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Li X, Fu Q, Zhong M, Long Y, Zhao F, Huang Y, Zhang Z, Wen M, Chen K, Chen R, Ma X. Quantitative proteomics of the miR-301a/SOCS3/STAT3 axis reveals underlying autism and anxiety-like behavior. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102136. [PMID: 38439911 PMCID: PMC10909786 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Autism is a widespread neurodevelopmental disorder. Although the research on autism spectrum disorders has been increasing in the past decade, there is still no specific answer to its mechanism of action and treatment. As a pro-inflammatory microRNA, miR-301a is abnormally expressed in various psychiatric diseases including autism. Here, we show that miR-301a deletion and inhibition exhibited two distinct abnormal behavioral phenotypes in mice. We observed that miR-301a deletion in mice impaired learning/memory, and enhanced anxiety. On the contrary, miR-301a inhibition effectively reduced the maternal immune activation (MIA)-induced autism-like behaviors in mice. We further demonstrated that miR-301a bound to the 3'UTR region of the SOCS3, and that inhibition of miR-301a led to the upregulation of SOCS3 in hippocampus. The last result in the reduction of the inflammatory response by inhibiting phosphorylation of AKT and STAT3, and the expression level of IL-17A in poly(I:C)-induced autism-like features in mice. The obtained data revealed the miR-301a as a critical participant in partial behavior phenotypes, which may exhibit a divergent role between gene knockout and knockdown. Our findings ascertain that miR-301a negatively regulates SOCS3 in MIA-induced autism in mice and could present a new therapeutic target for ameliorating the behavioral abnormalities of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Li
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Qi Fu
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Mingtian Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Yihao Long
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Fengyun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Yanni Huang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Zizhu Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Min Wen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Kaizhao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Rongqing Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Xiaodong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
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Sullivan M, Fernandez-Aranda F, Camacho-Barcia L, Harkin A, Macrì S, Mora-Maltas B, Jiménez-Murcia S, O'Leary A, Ottomana AM, Presta M, Slattery D, Scholtz S, Glennon JC. Insulin and Disorders of Behavioural Flexibility. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 150:105169. [PMID: 37059405 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Behavioural inflexibility is a symptom of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Alzheimer's Disease, encompassing the maintenance of a behaviour even when no longer appropriate. Recent evidence suggests that insulin signalling has roles apart from its regulation of peripheral metabolism and mediates behaviourally-relevant central nervous system (CNS) functions including behavioural flexibility. Indeed, insulin resistance is reported to generate anxious, perseverative phenotypes in animal models, with the Type 2 diabetes medication metformin proving to be beneficial for disorders including Alzheimer's Disease. Structural and functional neuroimaging studies of Type 2 diabetes patients have highlighted aberrant connectivity in regions governing salience detection, attention, inhibition and memory. As currently available therapeutic strategies feature high rates of resistance, there is an urgent need to better understand the complex aetiology of behaviour and develop improved therapeutics. In this review, we explore the circuitry underlying behavioural flexibility, changes in Type 2 diabetes, the role of insulin in CNS outcomes and mechanisms of insulin involvement across disorders of behavioural inflexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mairéad Sullivan
- Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Fernando Fernandez-Aranda
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain; Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucía Camacho-Barcia
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain; Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrew Harkin
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Simone Macrì
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Bernat Mora-Maltas
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain; Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Jiménez-Murcia
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain; Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aet O'Leary
- University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Angela Maria Ottomana
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; Neuroscience Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy
| | - Martina Presta
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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3
