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Lai W, Zhao Y, Chen Y, Dai Z, Chen R, Niu Y, Chen X, Chen S, Huang G, Shan Z, Zheng J, Hu Y, Chen Q, Gong S, Kang S, Guo H, Ma X, Song Y, Xia K, Wang J, Zhou L, So KF, Wang K, Qiu S, Zhang L, Chen J, Shi L. Autism patient-derived SHANK2B Y29X mutation affects the development of ALDH1A1 negative dopamine neuron. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02578-6. [PMID: 38704506 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02578-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a range of neurodevelopmental conditions. Different mutations on a single ASD gene contribute to heterogeneity of disease phenotypes, possibly due to functional diversity of generated isoforms. SHANK2, a causative gene in ASD, demonstrates this phenomenon, but there is a scarcity of tools for studying endogenous SHANK2 proteins in an isoform-specific manner. Here, we report a point mutation on SHANK2, which is found in a patient with autism, located on exon of the SHANK2B transcript variant (NM_133266.5), hereby SHANK2BY29X. This mutation results in an early stop codon and an aberrant splicing event that impacts SHANK2 transcript variants distinctly. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) carrying this mutation, from the patient or isogenic editing, fail to differentiate into functional dopamine (DA) neurons, which can be rescued by genetic correction. Available SMART-Seq single-cell data from human midbrain reveals the abundance of SHANK2B transcript in the ALDH1A1 negative DA neurons. We then show that SHANK2BY29X mutation primarily affects SHANK2B expression and ALDH1A1 negative DA neurons in vitro during early neuronal developmental stage. Mice knocked in with the identical mutation exhibit autistic-like behavior, decreased occupancy of ALDH1A1 negative DA neurons and decreased dopamine release in ventral tegmental area (VTA). Our study provides novel insights on a SHANK2 mutation derived from autism patient and highlights SHANK2B significance in ALDH1A1 negative DA neuron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanjing Lai
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yingying Zhao
- Center for Cell Lineage and Development, CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yalan Chen
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Zhenzhu Dai
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Ruhai Chen
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yimei Niu
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiaoxia Chen
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shuting Chen
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Guanqun Huang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Ziyun Shan
- Center for Cell Lineage and Development, CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jiajun Zheng
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yu Hu
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Qingpei Chen
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Siyi Gong
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Sai Kang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Hui Guo
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Xiaokuang Ma
- Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 850004, USA
| | - Youqiang Song
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kun Xia
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Center for Cell Lineage and Development, CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Libing Zhou
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Shenfeng Qiu
- Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 850004, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Jiekai Chen
- Center for Cell Lineage and Development, CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
| | - Lingling Shi
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China.
- Co-innovation Center of Neuro-regeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, China.
- Department of Neurology, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), Haikou, China.
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Ye C, Shen J, Zhang C, Hu C. Impact of intraoperative dexmedetomidine on postoperative delirium and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in elderly patients undergoing thoracolumbar compression fracture surgery: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37931. [PMID: 38701286 PMCID: PMC11062712 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study evaluates the efficacy of dexmedetomidine (DEX) in reducing postoperative delirium (POD) and modulating pro-inflammatory cytokines in elderly patients undergoing thoracolumbar compression fracture surgery. METHODS In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted from October 2022 to January 2023 at Anting Hospital in Shanghai, 218 elderly patients were randomized into DEX (n = 110) and normal saline (NS, n = 108) groups. The DEX group received 0.5 µg/kg/h DEX, and delirium incidence was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) on days 1 to 3 post-surgery. Levels of interleukins IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured pre-operation (T0) and on postoperative days 1 (T1) and 3 (T3). Preoperative (T0) and postoperative day 1 (T1) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were treated with varying concentrations of olanzapine or DEX to observe their regulatory effects on the expression of Phospho-ERK1/2 and Phospho-JNK. RESULTS Dexmedetomidine significantly lowered the incidence of POD to 18.2%, compared to 30.6% in the NS group (P = .033). While all patients showed an initial increase in cytokine levels after surgery, by T3, IL-6 and TNF-α levels notably decreased in the DEX group, with no significant change in IL-1β levels across groups. The adverse events rate was similar between groups, demonstrating the safety of DEX in this population. In postoperative CSF samples, treatment with 0.5 mM DEX significantly downregulated