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Srivastava S, Yang F, Prohl AK, Davis PE, Capal JK, Filip-Dhima R, Bebin EM, Krueger DA, Northrup H, Wu JY, Warfield SK, Sahin M, Zhang B. Abnormality of Early White Matter Development in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Longitudinal Analysis of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Measures. J Child Neurol 2024; 39:178-189. [PMID: 38751192 PMCID: PMC11220686 DOI: 10.1177/08830738241248685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Background: Abnormalities in white matter development may influence development of autism spectrum disorder in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Our goals for this study were as follows: (1) use data from a longitudinal neuroimaging study of tuberous sclerosis complex (TACERN) to develop optimized linear mixed effects models for analyzing longitudinal, repeated diffusion tensor imaging metrics (fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity) pertaining to select white matter tracts, in relation to positive Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition classification at 36 months, and (2) perform an exploratory analysis using optimized models applied to all white matter tracts from these data. Methods: Eligible participants (3-12 months) underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at repeated time points from ages 3 to 36 months. Positive Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition classification at 36 months was used. Linear mixed effects models were fine-tuned separately for fractional anisotropy values (using fractional anisotropy corpus callosum as test outcome) and mean diffusivity values (using mean diffusivity right posterior limb internal capsule as test outcome). Fixed effects included participant age, within-participant longitudinal age, and autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Results: Analysis included data from n = 78. After selecting separate optimal models for fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity values, we applied these models to fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity of all 27 white matter tracts. Fractional anisotropy corpus callosum was related to positive Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition classification (coefficient = 0.0093, P = .0612), and mean diffusivity right inferior cerebellar peduncle was related to positive Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition classification (coefficient = -0.00002071, P = .0445), though these findings were not statistically significant after multiple comparisons correction. Conclusion: These optimized linear mixed effects models possibly implicate corpus callosum and cerebellar pathology in development of autism spectrum disorder in tuberous sclerosis complex, but future studies are needed to replicate these findings and explore contributors of heterogeneity in these models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Srivastava
- Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fanghan Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna K. Prohl
- Computational Radiology Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter E. Davis
- Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jamie K. Capal
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, NC, USA
| | - Rajna Filip-Dhima
- Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - E. Martina Bebin
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Darcy A. Krueger
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Hope Northrup
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joyce Y. Wu
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Simon K. Warfield
- Computational Radiology Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Neurology and ICCTR Biostatistics and Research Design Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Parrella NF, Hill AT, Dipnall LM, Loke YJ, Enticott PG, Ford TC. Inhibitory dysfunction and social processing difficulties in autism: A comprehensive narrative review. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 169:113-125. [PMID: 38016393 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has a prominent role in regulating neural development and function, with disruption to GABAergic signalling linked to behavioural phenotypes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism. Such neurochemical disruption, likely resulting from diverse genetic and molecular mechanisms, particularly during early development, can subsequently affect the cellular balance of excitation and inhibition in neuronal circuits, which may account for the social processing difficulties observed in autism and related conditions. This comprehensive narrative review integrates diverse streams of research from several disciplines, including molecular neurobiology, genetics, epigenetics, and systems neuroscience. In so doing it aims to elucidate the relevance of inhibitory dysfunction to autism, with specific focus on social processing difficulties that represent a core feature of this disorder. Many of the social processing difficulties experienced in autism have been linked to higher levels of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and/or lower levels of inhibitory GABA. While current therapeutic options for social difficulties in autism are largely limited to behavioural interventions, this review highlights the psychopharmacological studies that explore the utility of GABA modulation in alleviating such difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aron T Hill
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lillian M Dipnall
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Early Life Epigenetics Group, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Yuk Jing Loke
- Epigenetics Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter G Enticott
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Talitha C Ford
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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3
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Beard DC, Zhang X, Wu DY, Martin JR, Erickson A, Boua JV, Hamagami N, Swift RG, McCullough KB, Ge X, Bell-Hensley A, Zheng H, Palmer CW, Fuhler NA, Lawrence AB, Hill CA, Papouin T, Noguchi KK, McAlinden A, Garbow JR, Dougherty JD, Maloney SE, Gabel HW. Distinct disease mutations in DNMT3A result in a spectrum of behavioral, epigenetic, and transcriptional deficits. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113411. [PMID: 37952155 PMCID: PMC10843706 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113411] [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: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic heterogeneity in monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders can arise from differential severity of variants underlying disease, but how distinct alleles drive variable disease presentation is not well understood. Here, we investigate missense mutations in DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A), a DNA methyltransferase associated with overgrowth, intellectual disability, and autism, to uncover molecular correlates of phenotypic heterogeneity. We generate a Dnmt3aP900L/+ mouse mimicking a mutation with mild to moderate severity and compare phenotypic and epigenomic effects with a severe R878H mutation. P900L mutants exhibit core growth and behavioral phenotypes shared across models but show subtle epigenomic changes, while R878H mutants display extensive disruptions. We identify mutation-specific dysregulated genes that may contribute to variable disease severity. Shared transcriptomic disruption identified across mutations overlaps dysregulation observed in other developmental disorder models and likely drives common phenotypes. Together, our findings define central drivers of DNMT3A disorders and illustrate how variable epigenomic disruption contributes to phenotypic heterogeneity in neurodevelopmental disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana C Beard
