanding of the molecular basis of unique modern human traits. Modern human variation and the interactions between different hominin lineages are now well studied, making it reasonable to go beyond fixed genetic changes and explore changes that are observed at high frequency in present-day humans. Here, we identify 571 genes with non-synonymous changes at high frequency. We suggest that molecular mechanisms in cell division and networks affecting cellular features of neurons were prominently modified by these changes. Complex phenotypes in brain growth trajectory and cognitive traits are likely influenced by these networks and other non-coding changes presented here. We propose that at least some of these changes contributed to uniquely human traits, and should be prioritized for experimental validation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kuhlwilm
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), PRBB, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cedric Boeckx
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.
- University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- UB Institute of Complex Systems, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Vallée A, Vallée JN, Lecarpentier Y. PPARγ agonists: potential treatment for autism spectrum disorder by inhibiting the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:643-652. [PMID: 30104725 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0131-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by a deficit in social interactions and communication with repetitive and restrictive behavior. No curative treatments are available for ASD. Pharmacological treatments do not address the core ASD behaviors, but target comorbid symptoms. Dysregulation of the core neurodevelopmental pathways is associated with the clinical presentation of ASD, and the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway is one of the major pathways involved. The canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway participates in the development of the central nervous system, and its dysregulation involves developmental cognitive disorders. In numerous tissues, the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) act in an opposed manner. In ASD, the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway is increased while PPARγ seems to be decreased. PPARγ agonists present a beneficial effect in treatment for ASD children through their anti-inflammatory role. Moreover, they induce the inhibition of the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway in several pathophysiological states. We focus this review on the hypothesis of an opposed interplay between PPARγ and the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway in ASD and the potential role of PPARγ agonists as treatment for ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Vallée
- Paris-Descartes University; Diagnosis and Therapeutic Center, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital; AP-HP, Paris, France. .,Laboratoire de Mathématiques et Applications (LMA), UMR CNRS 7348, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France.
| | - Jean-Noël Vallée
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Amiens Picardie, Université Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV), 80054, Amiens, France.,Laboratoire de Mathématiques et Applications (LMA), UMR CNRS 7348, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Yves Lecarpentier
- Centre de Recherche Clinique, Grand Hôpital de l'Est Francilien (GHEF), 6-8 rue Saint-fiacre, 77100, Meaux, France
| |
Collapse
|