Phospho-JNK and upregulated Phospho-ERK1/2 expression, demonstrating a dose-dependent modulation of inflammatory responses. CONCLUSION Dexmedetomidine is effective in reducing early POD in elderly patients post-thoracolumbar compression fracture surgery. It also decreases IL-6 and TNF-α levels, indicating its potential in managing postoperative inflammatory responses. Treatment with 0.5 mM DEX significantly modulated Phospho-ERK1/2 and Phospho-JNK expressions in postoperative CSF samples, indicating a dose-dependent effect on reducing inflammation. This study contributes to understanding DEX's role in improving postoperative outcomes in elderly patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caimin Ye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Jiading District Anting Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Shen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Jiading District Anting Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengcheng Zhang
- Department of anesthesiology, Chang-Hai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuiyun Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Jiading District Anting Hospital, Shanghai, China
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Woelfle S, Pedro MT, Wagner J, Schön M, Boeckers TM. Expression profiles of the autism-related SHANK proteins in the human brain. BMC Biol 2023; 21:254. [PMID: 37953224 PMCID: PMC10641957 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01712-0] [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: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SHANKs are major scaffolding proteins at postsynaptic densities (PSDs) in the central nervous system. Mutations in all three family members have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Despite the pathophysiological importance of SHANK2 and SHANK3 mutations in humans, research on the expression of these proteins is mostly based on rodent model organisms. RESULTS In the present study, cellular and neuropil SHANK2 expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence (IF) staining of post mortem human brain tissue from four male individuals (19 brain regions). Mouse brains were analyzed in comparison to evaluate the degree of phylogenetic conservation. Furthermore, SHANK2 and SHANK3 isoform patterns were compared in human and mouse brain lysates. While isoform expression and subcellular distribution were largely conserved, differences in neuropil levels of SHANK2 were found by IF staining: Maximum expression was concordantly measured in the cerebellum; however, higher SHANK2 expression was detected in the human brainstem and thalamus when compared to mice. One of the lowest SHANK2 levels was found in the human amygdala, a moderately expressing region in mouse. Quantification of SHANK3 IF in mouse brains unveiled a distribution comparable to humans. CONCLUSIONS In summary, these data show that the overall expression pattern of SHANK is largely conserved in defined brain regions; however, differences do exist, which need to be considered in the translation of rodent studies. The summarized expression patterns of SHANK2 and SHANK3 should serve as a reference for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Woelfle
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Maria T Pedro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ulm University, Campus Günzburg, Lindenallee 2, 89312, Günzburg, Germany
| | - Jan Wagner
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University and Universitäts- and Rehabilitationskliniken Ulm, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael Schön
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
- Deutsches Zentrum Für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE, Ulm Site, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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Réthelyi JM, Vincze K, Schall D, Glennon J, Berkel S. The role of insulin/IGF1 signalling in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders - Evidence from human neuronal cell models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105330. [PMID: 37516219 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105330] [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: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signalling play a central role in the development and maintenance of neurons in the brain, and human neurodevelopmental as well as neuropsychiatric disorders have been linked to impaired insulin and IGF1 signalling. This review focuses on the impairments of the insulin and IGF1 signalling cascade in the context of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, based on evidence from human neuronal cell models. Clear evidence was obtained for impaired insulin and IGF1 receptor downstream signalling in neurodevelopmental disorders, while the evidence for its role in neuropsychiatric disorders was less substantial. Human neuronal model systems can greatly add to our knowledge about insulin/IGF1 signalling in the brain, its role in restoring dendritic maturity, and complement results from clinical studies and animal models. Moreover, they represent a useful model for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Further research is needed to systematically investigate the exact role of the insulin/IGF1 signalling cascades in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, and to elucidate the respective therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- János M Réthelyi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Vincze
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Doctoral School of Mental Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dorothea Schall
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jeffrey Glennon
- Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Simone Berkel
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Interdisciplinary Centre of Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Germany.