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Xiyun Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Dennis Y Wu
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jenna R Martin
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Alyssa Erickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jane Valeriane Boua
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Nicole Hamagami
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Raylynn G Swift
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Katherine B McCullough
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Xia Ge
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Austin Bell-Hensley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hongjun Zheng
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Cory W Palmer
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Nicole A Fuhler
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Austin B Lawrence
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Science, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Cheryl A Hill
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Science, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Thomas Papouin
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kevin K Noguchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Audrey McAlinden
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joel R Garbow
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joseph D Dougherty
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Susan E Maloney
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Harrison W Gabel
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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4
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Selleri L, Rijli FM. Shaping faces: genetic and epigenetic control of craniofacial morphogenesis. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:610-626. [PMID: 37095271 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00594-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Major differences in facial morphology distinguish vertebrate species. Variation of facial traits underlies the uniqueness of human individuals, and abnormal craniofacial morphogenesis during development leads to birth defects that significantly affect quality of life. Studies during the past 40 years have advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that establish facial form during development, highlighting the crucial roles in this process of a multipotent cell type known as the cranial neural crest cell. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in multi-omics and single-cell technologies that enable genes, transcriptional regulatory networks and epigenetic landscapes to be closely linked to the establishment of facial patterning and its variation, with an emphasis on normal and abnormal craniofacial morphogenesis. Advancing our knowledge of these processes will support important developments in tissue engineering, as well as the repair and reconstruction of the abnormal craniofacial complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Licia Selleri
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Department of Orofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Filippo M Rijli
- Laboratory of Developmental Neuroepigenetics, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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5
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Evans DR, Qiao Y, Trost B, Calli K, Martell S, Jones SJM, Scherer SW, Lewis MES. Complex Autism Spectrum Disorder with Epilepsy, Strabismus and Self-Injurious Behaviors in a Patient with a De Novo Heterozygous POLR2A Variant. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13030470. [PMID: 35328024 PMCID: PMC8955435 DOI: 10.3390/genes13030470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) describes a complex and heterogenous group of neurodevelopmental disorders. Whole genome sequencing continues to shed light on the multifactorial etiology of ASD. Dysregulated transcriptional pathways have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that de novo POLR2A variants cause a newly described phenotype called ‘Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Hypotonia and Variable Intellectual and Behavioral Abnormalities’ (NEDHIB). The variable phenotype manifests with a spectrum of features; primarily early onset hypotonia and delay in developmental milestones. In this study, we investigate a patient with complex ASD involving epilepsy and strabismus. Whole genome sequencing of the proband−parent trio uncovered a novel de novo POLR2A variant (c.1367T>C, p. Val456Ala) in the proband. The variant appears deleterious according to in silico tools. We describe the phenotype in our patient, who is now 31 years old, draw connections between the previously reported phenotypes and further delineate this emerging neurodevelopmental phenotype. This study sheds new insights into this neurodevelopmental disorder, and more broadly, the genetic etiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Evans
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia (UBC), Victoria, BC V8R 1J8, Canada;
| | - Ying Qiao
- Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (Y.Q.); (K.C.); (S.M.); (S.J.M.J.)
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
- iTARGET Autism, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Brett Trost
- The Centre for Applied Genomics and McLaughlin Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; (B.T.); (S.W.S.)
| | - Kristina Calli
- Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (Y.Q.); (K.C.); (S.M.); (S.J.M.J.)
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
- iTARGET Autism, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Sally Martell
- Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (Y.Q.); (K.C.); (S.M.); (S.J.M.J.)
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
- iTARGET Autism, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Steven J. M. Jones
- Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (Y.Q.); (K.C.); (S.M.); (S.J.M.J.)
- iTARGET Autism, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
- Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Stephen W. Scherer
- The Centre for Applied Genomics and McLaughlin Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; (B.T.); (S.W.S.)
| | - M. E. Suzanne Lewis
- Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (Y.Q.); (K.C.); (S.M.); (S.J.M.J.)