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Qiu S, Qiu Y, Li Y, Zhu X, Liu Y, Qiao Y, Cheng Y, Liu Y. Nexus between genome-wide copy number variations and autism spectrum disorder in Northeast Han Chinese population. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:96. [PMID: 36750796 PMCID: PMC9906952 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04565-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, with an increasing prevalence worldwide. Copy number variation (CNV), as one of genetic factors, is involved in ASD etiology. However, there exist substantial differences in terms of location and frequency of some CNVs in the general Asian population. Whole-genome studies of CNVs in Northeast Han Chinese samples are still lacking, necessitating our ongoing work to investigate the characteristics of CNVs in a Northeast Han Chinese population with clinically diagnosed ASD. METHODS We performed a genome-wide CNVs screening in Northeast Han Chinese individuals with ASD using array-based comparative genomic hybridization. RESULTS We found that 22 kinds of CNVs (6 deletions and 16 duplications) were potentially pathogenic. These CNVs were distributed in chromosome 1p36.33, 1p36.31, 1q42.13, 2p23.1-p22.3, 5p15.33, 5p15.33-p15.2, 7p22.3, 7p22.3-p22.2, 7q22.1-q22.2, 10q23.2-q23.31, 10q26.2-q26.3, 11p15.5, 11q25, 12p12.1-p11.23, 14q11.2, 15q13.3, 16p13.3, 16q21, 22q13.31-q13.33, and Xq12-q13.1. Additionally, we found 20 potential pathogenic genes of ASD in our population, including eight protein coding genes (six duplications [DRD4, HRAS, OPHN1, SHANK3, SLC6A3, and TSC2] and two deletions [CHRNA7 and PTEN]) and 12 microRNAs-coding genes (ten duplications [MIR202, MIR210, MIR3178, MIR339, MIR4516, MIR4717, MIR483, MIR675, MIR6821, and MIR940] and two deletions [MIR107 and MIR558]). CONCLUSION We identified CNVs and genes implicated in ASD risks, conferring perception to further reveal ASD etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Qiu
- grid.64924.3d0000 0004 1760 5735Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 Jilin China ,grid.64924.3d0000 0004 1760 5735Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin University Hospital, Changchun, 130000 Jilin China
| | - Yingjia Qiu
- grid.415954.80000 0004 1771 3349China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130033 Jilin China
| | - Yong Li
- grid.64924.3d0000 0004 1760 5735Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 Jilin China
| | - Xiaojuan Zhu
- grid.27446.330000 0004 1789 9163The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130021 Jilin China
| | - Yunkai Liu
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 Jilin China ,Key Laboratory for Cardiovascular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130021 Jilin China ,grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Institute of Translational Medicine, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 Jilin China
| | - Yichun Qiao
- grid.64924.3d0000 0004 1760 5735Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 Jilin China
| | - Yi Cheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China. .,Key Laboratory for Cardiovascular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China. .,Institute of Translational Medicine, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
| | - Yawen Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
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Fanelli G, Franke B, De Witte W, Ruisch IH, Haavik J, van Gils V, Jansen WJ, Vos SJB, Lind L, Buitelaar JK, Banaschewski T, Dalsgaard S, Serretti A, Mota NR, Poelmans G, Bralten J. Insulinopathies of the brain? Genetic overlap between somatic insulin-related and neuropsychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:59. [PMID: 35165256 PMCID: PMC8844407 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01817-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of somatic insulinopathies, like metabolic syndrome (MetS), obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is higher in Alzheimer's disease (AD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Dysregulation of insulin signalling has been implicated in these neuropsychiatric disorders, and shared genetic factors might partly underlie this observed multimorbidity. We investigated the genetic overlap between AD, ASD, and OCD with MetS, obesity, and T2DM by estimating pairwise global genetic correlations using the summary statistics of the largest available genome-wide association studies for these phenotypes. Having tested these hypotheses, other potential brain "insulinopathies" were also explored by estimating the genetic relationship of six additional neuropsychiatric disorders with nine insulin-related diseases/traits. Stratified covariance analyses were then performed to investigate the contribution of insulin-related gene sets. Significant negative genetic correlations were found between OCD and MetS (rg = -0.315, p = 3.9 × 10-8), OCD and obesity (rg = -0.379, p = 3.4 × 10-5), and OCD and T2DM (rg = -0.172, p = 3 × 10-4). Significant genetic correlations with insulin-related phenotypes were also found for anorexia