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Ahmad M, Ríos-Anillo MR, Acosta-López JE, Cervantes-Henríquez ML, Martínez-Banfi M, Pineda-Alhucema W, Puentes-Rozo P, Sánchez-Barros C, Pinzón A, Patel HR, Vélez JI, Villarreal-Camacho JL, Pineda DA, Arcos-Burgos M, Sánchez-Rojas M. Uncovering the Genetic and Molecular Features of Huntington's Disease in Northern Colombia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16154. [PMID: 38003344 PMCID: PMC10671691 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. Juan de Acosta, Atlántico, a city located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, is home to the world's second-largest HD pedigree. Here, we include 291 descendants of this pedigree with at least one family member with HD. Blood samples were collected, and genomic DNA was extracted. We quantified the HTT CAG expansion using an amplicon sequencing protocol. The genetic heterogeneity was measured as the ratio of the mosaicism allele's read peak and the slippage ratio of the allele's read peak from our sequence data. The statistical and bioinformatic analyses were performed with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. We found that the average HTT CAG repeat length in all participants was 21.91 (SD = 8.92). Of the 291 participants, 33 (11.3%, 18 females) had a positive molecular diagnosis for HD. Most affected individuals were adults, and the most common primary and secondary alleles were 17/7 (CAG/CCG) and 17/10 (CAG/CCG), respectively. The mosaicism increased with age in the participants with HD, while the slippage analyses revealed differences by the HD allele type only for the secondary allele. The slippage tended to increase with the HTT CAG repeat length in the participants with HD, but the increase was not statistically significant. This study analyzed the genetic and molecular features of 291 participants, including 33 with HD. We found that the mosaicism increased with age in the participants with HD, particularly for the secondary allele. The most common haplotype was 17/7_17/10. The slippage for the secondary allele varied by the HD allele type, but there was no significant difference in the slippage by sex. Our findings offer valuable insights into HD and could have implications for future research and clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostapha Ahmad
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Life Science Research Center, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
| | - Margarita R Ríos-Anillo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Life Science Research Center, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Médica Residente de Neurología, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
| | - Johan E Acosta-López
- Life Science Research Center, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
| | - Martha L Cervantes-Henríquez
- Life Science Research Center, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
| | - Martha Martínez-Banfi
- Life Science Research Center, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
| | - Wilmar Pineda-Alhucema
- Life Science Research Center, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
| | - Pedro Puentes-Rozo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Life Science Research Center, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Grupo de Neurociencias del Caribe, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla 080001, Colombia
| | - Cristian Sánchez-Barros
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Life Science Research Center, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Clínica Palma de Mallorca, Hospital Juaneda Miramar, Islas Baleares, 07011 Palma, Spain
| | - Andrés Pinzón
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Laboratory, Institute for Genetics, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota 111321, Colombia
| | - Hardip R Patel
- National Centre for Indigenous Genomics, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Jorge I Vélez
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 081007, Colombia
| | - José Luis Villarreal-Camacho
- Programa de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Libre Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla 081007, Colombia
| | - David A Pineda
- Grupo de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Conducta, Universidad de San Buenaventura, Medellin 050010, Colombia
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin 050010, Colombia
| | - Mauricio Arcos-Burgos
- Grupo de Investigación en Psiquiatría (GIPSI), Departamento de Psiquiatría, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin 050010, Colombia
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Rojas
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