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
- iTARGET Autism, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
- Correspondence:
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6
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Green MJ, Watkeys OJ, Whitten T, Thomas C, Kariuki M, Dean K, Laurens KR, Harris F, Carr VJ. Increased incidence of childhood mental disorders following exposure to early life infection. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 97:376-382. [PMID: 34390804 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life exposure to infectious diseases confers risk for adult psychiatric disorders but relatively few human population studies have examined associations with childhood mental disorder. Here we examined the effects of exposure to maternal infection during pregnancy, and child infectious diseases in early childhood (birth to age 4 years), in relation to first mental disorder diagnosis (age 5-13 years). The study sample comprised 71,841 children represented in a population cohort of children in New South Wales, Australia, followed from birth to early adolescence via linkage of administrative registers. Childhood exposure to infectious disease was determined during the prenatal period (i.e., maternal infection during gestation), and in early childhood (between birth and age 4 years) using the NSW Ministry of Health Admitted Patients data collection. Days to first diagnosis with a mental disorder was determined from recorded diagnoses between age 5-13 years in the NSW Ministry of Health's Admitted Patients, Emergency Department and Mental Health Ambulatory data collections. While crude hazard ratios for both prenatal infection and childhood infection exposures indicated significantly earlier diagnosis with mental disorders associated with both of these risk factors, only childhood infection exposure was associated with higher adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for any diagnoses (aHR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.11-1.32), externalising disorders (aHR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.18-1.79) and developmental disorders (aHR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.49-2.22) when the effects of maternal and early childhood (age < 5 years) mental disorders were taken into account. Exposure to infectious diseases during early childhood, but not prenatal infection exposure, appears to be associated with earlier diagnosis of mental disorders in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Green
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Oliver J Watkeys
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tyson Whitten
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Social Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Catherine Thomas
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maina Kariuki
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kimberlie Dean
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kristin R Laurens
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Psychology and Counselling, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Felicity Harris
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vaughan J Carr
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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7
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Chen S, Zhao S, Dalman C, Karlsson H, Gardner R. Association of maternal diabetes with neurodevelopmental disorders: autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and intellectual disability. Int J Epidemiol 2021; 50:459-474. [PMID: 33221916 PMCID: PMC8128461 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyaa212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal diabetes has been associated with a risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in offspring, though the common co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disability (ID) is rarely considered, nor is the potential for confounding by shared familial factors (e.g. genetics). Methods This population-based cohort study used data from Psychiatry Sweden, a linkage of Swedish national registers, to follow 2 369 680 individuals born from 1987 to 2010. We used population-averaged logit models to examine the association between exposure to maternal type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), pre-gestational type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and odds of NDDs in offspring. Subgroup analysis was then performed to investigate the timings of GDM diagnosis during pregnancy and its effect on the odds of NDDs in offspring. We compared these results to models considering paternal lifetime T1DM and T2DM as exposures. Results Overall, 45 678 individuals (1.93%) were diagnosed with ASD, 20 823 (0.88%) with ID and 102 018 (4.31%) with ADHD. All types of maternal diabetes were associated with odds of NDDs, with T2DM most strongly associated with any diagnosis of ASD (odds ratioadjusted 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.84), ID (2.09, 1.53–2.87) and ADHD (1.43, 1.16–1.77). Considering common co-morbid groups, the associations were strongest between maternal diabetes and diagnostic combinations that included ID. Paternal T1DM and T2DM diagnoses were also associated with offspring NDDs, but these associations were weaker than those with maternal diabetes. Diagnosis of GDM between 27 and 30 weeks of gestation was generally associated with the greatest risk of NDDs in offspring, with the strongest associations for outcomes that included ID. Conclusion The association of maternal diabetes with NDDs in offspring varies depending on the co-morbid presentation of the NDDs, with the greatest odds associated with outcomes that included ID. Results of paternal-comparison studies suggest that the above associations are likely to be partly confounded by shared familial factors, such as genetic liability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyun Chen
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
| | - Sixian Zhao
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
| | - Christina Dalman
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden.,Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm 17129, Sweden
| | - Håkan Karlsson
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
| | - Renee Gardner
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
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8
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Ferreira ML, Loyacono N. Rationale of an Advanced Integrative Approach Applied to Autism Spectrum Disorder: Review, Discussion and Proposal. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11060514. [PMID: 34199906 PMCID: PMC8230111 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11060514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The rationale of an Advanced Integrative Model and an Advanced Integrative Approach is presented. In the context of Allopathic Medicine, this model introduces the evaluation, clinical exploration, diagnosis, and treatment of concomitant medical problems to the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. These may be outside or inside the brain. The concepts of static or chronic, dynamic encephalopathy and condition for Autism Spectrum Disorder are defined in this model, which looks at the response to the treatments of concomitant medical problemsto the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. (1) Background: Antecedents and rationale of an Advanced Integrative Model and of an Advanced Integrative Approach are presented; (2) Methods: Concomitant medical problems to the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and a discussion of the known responses of their treatments are presented; (3) Results: Groups in Autism are defined and explained, related to the responses of the treatments of the concomitant medical problems to ASD and (4) Conclusions: The analysis in the framework of an Advanced Integrative Model of three groups including the concepts of static encephalopathy; chronic, dynamic encephalopathy and condition for Autism Spectrum Disorder explains findings in the field, previously not understood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolás Loyacono
- TEA-Enfoque Integrador Group, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina;
- SANyTA (Sociedad Argentina de Neurodesarrollo y Trastornos Asociados), Migueletes 681, Piso 2, Departamento 2, BUE-Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1426, Argentina
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +54-911-5825-5209
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9
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Naqvi S, Sleyp Y, Hoskens H, Indencleef K, Spence JP, Bruffaerts R, Radwan A, Eller RJ, Richmond S, Shriver MD, Shaffer JR, Weinberg SM, Walsh S, Thompson J, Pritchard JK, Sunaert S, Peeters H, Wysocka J, Claes P. Shared heritability of human face and brain shape. Nat Genet 2021; 53:830-839. [PMID: 33821002 PMCID: PMC8232039 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00827-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Evidence from model organisms and clinical genetics suggests coordination between the developing brain and face, but the role of this link in common genetic variation remains unknown. We performed a multivariate genome-wide association study of cortical surface morphology in 19,644 individuals of European ancestry, identifying 472 genomic loci influencing brain shape, of which 76 are also linked to face shape. Shared loci include transcription factors involved in craniofacial development, as well as members of signaling pathways implicated in brain-face cross-talk. Brain shape heritability is equivalently enriched near regulatory regions active in either forebrain organoids or facial progenitors. However, we do not detect significant overlap between shared brain-face genome-wide association study signals and variants affecting behavioral-cognitive traits. These results suggest that early in embryogenesis, the face and brain mutually shape each other through both structural effects and paracrine signaling, but this interplay may not impact later brain development associated with cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahin Naqvi