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5
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Luo Y, Lv K, Du Z, Zhang D, Chen M, Luo J, Wang L, Liu T, Gong H, Fan X. Minocycline improves autism-related behaviors by modulating microglia polarization in a mouse model of autism. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 122:110594. [PMID: 37441807 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with few pharmacological treatments. Minocycline, a tetracycline derivative that inhibits microglial activation, has been well-identified with anti-inflammatory properties and neuroprotective effects. A growing body of research suggests that ASD is associated with neuroinflammation, abnormal neurotransmitter levels, and neurogenesis. Thus, we hypothesized that minocycline could improve autism-related behaviors by inhibiting microglia activation and altering neuroinflammation. To verify our hypothesis, we used a mouse model of autism, BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J (BTBR). As expected, minocycline administration rescued the sociability and repetitive, stereotyped behaviors of BTBR mice while having no effect in C57BL/6J mice. We also found that minocycline improved neurogenesis and inhibited microglia activation in the hippocampus of BTBR mice. In addition, minocycline treatment inhibited Erk1/2 phosphorylation in the hippocampus of BTBR mice. Our findings show that minocycline administration alleviates ASD-like behaviors in BTBR mice and improves neurogenesis, suggesting that minocycline supplementation might be a potential strategy for improving ASD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Luo
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Keyi Lv
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Zhulin Du
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Dandan Zhang
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Mei Chen
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Lian Wang
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Tianyao Liu
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Hong Gong
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Xiaotang Fan
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
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Fertan E, Wong AA, Montbrun TSGD, Purdon MK, Roddick KM, Yamamoto T, Brown RE. Early postnatal development of the MDGA2 +/- mouse model of synaptic dysfunction. Behav Brain Res 2023; 452:114590. [PMID: 37499910 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic dysfunction underlies many neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). The membrane-associated mucin domain-containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor proteins (MDGAs) regulate synaptic development by modulating neurexin-neuroligin complex formation. Since understanding the neurodevelopmental profile and the sex-based differences in the manifestation of the symptoms of NDDs is important for their early diagnosis, we tested a mouse model haploinsufficient for MDGA2 (MDGA2+/-) on a neurodevelopmental test battery, containing sensory, motor, and cognitive measures, as well as ultrasonic vocalizations. When male and female MDGA2+/- and wildtype (WT) C57BL/6 J mice were examined from 2 to 23 days of age using this test battery, genotype and sex differences in body weight, sensory-motor processes, and ultrasonic vocalizations were observed. The auditory startle reflex appeared earlier in the MDGA2+/- than in WT mice and the MDGA2+/- mice produced fewer ultrasonic vocalizations. The MDGA2+/- mice showed reduced locomotion and rearing than WT mice in the open field after 17 days of age and spent less time investigating a novel object than WT mice at 21 days of age. Female MDGA2+/- mice weighed less than WT females and showed lower grip strength, indicating a delay in sensory-motor development in MDGA2+/- mice, which appears to be more pronounced in females than males. The behavioural phenotypes resulting from MDGA2 haploinsufficiency suggests that it shows delayed development of motor behaviour, grip strength and exploratory behaviour, non-social phenotypes of NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Fertan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Aimée A Wong
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | | | - Michaela K Purdon
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Kyle M Roddick
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Tohru Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan
| | - Richard E Brown
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
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Murari K, Abushaibah A, Rho JM, Turner RW, Cheng N. A clinically relevant selective ERK-pathway inhibitor reverses core deficits in a mouse model of autism. EBioMedicine 2023; 91:104565. [PMID: 37088035 PMCID: PMC10149189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK/MAPK) pathway in the brain is hypothesized to be a critical convergent node in the development of autism spectrum disorder. We reasoned that selectively targeting this pathway could reverse core autism-like phenotype in animal models. METHODS Here we tested a clinically relevant, selective inhibitor of ERK pathway, PD325901 (Mirdametinib), in a mouse model of idiopathic autism, the BTBR mice. FINDINGS We report that treating juvenile mice with PD325901 reduced ERK pathway activation, dose and duration-dependently reduced core disease-modeling deficits in sociability, vocalization and repetitive behavior, and reversed abnormal EEG signals. Further analysis revealed that subchronic treatment did not affect weight gain, locomotion, or neuronal density in the brain. Parallel treatment in the C57BL/6J mice did not alter their phenotype. INTERPRETATION Our data indicate that selectively inhibiting ERK pathway using PD325901 is beneficial in the BTBR model, thus further support the notion that ERK pathway is critically involved in the pathophysiology of autism. These results suggest that a similar approach could be applied to animal models of syndromic autism with dysregulated ERK signaling, to further test selectively targeting ERK pathway as a new approach for treating autism. FUNDING This has beenwork was supported by Alberta Children's Hospital Research Foundation (JMR & NC), University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (NC), Kids Brain Health Network (NC), and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartikeya Murari
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Abdulrahman Abushaibah
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Bachelor of Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Jong M Rho
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Ray W Turner
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Ning Cheng
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
