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Avolio E, Olivito I, Leo A, De Matteo C, Guarnieri L, Bosco F, Mahata SK, Minervini D, Alò R, De Sarro G, Citraro R, Facciolo RM. Vasostatin-1 restores autistic disorders in an idiopathic autism model (BTBR T+ Itpr3 tf/J mice) by decreasing hippocampal neuroinflammation. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 135:111131. [PMID: 39209101 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111131] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Chromogranin A (CgA), a ∼ 49 kDa acidic secretory protein, is ubiquitously distributed in endocrine and neuroendocrine cells and neurons. As a propeptide, CgA is proteolytically cleaved to generate several peptides of biological importance, including pancreastatin (PST: hCgA250-301), Vasostatin 1 (VS1: hCgA1-76), and catestatin (CST: CgA 352-372). VS1 represents the most conserved fragment of CgA. A 20 amino acid domain within VS1 (CgA 47-66) exhibits potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Autism is known to be associated with inflammation. Therefore, we seek to test the hypothesis that VS1 modulates autism behaviors by reducing inflammation in the hippocampus. Treatment of C57BL/6 (B6) and BTBR (a mouse model of idiopathic autism) mice with VS1 revealed the following: BTBR mice showed a significant decrease in chamber time in the presence of a stranger or a novel object. Treatment with VS1 significantly increased chamber time in both cases, underscoring a crucial role for VS1 in improving behavioral deficits in BTBR mice. In contrast to chamber time, sniffing time in BTBR mice in the presence of a stranger was less compared to B6 control mice. VS1 did not improve this latter parameter. Surprisingly, sniffing time in BTBR mice in the presence of a novel object was comparable with B6 mice. Proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1b, as well as other inflammatory markers, were elevated in BTBR mice, which were dramatically reduced after supplementation with VS1. Interestingly, even Beclin-1/p62, pAKT/AKT, and p-p70-S6K/p70-S6K ratios were notably reduced by VS1. We conclude that VS1 plays a crucial role in restoring autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) plausibly by attenuating neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ennio Avolio
- Comparative Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci 4B, Arcavacata di Rende, 87030 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Ilaria Olivito
- Comparative Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci 4B, Arcavacata di Rende, 87030 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Antonio Leo
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Claudia De Matteo
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Lorenza Guarnieri
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesca Bosco
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Sushil K Mahata
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA; University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Damiana Minervini
- Comparative Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci 4B, Arcavacata di Rende, 87030 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Raffaella Alò
- Comparative Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci 4B, Arcavacata di Rende, 87030 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Giovambattista De Sarro
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rita Citraro
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Facciolo
- Comparative Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci 4B, Arcavacata di Rende, 87030 Cosenza, Italy
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Nezamuldeen L, Jafri MS. Boolean Modeling of Biological Network Applied to Protein-Protein Interaction Network of Autism Patients. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:606. [PMID: 39194544 DOI: 10.3390/biology13080606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Cellular molecules interact with one another in a structured manner, defining a regulatory network topology that describes cellular mechanisms. Genetic mutations alter these networks' pathways, generating complex disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Boolean models have assisted in understanding biological system dynamics since Kauffman's 1969 discovery, and various analytical tools for regulatory networks have been developed. This study examined the protein-protein interaction network created in our previous publication of four ASD patients using the SPIDDOR R package, a Boolean model-based method. The aim is to examine how patients' genetic variations in INTS6L, USP9X, RSK4, FGF5, FLNA, SUMF1, and IDS affect mTOR and Wnt cell signaling convergence. The Boolean network analysis revealed abnormal activation levels of essential proteins such as β-catenin, MTORC1, RPS6, eIF4E, Cadherin, and SMAD. These proteins affect gene expression, translation, cell adhesion, shape, and migration. Patients 1 and 2 showed consistent patterns of increased β-catenin activity and decreased MTORC1, RPS6, and eIF4E activity. However, patient 2 had an independent decrease in Cadherin and SMAD activity due to the FLNA mutation. Patients 3 and 4 have an abnormal activation of the mTOR pathway, which includes the MTORC1, RPS6, and eIF4E genes. The shared mTOR pathway behavior in these patients is explained by a shared mutation in two closely related proteins (SUMF1 and IDS). Diverse activities in β-catenin, MTORC1, RPS6, eIF4E, Cadherin, and SMAD contributed to the reported phenotype in these individuals. Furthermore, it unveiled the potential therapeutic options that could be suggested to these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Nezamuldeen
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohsin Saleet Jafri
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Stanciu SM, Jinga M, Miricescu D, Stefani C, Nica RI, Stanescu-Spinu II, Vacaroiu IA, Greabu M, Nica S. mTOR Dysregulation, Insulin Resistance, and Hypertension. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1802. [PMID: 39200267 PMCID: PMC11351979 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12081802] [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: 07/06/2024] [Revised: 08/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent serious health problems associated with unhealthy diet and sedentarism. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (IR) and hypertension. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase with key roles in glucose and lipid metabolism, cell growth, survival and proliferation. mTOR hyperactivation disturbs glucose metabolism, leading to hyperglycemia and further to IR, with a higher incidence in the Western population. Metformin is one of the most used hypoglycemic drugs, with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumoral properties, having also the capacity to inhibit mTOR. mTOR inhibitors such as rapamycin and its analogs everolimus and temsirolimus block mTOR activity, decrease the levels of glucose and triglycerides, and reduce body weight. The link between mTOR dysregulation, IR, hypertension and mTOR inhibitors has not been fully described. Therefore, the main aim of this narrative review is to present the mechanism by which nutrients, proinflammatory cytokines, increased salt intake and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) dysregulation induce mTOR overactivation, associated further with IR and hypertension development, and also mTOR inhibitors with higher potential to block the activity of this protein kinase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silviu Marcel Stanciu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Central Military Emergency University Hospital, “Dr. Carol Davila”, 010825 Bucharest, Romania; (S.M.S.); (M.J.)