nervosa (AN), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia (p < 6.17 × 10-4). Stratified analyses showed negative genetic covariances between AD, ASD, OCD, ADHD, AN, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and somatic insulinopathies through gene sets related to insulin signalling and insulin receptor recycling, and positive genetic covariances between AN and T2DM, as well as ADHD and MetS through gene sets related to insulin processing/secretion (p < 2.06 × 10-4). Overall, our findings suggest the existence of two clusters of neuropsychiatric disorders, in which the genetics of insulin-related diseases/traits may exert divergent pleiotropic effects. These results represent a starting point for a new research line on "insulinopathies" of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Fanelli
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy ,grid.10417.330000 0004 0444 9382Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara Franke
- grid.10417.330000 0004 0444 9382Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands ,grid.10417.330000 0004 0444 9382Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ward De Witte
- grid.10417.330000 0004 0444 9382Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - I. Hyun Ruisch
- grid.4494.d0000 0000 9558 4598Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Haavik
- grid.7914.b0000 0004 1936 7443Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway ,grid.412008.f0000 0000 9753 1393Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Veerle van Gils
- grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Willemijn J. Jansen
- grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Stephanie J. B. Vos
- grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lars Lind
- grid.8993.b0000 0004 1936 9457Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan K. Buitelaar
- grid.10417.330000 0004 0444 9382Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Søren Dalsgaard
- grid.7048.b0000 0001 1956 2722National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark ,grid.452548.a0000 0000 9817 5300The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, PSYCH, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Alessandro Serretti
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nina Roth Mota
- grid.10417.330000 0004 0444 9382Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Geert Poelmans
- grid.10417.330000 0004 0444 9382Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Janita Bralten
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Hoff A, Rath N, Lisko J, Zeller M, Balendiran GK. Signature of Glycylglutamic Acid Structure. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS 2021; 9:8-15. [PMID: 34660846 PMCID: PMC8515908 DOI: 10.13189/ijbb.2021.090102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutamate (Glu) is of great interest in biomedical research. It is considered a biomarker in diabetes, which may potentially contribute to the development of autism in genetically vulnerable human populations, and it is found in relation to advanced glycation end products (AGEs) [1]. Additionally, Glu plays an active role in the function of ligand-gated ion channel glutamate receptors, chloride channels capable of filtering glutamate, as well as Potassium (K+)-channel [2]. Glu attains α [3] and β [4] crystal forms and Cβ-CH2 show asymmetric 1H signal pattern in NMR spectra. OBJECTIVES The current study was undertaken to understand the signal patterns of Cβ-CH2 in Glu of the smallest dipeptide, Glycylglutamic Acid (GlyGlu), as well as the order, and planarity of the amide bond in the molecule. MATERIALS AND METHODS NMR spectra of GlyGlu were measured in D2O to deduce 1H and 13C chemical shifts and coupling constants. GlyGlu was crystallized from MeOH and the structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. RESULTS The sidechain of Glu in the dipeptide dissimilates the β form. The amino group of Gly (Glycine) is protonated and exhibits hydrogen bonding with the main chain carboxylate group of a symmetry-related Glu that is deprotonated in the crystal packing of GlyGlu. The deprotonated main chain carboxylate of Glu is also in hydrogen-bonding distance from the side chain carboxylic acid group that is in the protonated form of a symmetry-related Glu of the dipeptide. The Cβ-CH2 geminal protons on the side chain of Glu have different chemical shifts and splitting pattern in 1H NMR reflecting their dissymmetric environment. CONCLUSION The results reported will be useful for monitoring changes that Glu and/or molecules in connection to Glu may undergo in in vivo, in situ, and in vitro conditions. This provides a valuable metric which will enable the examination of the metabolites relevant to the detection and diagnosis of disease or developmental conditions, as well as scrutinizing the effectiveness of treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Hoff
- Department of Chemistry, Youngstown State University,
Youngstown, OH 44555, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, IL
60190, USA
| | - Nigam Rath
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for