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8
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Transition from Animal-Based to Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)-Based Models of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Opportunities and Challenges. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040538. [PMID: 36831205 PMCID: PMC9954744 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) arise from the disruption of highly coordinated mechanisms underlying brain development, which results in impaired sensory, motor and/or cognitive functions. Although rodent models have offered very relevant insights to the field, the translation of findings to clinics, particularly regarding therapeutic approaches for these diseases, remains challenging. Part of the explanation for this failure may be the genetic differences-some targets not being conserved between species-and, most importantly, the differences in regulation of gene expression. This prompts the use of human-derived models to study NDDS. The generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSCs) added a new suitable alternative to overcome species limitations, allowing for the study of human neuronal development while maintaining the genetic background of the donor patient. Several hIPSC models of NDDs already proved their worth by mimicking several pathological phenotypes found in humans. In this review, we highlight the utility of hIPSCs to pave new paths for NDD research and development of new therapeutic tools, summarize the challenges and advances of hIPSC-culture and neuronal differentiation protocols and discuss the best way to take advantage of these models, illustrating this with examples of success for some NDDs.
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Loth E. Does the current state of biomarker discovery in autism reflect the limits of reductionism in precision medicine? Suggestions for an integrative approach that considers dynamic mechanisms between brain, body, and the social environment. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1085445. [PMID: 36911126 PMCID: PMC9992810 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1085445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, precision medicine has become one of the most influential approaches in biomedical research to improve early detection, diagnosis, and prognosis of clinical conditions and develop mechanism-based therapies tailored to individual characteristics using biomarkers. This perspective article first reviews the origins and concept of precision medicine approaches to autism and summarises recent findings from the first "generation" of biomarker studies. Multi-disciplinary research initiatives created substantially larger, comprehensively characterised cohorts, shifted the focus from group-comparisons to individual variability and subgroups, increased methodological rigour and advanced analytic innovations. However, although several candidate markers with probabilistic value have been identified, separate efforts to divide autism by molecular, brain structural/functional or cognitive markers have not identified a validated diagnostic subgroup. Conversely, studies of specific monogenic subgroups revealed substantial variability in biology and behaviour. The second part discusses both conceptual and methodological factors in these findings. It is argued that the predominant reductionist approach, which seeks to parse complex issues into simpler, more tractable units, let us to neglect the interactions between brain and body, and divorce individuals from their social environment. The third part draws on insights from systems biology, developmental psychology and neurodiversity approaches to outline an integrative approach that considers the dynamic interaction between biological (brain, body) and social mechanisms (stress, stigma) to understanding the origins of autistic features in particular conditions and contexts. This requires 1) closer collaboration with autistic people to increase face validity of concepts and methodologies; (2) development of measures/technologies that enable repeat assessment of social and biological factors in different (naturalistic) conditions and contexts, (3) new analytic methods to study (simulate) these interactions (including emergent properties), and (4) cross-condition designs to understand which mechanisms are transdiagnostic or specific for particular autistic sub-populations. Tailored support may entail both creating more favourable conditions in the social environment and interventions for some autistic people to increase well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Loth
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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10
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Keil-Stietz K, Lein PJ. Gene×environment interactions in autism spectrum disorders. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 152:221-284. [PMID: 36707213 PMCID: PMC10496028 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2022.11.001] [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: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is credible evidence that environmental factors influence individual risk and/or severity of autism spectrum disorders (hereafter referred to as autism). While it is likely that environmental chemicals contribute to the etiology of autism via multiple mechanisms, identifying specific environmental factors that confer risk for autism and understanding how they contribute to the etiology of autism has been challenging, in part because the influence of environmental chemicals likely varies depending on the genetic substrate of the exposed individual. Current research efforts are focused on elucidating the mechanisms by which environmental chemicals interact with autism genetic susceptibilities to adversely impact neurodevelopment. The goal is to not only generate insights regarding the pathophysiology of autism, but also inform the development of screening platforms to identify specific environmental factors and gene×environment (G×E) interactions that modify autism risk. Data from such studies are needed to support development of intervention strategies for mitigating the burden of this neurodevelopmental condition on individuals, their families and society. In this review, we discuss environmental chemicals identified as putative autism risk factors and proposed mechanisms by which G×E interactions influence autism risk and/or severity using polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as an example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Keil-Stietz
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Pamela J Lein
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, United States.