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Cho IK, Easley CA, Chan AWS. Suppression of trinucleotide repeat expansion in spermatogenic cells in Huntington's disease. J Assist Reprod Genet 2022; 39:2413-2430. [PMID: 36066723 PMCID: PMC9596677 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-022-02594-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trinucleotide repeats (TNRs) are dispersed throughout the human genome. About 20 loci are related to human diseases, such as Huntington's disease (HD). A larger TNR instability is predominantly observed in the paternal germ cells in some TNR disorders. Suppressing the expansion during spermatogenesis can provide a unique opportunity to end the vicious cycle of genetic anticipation. Here, using an in vitro differentiation method to derive advanced spermatogenic cells, we investigated the efficacy of two therapeutic agents, araC (cytarabine) and aspirin, on stabilizing TNRs in spermatogenic cells. Two WT patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines and two HD hiPSC lines, with 44 Q and 180 Q, were differentiated into spermatogonial stem cell-like cells (SSCLCs). Both HD cell lines showed CAG tract expansion in SSCLC. When treated with araC and aspirin, HD1 showed moderate but not statistically significant stabilization of TNR. In HD2, 10 nM of aspirin and araC showed significant stabilization of TNR. All cell lines showed increased DNA damage response (DDR) gene expression in SSCLCs while more genes were significantly induced in HD SSCLC. In HD1, araC and aspirin treatment showed general suppression of DNA damage response genes. In HD2, only FAN1, OGG1, and PCNA showed significant suppression. When the methylation profile of HD cells was analyzed, FAN1 and OGG1 showed significant hypermethylation after the aspirin and araC treatment in SSCLC compared to the control. This study underscores the utility of our in vitro spermatogenesis model to study and develop therapies for TNR disorders such as HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- In K Cho
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
- Environmental Health Science and Regenerative Bioscience Center, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Edgar L. Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Science RM 432, 425 River Rd, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Charles A Easley
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Anthony W S Chan
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center of Scientific Review (CSR), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
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3
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Cho IK, Clever F, Hong G, Chan AWS. CAG Repeat Instability in the Peripheral and Central Nervous System of Transgenic Huntington’s Disease Monkeys. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081863. [PMID: 36009409 PMCID: PMC9405741 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disease that results in severe neurodegeneration with no cure. HD is caused by the expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat (TNR) on the Huntingtin gene (HTT). Although the somatic and germline expansion of the CAG repeats has been well-documented, the underlying mechanisms had not been fully delineated. Increased CAG repeat length is associated with a more severe phenotype, greater TNR instability, and earlier age of onset. The direct relationship between CAG repeat length and molecular pathogenesis makes TNR instability a useful measure of symptom severity and tissue susceptibility. Thus, we examined the tissue-specific TNR instability of transgenic nonhuman primate models of Huntington’s disease. Our data show a similar profile of CAG repeat expansion in both rHD1 and rHD7, where high instability was observed in testis, liver, caudate, and putamen. CAG repeat expansion was observed in all tissue samples, and tissue- and CAG repeat size-dependent expansion was observed. Correlation analysis of CAG repeat expansion and the gene expression profile of four genes in different tissues, clusterin (CLU), transferrin (TF), ribosomal protein lateral stalk subunit P1 (RPLP1), and ribosomal protein L13a (RPL13A), showed a strong correlation with CAG repeat instability. Overall, our data, along with previously published studies, can be used for studying the biology of CAG repeat instability and identifying new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- In K. Cho
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (F.C.); (G.H.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Faye Clever
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (F.C.); (G.H.)
| | - Gordon Hong
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (F.C.); (G.H.)
| | - Anthony W. S. Chan
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (F.C.); (G.H.)
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Lawlor M, Zigo M, Kerns K, Cho IK, Easley IV CA, Sutovsky P. Spermatozoan Metabolism as a Non-Traditional Model for the Study of Huntington’s Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137163. [PMID: 35806166 PMCID: PMC9266437 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a fatal autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease manifested through motor dysfunction and cognitive deficits. Decreased fertility is also observed in HD animal models and HD male patients, due to altered spermatogenesis and sperm function, thus resulting in reduced fertilization potential. Although some pharmaceuticals are currently utilized to mitigate HD symptoms, an effective treatment that remedies the pathogenesis of the disease is yet to be approved by the FDA. Identification of genes and relevant diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic target pathways including glycolysis and mitochondrial complex-I-dependent respiration may be advantageous for early diagnosis, management, and treatment of the disease. This review addresses the HD pathway in neuronal and sperm metabolism, including relevant gene and protein expression in both neurons and spermatozoa, indicated in the pathogenesis of HD. Furthermore, zinc-containing and zinc-interacting proteins regulate and/or are regulated by zinc ion homeostasis in both neurons and spermatozoa. Therefore, this review also aims to explore the comparative role of zinc in both neuronal and sperm function. Ongoing studies aim to characterize the products of genes implicated in HD pathogenesis that are expressed in both neurons and spermatozoa to facilitate studies of future treatment avenues in HD and HD-related male infertility. The emerging link between zinc homeostasis and the HD pathway could lead to new treatments and diagnostic methods linking genetic sperm defects with somatic comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Lawlor