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Departments of Genetics and Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Yoeri Sleyp
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hanne Hoskens
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karlijne Indencleef
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeffrey P Spence
- Departments of Genetics and Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Rose Bruffaerts
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Neurology Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Biomedical Research Institute Hasselt University Hasselt Belgium, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Ahmed Radwan
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational MRI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ryan J Eller
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Stephen Richmond
- Applied Clinical Research and Public Health, School of Dentistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Mark D Shriver
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - John R Shaffer
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Seth M Weinberg
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Susan Walsh
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - James Thompson
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Jonathan K Pritchard
- Departments of Genetics and Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Stefan Sunaert
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational MRI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hilde Peeters
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joanna Wysocka
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Peter Claes
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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10
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Levitt P. Progressions on the Coexistence of Neuronal and Glial Precursor Cells in the Cerebral Ventricular Zone. J Neurosci 2021; 41:3301-3306. [PMID: 33597270 PMCID: PMC8051679 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3190-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity is defined as the quality or state of being diverse in character or content. This article summarizes the natural progression from my studies, reported in the first issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, that identified molecular heterogeneity in precursor cells of the developing primate cerebral cortex to the current state in which differences defined at the molecular, cellular, circuit, and systems levels are building data encyclopedias. The emphasis on heterogeneity has impacted many contributors in the field of developmental neuroscience, who have led a quest to determine the extent to which there is diversity, when it appears developmentally, and what heritable and nonheritable factors mediate nervous system assembly and function. Since the appearance of the article on progenitor cell heterogeneity in the inaugural issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, there have been continuous advances in technologies and data analytics that are contributing to a much better understanding of the origins of neurobiological and behavioral heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pat Levitt
- Program in Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics, The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90027
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90027
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11
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Oligophrenin-1 moderates behavioral responses to stress by regulating parvalbumin interneuron activity in the medial prefrontal cortex. Neuron 2021; 109:1636-1656.e8. [PMID: 33831348 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ample evidence indicates that individuals with intellectual disability (ID) are at increased risk of developing stress-related behavioral problems and mood disorders, yet a mechanistic explanation for such a link remains largely elusive. Here, we focused on characterizing the syndromic ID gene oligophrenin-1 (OPHN1). We find that Ophn1 deficiency in mice markedly enhances helpless/depressive-like behavior in the face of repeated/uncontrollable stress. Strikingly, Ophn1 deletion exclusively in parvalbumin (PV) interneurons in the prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex (PL-mPFC) is sufficient to induce helplessness. This behavioral phenotype is mediated by a diminished excitatory drive onto Ophn1-deficient PL-mPFC PV interneurons, leading to hyperactivity in this region. Importantly, suppressing neuronal activity or RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling in the PL-mPFC reverses helpless behavior. Our results identify OPHN1 as a critical regulator of adaptive behavioral responses to stress and shed light onto the mechanistic links among OPHN1 genetic deficits, mPFC circuit dysfunction, and abnormalities in stress-related behaviors.
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12
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Proietti Onori M, van Woerden GM. Role of calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase 2 in neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain Res Bull 2021; 171:209-220. [PMID: 33774142 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are a complex and heterogeneous group of neurological disorders characterized by their early-onset and estimated to affect more than 3% of children worldwide. The rapid advancement of sequencing technologies in the past years allowed the identification of hundreds of variants in several different genes causing neurodevelopmental disorders. Between those, new variants in the Calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CAMK2) genes were recently linked to intellectual disability. Despite many years of research on CAMK2, this proves for the first time that this well-known and highly conserved molecule plays an important role in the human brain. In this review, we give an overview of the identified CAMK2 variants, and we speculate on potential mechanisms through which dysfunctions in CAMK2 result in neurodevelopmental disorders. Additionally, we discuss how the identification of CAMK2 variants might result in new exciting discoveries regarding the function of CAMK2 in the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Proietti Onori
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, the Netherlands; The ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, the Netherlands
| | - Geeske M van Woerden
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, the Netherlands; The ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, the Netherlands.
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13
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Bourdon JL, Davies RA, Long EC. Four Actionable Bottlenecks and Potential Solutions to Translating Psychiatric Genetics Research: An Expert Review. Public Health Genomics 2020; 23:171-183. [PMID: 33147585 PMCID: PMC7854816 DOI: 10.1159/000510832] [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: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychiatric genetics has had limited success in translational efforts. A thorough understanding of the present state of translation in this field will be useful in the facilitation and assessment of future translational progress. PURPOSE A narrative literature review was conducted. Combinations of 3 groups of terms were searched in EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, and PubMed. The review occurred in multiple steps, including abstract collection, inclusion/exclusion criteria review, coding, and analysis of included papers. RESULTS One hundred and fourteen articles were analyzed for the narrative review. Across those, 4 bottlenecks were noted that, if addressed, may provide insights and help improve and increase translation in the field of psychiatric genetics. These 4 bottlenecks are emphasizing linear translational frameworks, relying on molecular genomic findings, prioritizing certain psychiatric disorders, and publishing more reviews than experiments. CONCLUSIONS These entwined bottlenecks are examined with one another. Awareness of these bottlenecks can inform stakeholders who work to translate and/or utilize psychiatric genetic information. Potential solutions include utilizing nonlinear translational frameworks as well as a wider array of psychiatric genetic information (e.g., family history and gene-environment interplay) in this area of research, expanding which psychiatric disorders are considered for translation, and when possible, conducting original research. Researchers are urged to consider how their research is translational in the context of the frameworks, genetic information, and psychiatric disorders discussed in this review. At a broader level, these efforts should be supported with translational efforts in funding and policy shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Bourdon
- Department of Psychiatry, Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA,
| | - Rachel A Davies
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Long
- Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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14
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McIntyre S. Think beyond movement & posture; mental disorders in cerebral palsy. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2020; 27:8. [PMID: 32660882 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2020.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah McIntyre
- Research Institute, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, University of Sydney, Australia.