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11
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Yoo YE, Yoo T, Kang H, Kim E. Brain region and gene dosage-differential transcriptomic changes in Shank2-mutant mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:977305. [PMID: 36311025 PMCID: PMC9612946 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.977305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Shank2 is an abundant excitatory postsynaptic scaffolding protein that has been implicated in various neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. Shank2-mutant mice show ASD-like behavioral deficits and altered synaptic and neuronal functions, but little is known about how different brain regions and gene dosages affect the transcriptomic phenotypes of these mice. Here, we performed RNA-Seq-based transcriptomic analyses of the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum in adult Shank2 heterozygous (HT)- and homozygous (HM)-mutant mice lacking exons 6–7. The prefrontal cortical, hippocampal, and striatal regions showed distinct transcriptomic patterns associated with synapse, ribosome, mitochondria, spliceosome, and extracellular matrix (ECM). The three brain regions were also distinct in the expression of ASD-related and ASD-risk genes. These differential patterns were stronger in the prefrontal cortex where the HT transcriptome displayed increased synaptic gene expression and reverse-ASD patterns whereas the HM transcriptome showed decreased synaptic gene expression and ASD-like patterns. These results suggest brain region- and gene dosage-differential transcriptomic changes in Shank2-mutant mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Eun Yoo
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Taesun Yoo
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hyojin Kang
- Division of National Supercomputing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Eunjoon Kim,
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12
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Purushotham SS, Reddy NMN, D'Souza MN, Choudhury NR, Ganguly A, Gopalakrishna N, Muddashetty R, Clement JP. A perspective on molecular signalling dysfunction, its clinical relevance and therapeutics in autism spectrum disorder. Exp Brain Res 2022; 240:2525-2567. [PMID: 36063192 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-022-06448-x] [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: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders that have become a primary clinical and social concern, with a prevalence of 2-3% in the population. Neuronal function and behaviour undergo significant malleability during the critical period of development that is found to be impaired in ID/ASD. Human genome sequencing studies have revealed many genetic variations associated with ASD/ID that are further verified by many approaches, including many mouse and other models. These models have facilitated the identification of fundamental mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ASD/ID, and several studies have proposed converging molecular pathways in ASD/ID. However, linking the mechanisms of the pathogenic genes and their molecular characteristics that lead to ID/ASD has progressed slowly, hampering the development of potential therapeutic strategies. This review discusses the possibility of recognising the common molecular causes for most ASD/ID based on studies from the available models that may enable a better therapeutic strategy to treat ID/ASD. We also reviewed the potential biomarkers to detect ASD/ID at early stages that may aid in diagnosis and initiating medical treatment, the concerns with drug failure in clinical trials, and developing therapeutic strategies that can be applied beyond a particular mutation associated with ASD/ID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushmitha S Purushotham
- Neuroscience Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, 560064, India
| | - Neeharika M N Reddy
- Neuroscience Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, 560064, India
| | - Michelle Ninochka D'Souza
- Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science Campus, CV Raman Avenue, Bangalore, 560 012, India.,The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), Bangalore, 560064, India
| | - Nilpawan Roy Choudhury
- Neuroscience Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, 560064, India
| | - Anusa Ganguly
- Neuroscience Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, 560064, India
| | - Niharika Gopalakrishna
- Neuroscience Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, 560064, India
| | - Ravi Muddashetty
- Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science Campus, CV Raman Avenue, Bangalore, 560 012, India.,The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), Bangalore, 560064, India
| | - James P Clement
- Neuroscience Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, 560064, India.