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
| | - Michal Zigo
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
| | - Karl Kerns
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - In Ki Cho
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (I.K.C.); (C.A.E.IV)
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Charles A. Easley IV
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (I.K.C.); (C.A.E.IV)
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Peter Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(573)-882-3329
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5
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Zigo M, Kerns K, Sen S, Essien C, Oko R, Xu D, Sutovsky P. Zinc is a master-regulator of sperm function associated with binding, motility, and metabolic modulation during porcine sperm capacitation. Commun Biol 2022; 5:538. [PMID: 35660793 PMCID: PMC9166710 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03485-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm capacitation is a post-testicular maturation step endowing spermatozoa with fertilizing capacity within the female reproductive tract, significant for fertility, reproductive health, and contraception. Recently discovered mammalian sperm zinc signatures and their changes during sperm in vitro capacitation (IVC) warranted a more in-depth study of zinc interacting proteins (further zincoproteins). Here, we identified 1752 zincoproteins, with 102 changing significantly in abundance (P < 0.05) after IVC. These are distributed across 8 molecular functions, 16 biological processes, and 22 protein classes representing 130 pathways. Two key, paradigm-shifting observations were made: i) during sperm capacitation, molecular functions of zincoproteins are both upregulated and downregulated within several molecular function categories; and ii) Huntington's and Parkinson's disease pathways were the two most represented, making spermatozoon a candidate model for studying neurodegenerative diseases. These findings highlight the importance of Zn2+ homeostasis in reproduction, offering new avenues in semen processing for human-assisted reproductive therapy, identification of somatic-reproductive comorbidities, and livestock breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Zigo
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| | - Karl Kerns
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Sidharth Sen
- Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - Clement Essien
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Richard Oko
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3 N6, Canada
| | - Dong Xu
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Peter Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
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Chuang CL, Demontis F. Systemic manifestation and contribution of peripheral tissues to Huntington's disease pathogenesis. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 69:101358. [PMID: 33979693 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease that is caused by expansion of cytosine/adenosine/guanine repeats in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which leads to a toxic, aggregation-prone, mutant HTT-polyQ protein. Beyond the well-established mechanisms of HD progression in the central nervous system, growing evidence indicates that also peripheral tissues are affected in HD and that systemic signaling originating from peripheral tissues can influence the progression of HD in the brain. Herein, we review the systemic manifestation of HD in peripheral tissues, and the impact of systemic signaling on HD pathogenesis. Mutant HTT induces a body wasting syndrome (cachexia) primarily via its activity in skeletal muscle, bone, adipose tissue, and heart. Additional whole-organism effects induced by mutant HTT include decline in systemic metabolic homeostasis, which stems from derangement of pancreas, liver, gut, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and circadian functions. In addition to spreading via the bloodstream and a leaky blood brain barrier, HTT-polyQ may travel long distance via its uptake by neurons and its axonal transport from the peripheral to the central nervous system. Lastly, signaling factors that are produced and/or secreted in response to therapeutic interventions such as exercise or in response to mutant HTT activity in peripheral tissues may impact HD. In summary, these studies indicate that HD is a systemic disease that is influenced by intertissue signaling and by the action of pathogenic HTT in peripheral tissues. We propose that treatment strategies for HD should include the amelioration of HD symptoms in peripheral tissues. Moreover, harnessing signaling between peripheral tissues and the brain may provide a means for reducing HD progression in the central nervous system.