| | - Mariana Jinga
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Central Military Emergency University Hospital, “Dr. Carol Davila”, 010825 Bucharest, Romania; (S.M.S.); (M.J.)
| | - Daniela Miricescu
- Discipline of Biochemistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Constantin Stefani
- Department of Family Medicine and Clinical Base, Central Military Emergency University Hospital, “Dr. Carol Davila”, 010825 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Remus Iulian Nica
- Surgery Department, Central Military Emergency University Hospital, “Dr. Carol Davila”, 010825 Bucharest, Romania;
- Discipline of General Surgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanotari Blvd, 054474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Iulia-Ioana Stanescu-Spinu
- Discipline of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ileana Adela Vacaroiu
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Maria Greabu
- Discipline of Biochemistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Silvia Nica
- Emergency Discipline, University Hospital of Bucharest, 050098 Bucharest, Romania;
- Department of Emergency and First Aid, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
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Tu G, Jiang N, Chen W, Liu L, Hu M, Liao B. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the effects of exercise interventions in autistic individuals. Rev Neurosci 2024; 0:revneuro-2024-0058. [PMID: 39083671 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2024-0058] [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: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a pervasive and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication difficulties and rigid, repetitive behaviors. Owing to the complex pathogenesis of autism, effective drugs for treating its core features are lacking. Nonpharmacological approaches, including education, social-communication, behavioral and psychological methods, and exercise interventions, play important roles in supporting the needs of autistic individuals. The advantages of exercise intervention, such as its low cost, easy implementation, and high acceptance, have garnered increasing attention. Exercise interventions can effectively improve the core features and co-occurring conditions of autism, but the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are unclear. Abnormal changes in the gut microbiome, neuroinflammation, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity may individually or interactively be responsible for atypical brain structure and connectivity, leading to specific autistic experiences and characteristics. Interestingly, exercise can affect these biological processes and reshape brain network connections, which may explain how exercise alleviates core features and co-occurring conditions in autistic individuals. In this review, we describe the definition, diagnostic approach, epidemiology, and current support strategies for autism; highlight the benefits of exercise interventions; and call for individualized programs for different subtypes of autistic individuals. Finally, the possible neurobiological mechanisms by which exercise improves autistic features are comprehensively summarized to inform the development of optimal exercise interventions and specific targets to meet the needs of autistic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genghong Tu
- Department of Sports Medicine, 47878 Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, 47878 Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Graduate School, 47878 Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
| | - Weizhong Chen
- Graduate School, 47878 Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
| | - Lining Liu
- Graduate School, 47878 Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
| | - Min Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, 47878 Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
| | - Bagen Liao
- Department of Sports Medicine, 47878 Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, 47878 Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
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Chi OZ, Liu X, Fortus H, Werlen G, Jacinto E, Weiss HR. Inhibition of p70 Ribosomal S6 Kinase (S6K1) Reduces Cortical Blood Flow in a Rat Model of Autism-Tuberous Sclerosis. Neuromolecular Med 2024; 26:10. [PMID: 38570425 PMCID: PMC10990997 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-024-08780-7] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in humans include epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disability. Previous studies suggested the linkage of TSC to altered cerebral blood flow and metabolic dysfunction. We previously reported a significant elevation in cerebral blood flow in an animal model of TSC and autism of young Eker rats. Inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) by rapamycin could restore normal oxygen consumption and cerebral blood flow. In this study, we investigated whether inhibiting a component of the mTOR signaling pathway, p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K1), would yield comparable effects. Control Long Evans and Eker rats were divided into vehicle and PF-4708671 (S6K1 inhibitor, 75 mg/kg for 1 h) treated groups. Cerebral regional blood flow (14C-iodoantipyrine) was determined in isoflurane anesthetized rats. We found significantly increased basal cortical (+ 32%) and hippocampal (+ 15%) blood flow in the Eker rats. PF-4708671 significantly lowered regional blood flow in the cortex and hippocampus of the Eker rats. PF-4708671 did not significantly lower blood flow in these regions in the control Long Evans rats. Phosphorylation of S6-Ser240/244 and Akt-Ser473 was moderately decreased in Eker rats but only the latter reached statistical significance upon PF-4708671 treatment. Our findings suggest that moderate inhibition of S6K1 with PF-4708671 helps to restore normal cortical blood flow in Eker rats and that this information might have therapeutic potential in tuberous sclerosis complex and autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oak Z Chi
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, Suite 3100, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901-1977, USA.