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13
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Song C, Wei W, Wang T, Zhou M, Li Y, Xiao B, Huang D, Gu J, Shi L, Peng J, Jin D. Microglial infiltration mediates cognitive dysfunction in rat models of hypothalamic obesity via a hypothalamic-hippocampal circuit involving the lateral hypothalamic area. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:971100. [PMID: 36072565 PMCID: PMC9443213 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.971100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the mechanism underlying cognitive dysfunction mediated by the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) in a hypothalamic-hippocampal circuit in rats with lesion-induced hypothalamic obesity (HO). The HO model was established by electrically lesioning the hypothalamic nuclei. The open field (OP) test, Morris water maze (MWM), novel object recognition (NOR), and novel object location memory (NLM) tests were used to evaluate changes in cognition due to alterations in the hypothalamic-hippocampal circuit. Western blotting, immunohistochemical staining, and cholera toxin subunit B conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 (CTB488) reverse tracer technology were used to determine synaptophysin (SYN), postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), neuronal nuclear protein (NeuN), and Caspase3 expression levels and the hypothalamic-hippocampal circuit. In HO rats, severe obesity was associated with cognitive dysfunction after the lesion of the hypothalamus. Furthermore, neuronal apoptosis and activated microglia in the downstream of the lesion area (the LHA) induced microglial infiltration into the intact hippocampus via the LHA-hippocampal circuit, and the synapses engulfment in the hippocampus may be the underlying mechanism by which the remodeled microglial mediates memory impairments in HO rats. The HO rats exhibited microglial infiltration and synapse loss into the hippocampus from the lesioned LHA via the hypothalamic-hippocampal circuit. The underlying mechanisms of memory function may be related to the circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Song
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Central Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Chong Song,
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Central Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Hospital of Mianyang (Sichuan Mental Health Center), Mianyang, China
| | - Min Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunshi Li
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bing Xiao
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dongyi Huang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junwei Gu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Linyong Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junjie Peng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Chong Song,
| | - Dianshi Jin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Central Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
- *Correspondence: Chong Song,
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14
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Doddato G, Fabbiani A, Scandurra V, Canitano R, Mencarelli MA, Renieri A, Ariani F. Identification of a Novel SHANK2 Pathogenic Variant in a Patient with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13040688. [PMID: 35456494 PMCID: PMC9025881 DOI: 10.3390/genes13040688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic defects in the SHANK2 gene, encoding for synaptic scaffolding protein, are associated with a variety of neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorders and mild to moderate intellectual disability. Until now, limited patient clinical descriptions have been published. Only 13 unrelated patients with SHANK2 pathogenic variations or microdeletions have been reported worldwide. By Exome Sequencing, we identified a de novo stop-gain variant, c.334C>T, p.(Gln112*), in an Italian patient with a neurodevelopmental disorder. The patient (9 years old) presented the following facial features: a flat profile, thick eyebrows, long eyelashes, a bulbous nasal tip and a prominent columella, retracted ears, dental anomalies. The patient showed speech delay and mild neuromotor delay but not autism spectrum disorder. In conclusion, this patient with a novel pathogenic variant in SHANK2 enlarges the phenotypic spectrum of SHANK2-mutated patients and demonstrates that the severity of SHANK2-associated disorders is highly variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Doddato
- Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.); (A.R.)
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fabbiani
- Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.); (A.R.)
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Valeria Scandurra
- Division of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (V.S.); (R.C.)
| | - Roberto Canitano
- Division of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (V.S.); (R.C.)
| | | | - Alessandra Renieri
- Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.); (A.R.)
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Francesca Ariani
- Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.); (A.R.)
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0577-233303
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