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15
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Patak J, Faraone SV, Zhang-James Y. Sodium hydrogen exchanger 9 NHE9 (SLC9A9) and its emerging roles in neuropsychiatric comorbidity. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2020; 183:289-305. [PMID: 32400953 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Variations in SLC9A9 gene expression and protein function are associated with multiple human diseases, which range from Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to glioblastoma multiforme. In an effort to determine the full spectrum of human disease associations with SLC9A9, we performed a systematic review of the literature. We also review SLC9A9's biochemistry, protein structure, and function, as well as its interacting partners with the goal of identifying mechanisms of disease and druggable targets. We report gaps in the literature regarding the genes function along with consistent trends in disease associations that can be used to further research into treating the respective diseases. We report that SLC9A9 has strong associations with neuropsychiatric diseases and various cancers. Interestingly, we find strong overlap in SLC9A9 disease associations and propose a novel role for SLC9A9 in neuropsychiatric comorbidity. In conclusion, SLC9A9 is a multifunctional protein that, through both its endosome regulatory function and its protein-protein interaction network, has the ability to modulate signaling axes, such as the PI3K pathway, among others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jameson Patak
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA.,College of Medicine, MD Program, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Stephen V Faraone
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Yanli Zhang-James
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
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16
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A truncating Aspm allele leads to a complex cognitive phenotype and region-specific reductions in parvalbuminergic neurons. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:66. [PMID: 32066665 PMCID: PMC7026184 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0686-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are heterogeneous and identifying shared genetic aetiologies and converging signalling pathways affected could improve disease diagnosis and treatment. Truncating mutations of the abnormal spindle-like microcephaly associated (ASPM) gene cause autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) in humans. ASPM is a positive regulator of Wnt/β-Catenin signalling and controls symmetric to asymmetric cell division. This process balances neural progenitor proliferation with differentiation during embryogenesis, the malfunction of which could interfere with normal brain development. ASPM mutations may play a role also in other neurodevelopmental disorders, nevertheless, we lack the details of how or to what extent. We therefore assessed neurodevelopmental disease and circuit endophenotypes in mice with a truncating Aspm1-7 mutation. Aspm1-7 mice exhibited impaired short- and long-term object recognition memory and markedly enhanced place learning in the IntelliCage®. This behaviour pattern is reminiscent of a cognitive phenotype seen in mouse models and patients with a rare form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as in mouse models of altered Wnt signalling. These alterations were accompanied by ventriculomegaly, corpus callosum dysgenesis and decreased parvalbumin (PV)+ interneuron numbers in the hippocampal Cornu Ammonis (CA) region and thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). PV+ cell number correlated to object recognition (CA and TRN) and place learning (TRN). This opens the possibility that, as well as causing MCPH, mutant ASPM potentially contributes to other neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD through altered parvalbuminergic interneuron development affecting cognitive behaviour. These findings provide important information for understanding the genetic overlap and improved treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with ASPM.
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17
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Ma X, Qiu S. Control of cortical synapse development and plasticity by MET receptor tyrosine kinase, a genetic risk factor for autism. J Neurosci Res 2019; 98:2115-2129. [PMID: 31746037 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The key developmental milestone events of the human brain, such as neurogenesis, synapse formation, maturation, and plasticity, are determined by a myriad of molecular signaling events, including those mediated by a number of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and their cognate ligands. Aberrant or mistimed brain development and plasticity can lead to maladaptive changes, such as dysregulated synaptic connectivity and breakdown of circuit functions necessary for cognition and adaptive behaviors, which are hypothesized pathophysiologies of many neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we review recent literature that supports autism spectrum disorder as a likely result of aberrant synapse development due to mistimed maturation and plasticity. We focus on MET RTK, a prominent genetic risk factor for autism, and discuss how a pleiotropic molecular signaling system engaged by MET exemplifies a genetic program that controls cortical circuit development and plasticity by modulating the anatomical and functional connectivity of cortical circuits, thus conferring genetic risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokuang Ma
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Shenfeng Qiu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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18
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Busch RM, Srivastava S, Hogue O, Frazier TW, Klaas P, Hardan A, Martinez-Agosto JA, Sahin M, Eng C. Neurobehavioral phenotype of autism spectrum disorder associated with germline heterozygous mutations in PTEN. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:253. [PMID: 31594918 PMCID: PMC6783427 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0588-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Germline mutations in PTEN, the gene that encodes phosphatase and tensin homolog, have been identified in up to 20% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and macrocephaly and are associated with marked abnormalities in the white matter of the brain. This study sought to characterize the neurobehavioral phenotype of PTEN-ASD. Comprehensive neurobehavioral evaluations were conducted in 36 participants (ages 3-21 years) with PTEN-ASD and compared to two groups of controls: non-syndromic ASD with macrocephaly (Macro-ASD, n = 25) and those with PTEN mutations without ASD (PTEN-no ASD, n = 23). Linear regression analysis or Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine group differences on neurobehavioral measures (cognitive, behavioral, sensory, and adaptive functioning) and, for select measures, one-sample t-tests were used to compare group performance to healthy control norms. These analyses revealed a distinct neuropsychological profile associated with mutations in PTEN suggesting primary disruption of frontal lobe systems (i.e., attention, impulsivity, reaction time, processing speed, and motor coordination). Cognitive deficits in PTEN-ASD are more severe than those in PTEN-no ASD and extend to other areas of neurobehavioral function, specifically, adaptive behavior and sensory deficits. While core ASD symptoms are similar in PTEN-ASD and Macro-ASD, PTEN-ASD had lower clinical ratings of autism severity and showed more sensory abnormalities suggestive of less sensory responsiveness. Together, these results suggest that PTEN-ASD has a distinct neurobehavioral phenotype compared to idiopathic ASD that is likely to warrant special consideration for overall assessment and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn M. Busch