Nanoscience, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA
| | - John Lisko
- Department of Chemistry, Youngstown State University,
Youngstown, OH 44555, USA
| | - Matthias Zeller
- Department of Chemistry, Youngstown State University,
Youngstown, OH 44555, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette,
Indiana 47907, USA
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Chan CK, Mukhtarova K, Kanderzhanova A, Issanov A. Genetic Variations Influencing Glucose Homeostasis and Insulin Secretion and their Associations with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Kazakhstan. ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF GENERAL MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.29333/ejgm/9677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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7
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Unsicker C, Cristian FB, von Hahn M, Eckstein V, Rappold GA, Berkel S. SHANK2 mutations impair apoptosis, proliferation and neurite outgrowth during early neuronal differentiation in SH-SY5Y cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2128. [PMID: 33483523 PMCID: PMC7822837 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81241-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
SHANK2 mutations have been identified in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we obtained SH-SY5Y cell lines with frameshift mutations on one or both SHANK2 alleles. We investigated the effects of the different SHANK2 mutations on cell morphology, cell proliferation and differentiation potential during early neuronal differentiation. All mutant cell lines showed impaired neuronal differentiation marker expression. Cells with bi-allelic SHANK2 mutations revealed diminished apoptosis and increased proliferation, as well as decreased neurite outgrowth during early neuronal differentiation. Bi-allelic SHANK2 mutations resulted in an increase in p-AKT levels, suggesting that SHANK2 mutations impair downstream signaling of tyrosine kinase receptors. Additionally, cells with bi-allelic SHANK2 mutations had lower amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression compared to controls, suggesting a molecular link between SHANK2 and APP. Together, we can show that frameshift mutations on one or both SHANK2 alleles lead to an alteration of neuronal differentiation in SH-SY5Y cells, characterized by changes in cell growth and pre- and postsynaptic protein expression. We also provide first evidence that downstream signaling of tyrosine kinase receptors and amyloid precursor protein expression are affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Unsicker
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Flavia-Bianca Cristian
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manja von Hahn
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volker Eckstein
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gudrun A Rappold
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simone Berkel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Savaheli S, Ahmadiani A. Obsessive-compulsive disorder and growth factors: A comparative review. Behav Brain Res 2019; 372:111967. [PMID: 31136772 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.111967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The goal of this article is to clarify the role of various growth factors in the establishment and progression of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is a chronic mental disorder with recurrent intrusive thoughts and/or repetitive compulsive behaviors that increase during stressful periods. Growth and neurotrophic factors may be contributing factors in the pathophysiology of OCD. Many of them are synthesized and released within the central nervous system and act as trophic agents in neurons; some of them are involved in brain growth, development, neurogenesis, myelination and plasticity, while others take part in the protection of the nervous system following brain injuries. This paper attempts to identify all articles investigating the relationship between OCD and neurotrophic and growth factors, in both animal and human studies, with a focus on adult brain studies. Based on the PubMed and Scopus and Science Direct search tools, the available articles and studies are reviewed. Out of 230 records in total, the ones related to our review topic were taken into account to further understand the pathophysiological mechanism(s) of OCD, providing methods to improve its symptoms via the modification of neurotrophins and growth factor imbalances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Savaheli