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, Suite 3100, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901-1977, USA
| | - Harvey Fortus
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Guy Werlen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Estela Jacinto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Harvey R Weiss
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
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Prem S, Dev B, Peng C, Mehta M, Alibutud R, Connacher RJ, St Thomas M, Zhou X, Matteson P, Xing J, Millonig JH, DiCicco-Bloom E. Dysregulation of mTOR signaling mediates common neurite and migration defects in both idiopathic and 16p11.2 deletion autism neural precursor cells. eLife 2024; 13:e82809. [PMID: 38525876 PMCID: PMC11003747 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined by common behavioral characteristics, raising the possibility of shared pathogenic mechanisms. Yet, vast clinical and etiological heterogeneity suggests personalized phenotypes. Surprisingly, our iPSC studies find that six individuals from two distinct ASD subtypes, idiopathic and 16p11.2 deletion, have common reductions in neural precursor cell (NPC) neurite outgrowth and migration even though whole genome sequencing demonstrates no genetic overlap between the datasets. To identify signaling differences that may contribute to these developmental defects, an unbiased phospho-(p)-proteome screen was performed. Surprisingly despite the genetic heterogeneity, hundreds of shared p-peptides were identified between autism subtypes including the mTOR pathway. mTOR signaling alterations were confirmed in all NPCs across both ASD subtypes, and mTOR modulation rescued ASD phenotypes and reproduced autism NPC-associated phenotypes in control NPCs. Thus, our studies demonstrate that genetically distinct ASD subtypes have common defects in neurite outgrowth and migration which are driven by the shared pathogenic mechanism of mTOR signaling dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smrithi Prem
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Bharati Dev
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Cynthia Peng
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Monal Mehta
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Rohan Alibutud
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Robert J Connacher
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Madeline St Thomas
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Xiaofeng Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Paul Matteson
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Jinchuan Xing
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - James H Millonig
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscatawayUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolNew BrunswickUnited States
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Zhuang H, Liang Z, Ma G, Qureshi A, Ran X, Feng C, Liu X, Yan X, Shen L. Autism spectrum disorder: pathogenesis, biomarker, and intervention therapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e497. [PMID: 38434761 PMCID: PMC10908366 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become a common neurodevelopmental disorder. The heterogeneity of ASD poses great challenges for its research and clinical translation. On the basis of reviewing the heterogeneity of ASD, this review systematically summarized the current status and progress of pathogenesis, diagnostic markers, and interventions for ASD. We provided an overview of the ASD molecular mechanisms identified by multi-omics studies and convergent mechanism in different genetic backgrounds. The comorbidities, mechanisms associated with important physiological and metabolic abnormalities (i.e., inflammation, immunity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction), and gut microbial disorder in ASD were reviewed. The non-targeted omics and targeting studies of diagnostic markers for ASD were also reviewed. Moreover, we summarized the progress and methods of behavioral and educational interventions, intervention methods related to technological devices, and research on medical interventions and potential drug targets. This review highlighted the application of high-throughput omics methods in ASD research and emphasized the importance of seeking homogeneity from heterogeneity and exploring the convergence of disease mechanisms, biomarkers, and intervention approaches, and proposes that taking into account individuality and commonality may be the key to achieve accurate diagnosis and treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbin Zhuang
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Zhiyuan Liang
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Guanwei Ma
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Ayesha Qureshi
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Xiaoqian Ran
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Chengyun Feng
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital of BaoanShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Xukun Liu
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Xi Yan
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Liming Shen
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
- Shenzhen‐Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science‐Shenzhen Fundamental Research InstitutionsShenzhenP. R. China