- 0000 0001 0675 4725grid.239578.2Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA ,0000 0001 0675 4725grid.239578.2Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA
| | - Siddharth Srivastava
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,0000 0004 0378 8438grid.2515.3Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| | - Olivia Hogue
- 0000 0001 0675 4725grid.239578.2Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA
| | - Thomas W. Frazier
- 0000 0001 0675 4725grid.239578.2Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA ,0000 0004 4663 7867grid.427598.5Autism Speaks, Cleveland, OH USA ,0000 0001 0675 4725grid.239578.2Pediatrics Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA
| | - Patricia Klaas
- 0000 0001 0675 4725grid.239578.2Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA
| | - Antonio Hardan
- 0000000087342732grid.240952.8Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Julian A. Martinez-Agosto
- 0000 0000 9632 6718grid.19006.3eDepartment of Human Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,0000 0004 0378 8438grid.2515.3Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. .,Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. .,Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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19
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Horn SR, Leve LD, Levitt P, Fisher PA. Childhood adversity, mental health, and oxidative stress: A pilot study. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215085. [PMID: 31026258 PMCID: PMC6485615 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood adversity is a potent risk factor for mental health conditions via disruptions to stress response systems. Dysregulations in oxidative stress systems have been associated with both childhood adversity and several psychological disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder) in adult populations. However, few studies have examined associations between childhood adversity, oxidative stress, and mental health in pediatric populations. Childhood adversity (Adverse Childhood Events [ACE]), oxidative stress [F2t-isoprostanes (IsoPs)], and mental health pathology were assessed in 50 adolescent females recruited primarily through the Department of Youth Services. Standard ordinary least squares regression models were run co-varying for age, race/ethnicity, adolescent nicotine use, study condition, and parent history of ACEs. Adolescents who reported experiencing four or more ACEs had significantly elevated IsoP levels. Further, internalizing symptom scores across diagnoses were significantly associated with elevated IsoPs, whereas no externalizing symptoms scores, except Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, were related to altered oxidative stress. Results indicate that IsoPs may be a global marker of childhood adversity and mental health symptomatology, particularly within internalizing symptom domains. A limitation is that body mass index was not collected for this sample. Future studies are needed to replicate and extend these findings in larger, more diverse samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Horn
- University of Oregon, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Leslie D. Leve
- University of Oregon, College of Education, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Pat Levitt
- University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Program in Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Philip A. Fisher
- University of Oregon, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
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20
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Hiatt SM, Thompson ML, Prokop JW, Lawlor JMJ, Gray DE, Bebin EM, Rinne T, Kempers M, Pfundt R, van Bon BW, Mignot C, Nava C, Depienne C, Kalsner L, Rauch A, Joset P, Bachmann-Gagescu R, Wentzensen IM, McWalter K, Cooper GM. Deleterious Variation in BRSK2 Associates with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder. Am J Hum Genet 2019; 104:701-708. [PMID: 30879638 PMCID: PMC6451696 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental delay and intellectual disability (DD and ID) are heterogeneous phenotypes that arise in many rare monogenic disorders. Because of this rarity, developing cohorts with enough individuals to robustly identify disease-associated genes is challenging. Social-media platforms that facilitate data sharing among sequencing labs can help to address this challenge. Through one such tool, GeneMatcher, we identified nine DD- and/or ID-affected probands with a rare, heterozygous variant in the gene encoding the serine/threonine-protein kinase BRSK2. All probands have a speech delay, and most present with intellectual disability, motor delay, behavioral issues, and autism. Six of the nine variants are predicted to result in loss of function, and computational modeling predicts that the remaining three missense variants are damaging to BRSK2 structure and function. All nine variants are absent from large variant databases, and BRSK2 is, in general, relatively intolerant to protein-altering variation among humans. In all six probands for whom parents were available, the mutations were found to have arisen de novo. Five of these de novo variants were from cohorts with at least 400 sequenced probands; collectively, the cohorts span 3,429 probands, and the observed rate of de novo variation in these cohorts is significantly higher than the estimated background-mutation rate (p = 2.46 × 10-6). We also find that exome sequencing provides lower coverage and appears less sensitive to rare variation in BRSK2 than does genome sequencing; this fact most likely reduces BRSK2's visibility in many clinical and research sequencing efforts. Altogether, our results implicate damaging variation in BRSK2 as a source of neurodevelopmental disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M Hiatt
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | | | - Jeremy W Prokop
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - James M J Lawlor
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - David E Gray
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - E Martina Bebin
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Tuula Rinne
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marlies Kempers
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Rolph Pfundt
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Bregje W van Bon
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Cyril Mignot
- Département de Génétique, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris 75013, France; Centres de Référence Maladies Rares, Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares, Paris 75013, France; Groupes de Recherche Clinique Paris Sorbonne Déficience Intellectuelle et Autisme, Paris 75013, France
| | - Caroline Nava
- Département de Génétique, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris 75013, France; Faculté de Médecine, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, Sorbonne Université, Paris 75013, France
| | - Christel Depienne
- Faculté de Médecine, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, Sorbonne Université, Paris 75013, France; Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45147, Germany
| | - Louisa Kalsner
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Anita Rauch
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren 8952, Switzerland; Radiz-Rare Disease Initiative Zurich, Clinical Research Priority Program, University of Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Joset
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren 8952, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Gregory M Cooper
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA.