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Abolhassan Ahmadiani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Hertz-Picciotto I, Schmidt RJ, Krakowiak P. Understanding environmental contributions to autism: Causal concepts and the state of science. Autism Res 2018; 11:554-586. [PMID: 29573218 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The complexity of neurodevelopment, the rapidity of early neurogenesis, and over 100 years of research identifying environmental influences on neurodevelopment serve as backdrop to understanding factors that influence risk and severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This Keynote Lecture, delivered at the May 2016 annual meeting of the International Society for Autism Research, describes concepts of causation, outlines the trajectory of research on nongenetic factors beginning in the 1960s, and briefly reviews the current state of this science. Causal concepts are introduced, including root causes; pitfalls in interpreting time trends as clues to etiologic factors; susceptible time windows for exposure; and implications of a multi-factorial model of ASD. An historical background presents early research into the origins of ASD. The epidemiologic literature from the last fifteen years is briefly but critically reviewed for potential roles of, for example, air pollution, pesticides, plastics, prenatal vitamins, lifestyle and family factors, and maternal obstetric and metabolic conditions during her pregnancy. Three examples from the case-control CHildhood Autism Risks from Genes and the Environment Study are probed to illustrate methodological approaches to central challenges in observational studies: capturing environmental exposure; causal inference when a randomized controlled clinical trial is either unethical or infeasible; and the integration of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental influences on development. We conclude with reflections on future directions, including exposomics, new technologies, the microbiome, gene-by-environment interaction in the era of -omics, and epigenetics as the interface of those two. As the environment is malleable, this research advances the goal of a productive and fulfilling life for all children, teen-agers and adults. Autism Res 2018, 11: 554-586. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY This Keynote Lecture, delivered at the 2016 meeting of the International Society for Autism Research, discusses evidence from human epidemiologic studies of prenatal factors contributing to autism, such as pesticides, maternal nutrition and her health. There is no single cause for autism. Examples highlight the features of a high-quality epidemiology study, and what comprises a compelling case for causation. Emergent research directions hold promise for identifying potential interventions to reduce disabilities, enhance giftedness, and improve lives of those with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Department of Public Health Sciences, MIND Institute (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders), University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Rebecca J Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, MIND Institute (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders), University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Paula Krakowiak
- Department of Public Health Sciences, MIND Institute (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders), University of California, Davis, Davis, California
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Insulin-Independent GABAA Receptor-Mediated Response in the Barrel Cortex of Mice with Impaired Met Activity. J Neurosci 2016; 36:3691-7. [PMID: 27030755 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0006-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by genetic variants, susceptibility alleles, and environmental perturbations. The autism associated geneMETtyrosine kinase has been implicated in many behavioral domains and endophenotypes of autism, including abnormal neural signaling in human sensory cortex. We investigated somatosensory thalamocortical synaptic communication in mice deficient in Met activity in cortical excitatory neurons to gain insights into aberrant somatosensation characteristic of ASD. The ratio of excitation to inhibition is dramatically increased due to decreased postsynaptic GABAAreceptor-mediated inhibition in the trigeminal thalamocortical pathway of mice lacking active Met in the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, in contrast to wild-type mice, insulin failed to increase GABAAreceptor-mediated response in the barrel cortex of mice with compromised Met signaling. Thus, lacking insulin effects may be a risk factor in ASD pathogenesis. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A proposed common cause of neurodevelopmental disorders is an imbalance in excitatory neural transmission, provided by the glutamatergic neurons, and the inhibitory signals from the GABAergic interneurons. Many genes associated with autism spectrum disorders impair synaptic transmission in the expected cell type. Previously, inactivation of the autism-associated Met tyrosine kinase receptor in GABAergic interneurons led to decreased inhibition. In thus report, decreased Met signaling in glutamatergic neurons had no effect on excitation, but decimated inhibition. Further experiments indicate that loss of Met activity downregulates GABAAreceptors on glutamatergic neurons in an insulin independent manner. These data provide a new mechanism for the loss of inhibition and subsequent abnormal excitation/inhibition balance and potential molecular candidates for treatment or prevention.