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Khampang S, Parnpai R, Mahikul W, Easley CA, Cho IK, Chan AWS. CAG repeat instability in embryonic stem cells and derivative spermatogenic cells of transgenic Huntington's disease monkey. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:1215-1229. [PMID: 33611676 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02106-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The expansion of CAG (glutamine; Q) trinucleotide repeats (TNRs) predominantly occurs through male lineage in Huntington's disease (HD). As a result, offspring will have larger CAG repeats compared to their fathers, which causes an earlier onset of the disease called genetic anticipation. This study aims to develop a novel in vitro model to replicate CAG repeat instability in early spermatogenesis and demonstrate the biological process of genetic anticipation by using the HD stem cell model for the first time. METHODS HD rhesus monkey embryonic stem cells (rESCs) were cultured in vitro for an extended period. Male rESCs were used to derive spermatogenic cells in vitro with a 10-day differentiation. The assessment of CAG repeat instability was performed by GeneScan and curve fit analysis. RESULTS Spermatogenic cells derived from rESCs exhibit progressive expansion of CAG repeats with high daily expansion rates compared to the extended culture of rESCs. The expansion of CAG repeats is cell type-specific and size-dependent. CONCLUSIONS Here, we report a novel stem cell model that replicates genome instability and CAG repeat expansion in in vitro derived HD monkey spermatogenic cells. The in vitro spermatogenic cell model opens a new opportunity for studying TNR instability and the underlying mechanism of genetic anticipation, not only in HD but also in other TNR diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujittra Khampang
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Rangsun Parnpai
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Wiriya Mahikul
- Faculty of Medicine and Public Health, HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Science, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Charles A Easley
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - In Ki Cho
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA. .,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Anthony W S Chan
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA. .,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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Hirtz R, Libuda L, Hinney A, Föcker M, Bühlmeier J, Holterhus PM, Kulle A, Kiewert C, Hebebrand J, Grasemann C. Size Matters: The CAG Repeat Length of the Androgen Receptor Gene, Testosterone, and Male Adolescent Depression Severity. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:732759. [PMID: 34744823 PMCID: PMC8564040 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.732759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a distinct increase in the prevalence of depression with the onset of puberty. The role of peripubertal testosterone levels in boys in this context is insufficiently understood and may be modulated by a functional polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene (AR), a variable number of CAG repeats. Moreover, there is preliminary evidence that the relationship between testosterone, CAG repeat length, and the severity of depressive symptoms may differ between subclinical and overt depression, but this has neither been studied in a clinical sample of adolescents with depression nor compared between subclinical and overt depression in an adequately powered study. To investigate the relationship between free testosterone, CAG repeat length of the AR, depression status (subclinical vs. overt), and the severity of depressive symptoms, 118 boys treated as in- or daycare patients at a single psychiatric hospital were studied. Of these, 73 boys had at least mild depressive symptoms according to the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II > 13). Higher-order moderation analysis in the multiple regression framework revealed a constant relationship between free testosterone and depression severity irrespective of the number of CAG repeats in adolescents with a BDI-II score ≤ 13. In adolescents with a BDI-II score > 13, however, there was a significant negative relationship between free testosterone and BDI-II score in patients with <19 CAG repeats and a significant positive relationship regarding free testosterone and BDI-II score in those with more than 28 CAG repeats, even when considering important covariates. These results suggest that the effects of testosterone on mood in male adolescents with depression depend on the genetic make-up of the AR as well as on depression status. This complex relationship should be considered by future studies addressing mental health issues against an endocrine background and may, moreover, contribute to tailored treatment concepts in psychiatric medicine, especially in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Hirtz
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Pediatrics II, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lars Libuda
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Nutrition, Consumption and Health, University Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Anke Hinney
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Manuel Föcker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Judith Bühlmeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Paul-Martin Holterhus
- Department of Paediatrics I, Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Alexandra Kulle
- Department of Paediatrics I, Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Cordula Kiewert
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Pediatrics II, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Johannes Hebebrand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Corinna Grasemann
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Josef-Hospital, Center for Rare Diseases (CeSER), Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Khristich AN, Mirkin SM. On the wrong DNA track: Molecular mechanisms of repeat-mediated genome instability. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:4134-4170. [PMID: 32060097 PMCID: PMC7105313 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev119.007678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Expansions of simple tandem repeats are responsible for almost 50 human diseases, the majority of which are severe, degenerative, and not currently treatable or preventable. In this review, we first describe the molecular mechanisms of repeat-induced toxicity, which is the connecting link between repeat expansions and pathology. We then survey alternative DNA structures that are formed by expandable repeats and review the evidence that formation of these structures is at the core of repeat instability. Next, we describe the consequences of the presence of long structure-forming repeats at the molecular level: somatic and intergenerational instability, fragility, and repeat-induced mutagenesis. We discuss the reasons for gender bias in intergenerational repeat instability and the tissue specificity of somatic repeat instability. We also review the known pathways in which DNA replication, transcription, DNA repair, and chromatin state interact and thereby promote repeat instability. We then discuss possible reasons for the persistence of disease-causing DNA repeats in the genome. We describe evidence suggesting that these repeats are a payoff for the advantages of having abundant simple-sequence repeats for eukaryotic genome function and evolvability. Finally, we discuss two unresolved fundamental questions: (i) why does repeat behavior differ between model systems and human pedigrees, and (ii) can we use current knowledge on repeat instability mechanisms to cure repeat expansion diseases?
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sergei M Mirkin
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155.
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