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21
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Licari MK, Finlay-Jones A, Reynolds JE, Alvares GA, Spittle AJ, Downs J, Whitehouse AJO, Leonard H, Evans KL, Varcin K. The Brain Basis of Comorbidity in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40474-019-0156-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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22
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Green MJ, Kariuki M, Dean K, Laurens KR, Tzoumakis S, Harris F, Carr VJ. Childhood developmental vulnerabilities associated with early life exposure to infectious and noninfectious diseases and maternal mental illness. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2018; 59:801-810. [PMID: 29278269 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal exposure to infectious and noninfectious diseases may influence early childhood developmental functioning, on the path to later mental illness. Here, we investigated the effects of in utero exposure to maternal infection and noninfectious diseases during pregnancy on offspring developmental vulnerabilities at age 5 years, in the context of estimated effects for early childhood exposures to infectious and noninfectious diseases and maternal mental illness. METHODS We used population data for 66,045 children from an intergenerational record linkage study (the New South Wales Child Development Study), for whom a cross-sectional assessment of five developmental competencies (physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and communication) was obtained at school entry, using the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC). Child and maternal exposures to infectious or noninfectious diseases were determined from the NSW Ministry of Health Admitted Patients Data Collection (APDC) and maternal mental illness exposure was derived from both APDC and Mental Health Ambulatory Data collections. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine unadjusted and adjusted associations between these physical and mental health exposures and child developmental vulnerabilities at age 5 years. RESULTS Among the physical disease exposures, maternal infectious diseases during pregnancy and early childhood infection conferred the largest associations with developmental vulnerabilities at age 5 years; maternal noninfectious illness during pregnancy also retained small but significant associations with developmental vulnerabilities even when adjusted for other physical and mental illness exposures and covariates known to be associated with early childhood development (e.g., child's sex, socioeconomic disadvantage, young maternal age, prenatal smoking). Among all exposures examined, maternal mental illness first diagnosed prior to childbirth conferred the greatest odds of developmental vulnerability at age 5 years. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal exposure to infectious or noninfectious diseases appear to influence early childhood physical, social, emotional and cognitive developmental vulnerabilities that may represent intermediate phenotypes for subsequent mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Green
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maina Kariuki
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kimberlie Dean
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kristin R Laurens
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stacy Tzoumakis
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Felicity Harris
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vaughan J Carr
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
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23
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Viñas-Jornet M, Esteba-Castillo S, Baena N, Ribas-Vidal N, Ruiz A, Torrents-Rodas D, Gabau E, Vilella E, Martorell L, Armengol L, Novell R, Guitart M. High Incidence of Copy Number Variants in Adults with Intellectual Disability and Co-morbid Psychiatric Disorders. Behav Genet 2018; 48:323-336. [PMID: 29882083 PMCID: PMC6028865 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-018-9902-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A genetic analysis of unexplained mild-moderate intellectual disability and co-morbid psychiatric or behavioural disorders is not systematically conducted in adults. A cohort of 100 adult patients affected by both phenotypes were analysed in order to identify the presence of copy number variants (CNVs) responsible for their condition identifying a yield of 12.8% of pathogenic CNVs (19% when including clinically recognizable microdeletion syndromes). Moreover, there is a detailed clinical description of an additional 11% of the patients harbouring possible pathogenic CNVs—including a 7q31 deletion (IMMP2L) in two unrelated patients and duplications in 3q29, 9p24.2p24.1 and 15q14q15.1—providing new evidence of its contribution to the phenotype. This study adds further proof of including chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) as a mandatory test to improve the diagnosis in the adult patients in psychiatric services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Viñas-Jornet
- Genetics lab, UDIAT-centre diagnostic. Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, C/Parc Tauli,1, 08208, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain.,Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susanna Esteba-Castillo
- Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Specialized Service, Institut Assistència Sanitària (IAS), Parc Hospitalari Martí i Julià, Girona, Spain
| | - Neus Baena
- Genetics lab, UDIAT-centre diagnostic. Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, C/Parc Tauli,1, 08208, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Ribas-Vidal
- Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Specialized Service, Institut Assistència Sanitària (IAS), Parc Hospitalari Martí i Julià, Girona, Spain
| | - Anna Ruiz
- Genetics lab, UDIAT-centre diagnostic. Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, C/Parc Tauli,1, 08208, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Torrents-Rodas
- Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Specialized Service, Institut Assistència Sanitària (IAS), Parc Hospitalari Martí i Julià, Girona, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Gabau
- Pediatry-Clinical Genetics Service, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Elisabet Vilella
- Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, CIBERSAM, Reus, Spain
| | - Lourdes Martorell
- Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, CIBERSAM, Reus, Spain
| | - Lluís Armengol
- Research and Development Department, qGenomics Laboratory, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Novell
- Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Specialized Service, Institut Assistència Sanitària (IAS), Parc Hospitalari Martí i Julià, Girona, Spain
| | - Míriam Guitart
- Genetics lab, UDIAT-centre diagnostic. Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, C/Parc Tauli,1, 08208, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain.
