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Bouteldja AA, Penichet D, Srivastava LK, Cermakian N. The circadian system: A neglected player in neurodevelopmental disorders. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:3858-3890. [PMID: 38816965 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16423] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, often display abnormal circadian rhythms. The role of the circadian system in these disorders has gained considerable attention over the last decades. Yet, it remains largely unknown how these disruptions occur and to what extent they contribute to the disorders' development. In this review, we examine circadian system dysregulation as observed in patients and animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Second, we explore whether circadian rhythm disruptions constitute a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders from studies in humans and model organisms. Lastly, we focus on the impact of psychiatric medications on circadian rhythms and the potential benefits of chronotherapy. The literature reveals that patients with neurodevelopmental disorders display altered sleep-wake cycles and melatonin rhythms/levels in a heterogeneous manner, and model organisms used to study these disorders appear to support that circadian dysfunction may be an inherent characteristic of neurodevelopmental disorders. Furthermore, the pre-clinical and clinical evidence indicates that circadian disruption at the environmental and genetic levels may contribute to the behavioural changes observed in these disorders. Finally, studies suggest that psychiatric medications, particularly those prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia, can have direct effects on the circadian system and that chronotherapy may be leveraged to offset some of these side effects. This review highlights that circadian system dysfunction is likely a core pathological feature of neurodevelopmental disorders and that further research is required to elucidate this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Bouteldja
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Danae Penichet
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Lalit K Srivastava
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Nicolas Cermakian
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Seneff S, Kyriakopoulos AM, Nigh G. Is autism a PIN1 deficiency syndrome? A proposed etiological role for glyphosate. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38808598 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, the prevalence of which has increased dramatically in the United States over the past two decades. It is characterized by stereotyped behaviors and impairments in social interaction and communication. In this paper, we present evidence that autism can be viewed as a PIN1 deficiency syndrome. Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, NIMA-Interacting 1 (PIN1) is a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, and it has widespread influences in biological organisms. Broadly speaking, PIN1 deficiency is linked to many neurodegenerative diseases, whereas PIN1 over-expression is linked to cancer. Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) strongly inhibits PIN1, and the hormone melatonin inhibits DAPK1. Melatonin deficiency is strongly linked to autism. It has recently been shown that glyphosate exposure to rats inhibits melatonin synthesis as a result of increased glutamate release from glial cells and increased expression of metabotropic glutamate receptors. Glyphosate's inhibition of melatonin leads to a reduction in PIN1 availability in neurons. In this paper, we show that PIN1 deficiency can explain many of the unique morphological features of autism, including increased dendritic spine density, missing or thin corpus callosum, and reduced bone density. We show how PIN1 deficiency disrupts the functioning of powerful high-level signaling molecules, such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and p53. Dysregulation of both of these proteins has been linked to autism. Severe depletion of glutathione in the brain resulting from chronic exposure to oxidative stressors and extracellular glutamate leads to oxidation of the cysteine residue in PIN1, inactivating the protein and further contributing to PIN1 deficiency. Impaired autophagy leads to increased sensitivity of neurons to ferroptosis. It is imperative that further research be conducted to experimentally validate whether the mechanisms described here take place in response to chronic glyphosate exposure and whether this ultimately leads to autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Seneff
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Greg Nigh
- Immersion Health, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Estes A, Hillman A, Chen ML. Sleep and Autism: Current Research, Clinical Assessment, and Treatment Strategies. FOCUS (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC PUBLISHING) 2024; 22:162-169. [PMID: 38680972 PMCID: PMC11046719 DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20230028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is associated with a high rate of sleep problems, affecting over 80% of autistic individuals. Sleep problems have pervasive negative effects on health, behavior, mood, and cognition but are underrecognized in autistic children. Problems initiating and maintaining sleep-hallmarks of insomnia-are common. Sleep-disordered breathing and restless legs syndrome have also been described in autism at a higher prevalence than in community populations. The authors describe current research on sleep in autistic children and potential pathophysiologic mechanisms. They describe practical approaches to sleep assessment and synthesize approaches to addressing sleep problems in autistic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Estes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences (Estes) and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine (Chen), University of Washington, Seattle; University of Washington Autism Center (Estes, Hillman); Pediatric Sleep Disorders Center and Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Division, Seattle Children's Hospital (Chen)
| | - Arianna Hillman
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences (Estes) and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine (Chen), University of Washington, Seattle; University of Washington Autism Center (Estes, Hillman); Pediatric Sleep Disorders Center and Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Division, Seattle Children's Hospital (Chen)
| | - Maida Lynn Chen
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences (Estes) and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine (Chen), University of Washington, Seattle; University of Washington Autism Center (Estes, Hillman); Pediatric Sleep Disorders Center and Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Division, Seattle Children's Hospital (Chen)
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Jasenovec T, Radosinska D, Jansakova K, Kopcikova M, Tomova A, Snurikova D, Vrbjar N, Radosinska J. Alterations in Antioxidant Status and Erythrocyte Properties in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:2054. [PMID: 38136174 PMCID: PMC10741171 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12122054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythrocytes are responsible for the transport of oxygen within the organism, which is particularly important for nerve tissues. Erythrocyte quality has been shown to be deteriorated in oxidative stress conditions. In this study, we measured the same series of oxidative stress markers in plasma and erythrocytes to compare the differences between neurotypical children (controls) and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We also focused on erythrocyte properties including their deformability, osmotic resistance, Na,K-ATPase activity, nitric oxide levels and free radical levels in children with ASD and controls. Greater oxidative damage to proteins and lipids was observed in the erythrocytes than in the plasma of ASD subjects. Additionally, antioxidant enzymes were more active in plasma samples from ASD children than in their erythrocytes. Significantly higher nitric oxide level and Na,K-ATPase enzyme activity were detected in erythrocytes of ASD individuals in comparison with the controls. Changes in oxidative status could at least partially contribute to the deterioration of erythrocyte morphology, as more frequent echinocyte formation was detected in ASD individuals. These alterations are most probably responsible for worsening the erythrocyte deformability observed in children with ASD. We can conclude that abnormalities in antioxidant status and erythrocyte properties could be involved in the pathomechanisms of ASD and eventually contribute to its clinical manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Jasenovec
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 2, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (T.J.); (K.J.); (M.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Dominika Radosinska
- Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Katarina Jansakova
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 2, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (T.J.); (K.J.); (M.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Maria Kopcikova
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 2, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (T.J.); (K.J.); (M.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Aleksandra Tomova
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 2, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (T.J.); (K.J.); (M.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Denisa Snurikova
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute for Heart Research, Dúbravská Cesta 9, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia; (D.S.); (N.V.)
| | - Norbert Vrbjar
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute for Heart Research, Dúbravská Cesta 9, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia; (D.S.); (N.V.)
| | - Jana Radosinska
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 2, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (T.J.); (K.J.); (M.K.); (A.T.)
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute for Heart Research, Dúbravská Cesta 9, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia; (D.S.); (N.V.)
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