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van de Vondervoort I, Poelmans G, Aschrafi A, Pauls DL, Buitelaar JK, Glennon JC, Franke B. An integrated molecular landscape implicates the regulation of dendritic spine formation through insulin-related signalling in obsessive-compulsive disorder. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2016; 41:280-5. [PMID: 26854754 PMCID: PMC4915937 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.140327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder with onset in childhood and is characterized by obsessions (recurrent, intrusive, persistent thoughts, impulses and/or ideas that often cause anxiety or distress) and compulsions (ritualized and stereotypic behaviours or mental acts that are often performed to relieve anxiety or distress associated with obsessions). Although OCD is a heritable disorder, its complex molecular etiology is poorly understood. METHODS We combined enrichment analyses and an elaborate literature review of the top-ranked genes emerging from the 2 published genome-wide association studies of OCD and candidate genes implicated through other evidence in order to identify biological processes that, when dysregulated, increase the risk for OCD. RESULTS The resulting molecular protein landscape was enriched for proteins involved in regulating postsynaptic dendritic spine formation - and hence synaptic plasticity - through insulin-dependent molecular signalling cascades. LIMITATIONS This study is a first attempt to integrate molecuar information from different sources in order to identify biological mechanisms underlying OCD etiology. Our findings are constrained by the limited information from hypothesis-free studies and the incompleteness and existing limitations of the OCD literature and the gene function annotations of gene enrichment tools. As this study was solely based on in silico analyses, experimental validation of the provided hypotheses is warranted. CONCLUSION Our work suggests a key role for insulin and insulin-related signalling in OCD etiology and - if confirmed by independent studies - could eventually pave the way for the development of novel OCD treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Barbara Franke
- Correspondence to: B. Franke, Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101 (HP 855), 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands;
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Huang F, Long Z, Chen Z, Li J, Hu Z, Qiu R, Zhuang W, Tang B, Xia K, Jiang H. Investigation of Gene Regulatory Networks Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder Based on MiRNA Expression in China. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129052. [PMID: 26061495 PMCID: PMC4462583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprise a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social and communication capacities and repetitive behaviors. Increasing neuroscientific evidence indicates that the neuropathology of ASD is widespread and involves epigenetic regulation in the brain. Differentially expressed miRNAs in the peripheral blood from autism patients were identified by high-throughput miRNA microarray analyses. Five of these miRNAs were confirmed through quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. A search for candidate target genes of the five confirmed miRNAs was performed through a Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) biological pathways and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis of gene function to identify gene regulatory networks. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first global miRNA expression profile of ASD in China. The differentially expressed miR-34b may potentially explain the higher percentage of male ASD patients, and the aberrantly expressed miR-103a-3p may contribute to the abnormal ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis observed in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengzhen Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
- Department of Neurology at University of South China, The First People’s Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, P. R. China
- Institute of Translational Medicine at University of South China, The First People’s Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Long
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
| | - Zhao Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
| | - Jiada Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of China, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan,410078, P. R. China
| | - Zhengmao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of China, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan,410078, P. R. China
| | - Rong Qiu
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Central South University, Hunan, 410083, P. R. China
- Hunan Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Control and Intelligent Automation, Hunan, 410083, P. R. China
| | - Wei Zhuang
- Department of Thoracic surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of China, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan,410078, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
| | - Kun Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of China, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan,410078, P. R. China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of China, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan,410078, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
- * E-mail:
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Xu G, Jing J, Bowers K, Liu B, Bao W. Maternal diabetes and the risk of autism spectrum disorders in the offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 2014; 44:766-75. [PMID: 24057131 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-013-1928-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