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24
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Foxp1 in Forebrain Pyramidal Neurons Controls Gene Expression Required for Spatial Learning and Synaptic Plasticity. J Neurosci 2017; 37:10917-10931. [PMID: 28978667 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1005-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic perturbations of the transcription factor Forkhead Box P1 (FOXP1) are causative for severe forms of autism spectrum disorder that are often comorbid with intellectual disability. Recent work has begun to reveal an important role for FoxP1 in brain development, but the brain-region-specific contributions of Foxp1 to autism and intellectual disability phenotypes have yet to be determined fully. Here, we describe Foxp1 conditional knock-out (Foxp1cKO) male and female mice with loss of Foxp1 in the pyramidal neurons of the neocortex and the CA1/CA2 subfields of the hippocampus. Foxp1cKO mice exhibit behavioral phenotypes that are of potential relevance to autism spectrum disorder, including hyperactivity, increased anxiety, communication impairments, and decreased sociability. In addition, Foxp1cKO mice have gross deficits in learning and memory tasks of relevance to intellectual disability. Using a genome-wide approach, we identified differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus of Foxp1cKO mice associated with synaptic function and development. Furthermore, using magnetic resonance imaging, we uncovered a significant reduction in the volumes of both the entire hippocampus as well as individual hippocampal subfields of Foxp1cKO mice. Finally, we observed reduced maintenance of LTP in area CA1 of the hippocampus in these mutant mice. Together, these data suggest that proper expression of Foxp1 in the pyramidal neurons of the forebrain is important for regulating gene expression pathways that contribute to specific behaviors reminiscent of those seen in autism and intellectual disability. In particular, Foxp1 regulation of gene expression appears to be crucial for normal hippocampal development, CA1 plasticity, and spatial learning.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Loss-of-function mutations in the transcription factor Forkhead Box P1 (FOXP1) lead to autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. Understanding the potential brain-region-specific contributions of FOXP1 to disease-relevant phenotypes could be a critical first step in the management of patients with these mutations. Here, we report that Foxp1 conditional knock-out (Foxp1cKO) mice with loss of Foxp1 in the neocortex and hippocampus display autism and intellectual-disability-relevant behaviors. We also show that these phenotypes correlate with changes in both the genomic and physiological profiles of the hippocampus in Foxp1cKO mice. Our work demonstrates that brain-region-specific FOXP1 expression may relate to distinct, clinically relevant phenotypes.
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25
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Kamitakahara A, Wu HH, Levitt P. Distinct projection targets define subpopulations of mouse brainstem vagal neurons that express the autism-associated MET receptor tyrosine kinase. J Comp Neurol 2017; 525:3787-3808. [PMID: 28758209 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Detailed anatomical tracing and mapping of the viscerotopic organization of the vagal motor nuclei has provided insight into autonomic function in health and disease. To further define specific cellular identities, we paired information based on visceral connectivity with a cell-type specific marker of a subpopulation of neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) and nucleus ambiguus (nAmb) that express the autism-associated MET receptor tyrosine kinase. As gastrointestinal disturbances are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we sought to define the relationship between MET-expressing (MET+) neurons in the DMV and nAmb, and the gastrointestinal tract. Using wholemount tissue staining and clearing, or retrograde tracing in a METEGFP transgenic mouse, we identify three novel subpopulations of EGFP+ vagal brainstem neurons: (a) EGFP+ neurons in the nAmb projecting to the esophagus or laryngeal muscles, (b) EGFP+ neurons in the medial DMV projecting to the stomach, and (b) EGFP+ neurons in the lateral DMV projecting to the cecum and/or proximal colon. Expression of the MET ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), by tissues innervated by vagal motor neurons during fetal development reveal potential sites of HGF-MET interaction. Furthermore, similar cellular expression patterns of MET in the brainstem of both the mouse and nonhuman primate suggests that MET expression at these sites is evolutionarily conserved. Together, the data suggest that MET+ neurons in the brainstem vagal motor nuclei are anatomically positioned to regulate distinct portions of the gastrointestinal tract, with implications for the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal comorbidities of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kamitakahara
- Program in Developmental Neurogenetics, Institute for the Developing Mind, The Saban Resarch Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Hsiao-Huei Wu
- Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Pat Levitt
- Program in Developmental Neurogenetics, Institute for the Developing Mind, The Saban Resarch Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,University of Southern California Program in Neuroscience, Los Angeles, California
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