We performed a systematic literature search regarding maternal diabetes before and during pregnancy and the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the offspring. Of the 178 potentially relevant articles, 12 articles including three cohort studies and nine case-control studies were included in the meta-analysis. Both the meta-analyses of cohort studies and case-control studies showed significant associations. The pooled relative risk and 95% confidence interval (CI) among cohort studies was 1.48 (1.25-1.75, p < 0.001). For case-control studies, the pooled odds ratio and 95% CI was 1.72 (1.24-2.41, p = 0.001). No indication of significant heterogeneity across studies or publication bias was observed. In conclusion, maternal diabetes was significantly associated with a greater risk of ASD in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guifeng Xu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
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Chow F, Gong Y, Lippa CF. The Potential Role of Insulin on the Shank-Postsynaptic Platform in Neurodegenerative Diseases Involving Cognition. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2014; 29:303-10. [PMID: 24421411 PMCID: PMC10852640 DOI: 10.1177/1533317513518645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Loss of synaptic function is critical in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other central nervous system (CNS) degenerations. A promising candidate in the regulation of synaptic function is Shank, a protein that serves as a scaffold for excitatory synaptic receptors and proteins. Loss of Shank alters structure and function of the postsynaptic density (PSD). Shank proteins are associated with N-methyl-d-aspartate and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor loss at the PSD in AD; mutations in Shank also lead to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia, both of which affect cognition, suggesting that Shank may play a common pathologic role in AD, ASD, and schizophrenia. Shank protein directly associates with insulin receptor substrate protein p53 in PSD. Insulin and insulin sensitizers have been used in clinical trials for these diseases; this suggests that insulin signals may alter protein homeostasis at the shank-postsynaptic platform in PSDs; insulin could improve the function of synapses in these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances Chow
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yuesong Gong
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Carol F Lippa
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Pratt KG, Khakhalin AS. Modeling human neurodevelopmental disorders in the Xenopus tadpole: from mechanisms to therapeutic targets. Dis Model Mech 2013; 6:1057-65. [PMID: 23929939 PMCID: PMC3759326 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.012138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Xenopus tadpole model offers many advantages for studying the molecular, cellular and network mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. Essentially every stage of normal neural circuit development, from axon outgrowth and guidance to activity-dependent homeostasis and refinement, has been studied in the frog tadpole, making it an ideal model to determine what happens when any of these stages are compromised. Recently, the tadpole model has been used to explore the mechanisms of epilepsy and autism, and there is mounting evidence to suggest that diseases of the nervous system involve deficits in the most fundamental aspects of nervous system function and development. In this Review, we provide an update on how tadpole models are being used to study three distinct types of neurodevelopmental disorders: diseases caused by exposure to environmental toxicants, epilepsy and seizure disorders, and autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara G. Pratt
- University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
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Drosophila neuroligin 1 regulates synaptic growth and function in response to activity and phosphoinositide-3-kinase. Mol Cell Neurosci 2012; 51:89-100. [PMID: 22954894 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2012.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2012] [Revised: 07/17/2012] [Accepted: 08/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroligins are postsynaptic neural cell adhesion molecules that mediate synaptic maturation and function in vertebrates and invertebrates, but their mechanisms of action and regulation are not well understood. At the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ), previous analysis demonstrated a requirement for Drosophila neuroligin 1 (dnlg1) in synaptic growth and maturation. The goal of the present study was to better understand the effects and mechanisms of loss-of-function and overexpression of dnlg1 on synapse size and function, and to identify signaling pathways that control dnlg1 expression. Consistent with reduced synapse size, evoked excitatory junctional currents (EJCs) were diminished in dnlg1 mutants but displayed normal Ca(2+) sensitivity and short-term plasticity. However, postsynaptic function was also perturbed, in that glutamate receptor staining and the distribution of amplitudes of miniature excitatory junctional currents (mEJCs) were abnormal in mutants. All the above phenotypes were rescued by a genomic transgene. Overexpression of dnlg1 in muscle resulted in synaptic overgrowth, but reduced the amplitudes of EJCs and mEJCs. Overgrowth and reduced EJC amplitude required Drosophila neurexin 1 (dnrx1) function, suggesting that increased DNlg1/DNrx1 signaling attenuates synaptic transmission and regulates growth through a retrograde mechanism. In contrast, reduced mEJC amplitude was independent of dnrx1. Synaptic overgrowth, triggered by neuronal hyperactivity, absence of the E3 ubiquitin ligase highwire, and increased phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling in motor neurons reduced synaptic DNlg1 levels. Likewise, postsynaptic attenuation of PI3K, which increases synaptic strength, was associated with reduced DNlg1 levels. These observations suggest that activity and PI3K signaling pathways modulate growth and synaptic transmission through dnlg1-dependent mechanisms.
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