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Clements CC, Ascunce K, Nelson CA. In Context: A Developmental Model of Reward Processing, With Implications for Autism and Sensitive Periods. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 62:1200-1216. [PMID: 36336205 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2022.07.861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Differences in reward processing have been associated with numerous psychiatric disorders, including autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many attempts to understand reward processing characterize differences in clinical populations after disorder onset; however, divergence may begin much earlier. In fact, the typical developmental progression of reward processing in infancy and early childhood is poorly understood. We re-conceptualize classic infant developmental constructs such as preferential looking into a Six-Component Developmental Model of Reward Processing: an infant- and young child-focused framework to guide research and assessment of reward processing across development. METHOD The extant developmental literature including recent textbooks, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses was reviewed to build a conceptual framework. We describe experimental paradigms to assess each developmental component of reward processing longitudinally from infancy. A timeline of each component's emergence was estimated. RESULTS Six components of reward processing were identified-association, discrimination, preference/valuation, effort, anticipation, and response. Selected evidence suggests emergence between birth and 6 months. Application of this model to autism led to a reinterpretation of existing disparate results, and illuminated a path to study the developmental processes underlying a popular hypothesis of autism, the motivation hypothesis. Current evidence further suggests that a sensitive period may exist for the emergence of reward processing. CONCLUSION The proposed framework offers a useful reconceptualization of the extant literature. Future longitudinal work using the suggested experimental paradigms with high-risk populations could elucidate the developmental trajectory of the components and timing of potential sensitive period(s) for each component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin C Clements
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Massachusetts.
| | | | - Charles A Nelson
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Sokol DK, Lahiri DK. APPlications of amyloid-β precursor protein metabolites in macrocephaly and autism spectrum disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1201744. [PMID: 37799731 PMCID: PMC10548831 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1201744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolites of the Amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) proteolysis may underlie brain overgrowth in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We have found elevated APP metabolites (total APP, secreted (s) APPα, and α-secretase adamalysins in the plasma and brain tissue of children with ASD). In this review, we highlight several lines of evidence supporting APP metabolites' potential contribution to macrocephaly in ASD. First, APP appears early in corticogenesis, placing APP in a prime position to accelerate growth in neurons and glia. APP metabolites are upregulated in neuroinflammation, another potential contributor to excessive brain growth in ASD. APP metabolites appear to directly affect translational signaling pathways, which have been linked to single gene forms of syndromic ASD (Fragile X Syndrome, PTEN, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex). Finally, APP metabolites, and microRNA, which regulates APP expression, may contribute to ASD brain overgrowth, particularly increased white matter, through ERK receptor activation on the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/Rho GTPase pathway, favoring myelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah K. Sokol
- Department of Neurology, Section of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Debomoy K. Lahiri
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Indiana Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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Kim S, Ochoa K, Melli SE, Yousufzai FAK, Barrera ZD, Williams AA, McIntyre G, Delgado E, Bolish JN, Macleod CM, Boghos M, Lens HP, Ramos AG, Wilson VB, Maloney K, Padron ZM, Khan AH, Blanco RE, Soto I. Disruptive lysosomal-metabolic signaling and neurodevelopmental deficits that precede Purkinje cell loss in a mouse model of Niemann-Pick Type-C disease. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5665. [PMID: 37024714 PMCID: PMC10079843 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32971-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Purkinje cell (PC) loss occurs at an early age in patients and animal models of Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC), a lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the Npc1 or Npc2 genes. Although degeneration of PCs occurs early in NPC, little is known about how NPC1 deficiency affects the postnatal development of PCs. Using the Npc1nmf164 mouse model, we found that NPC1 deficiency significantly affected the postnatal development of PC dendrites and synapses. The developing dendrites of Npc1nmf164 PCs were significantly deficient in mitochondria and lysosomes. Furthermore, anabolic (mTORC1) and catabolic (TFEB) signaling pathways were not only perturbed but simultaneously activated in NPC1-deficient PCs, suggesting a loss of metabolic balance. We also found that mice with conditional heterozygous deletion of the Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted on Chromosome 10 gene (Pten-cHet), an inhibitor of mTORC1, showed similar early dendritic alterations in PCs to those found in Npc1-deficient mice. However, in contrast to Npc1nmf164 mice, Pten-cHet mice exhibited the overactivation of the mTORC1 pathway but with a strong inhibition of TFEB signaling, along with no dendritic mitochondrial reductions by the end of their postnatal development. Our data suggest that disruption of the lysosomal-metabolic signaling in PCs causes dendritic and synaptic developmental deficits that precede and promote their early degeneration in NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kim
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Kathleen Ochoa
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Sierra E Melli
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Fawad A K Yousufzai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Zerian D Barrera
- Department of Biological Science, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Aela A Williams
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Gianna McIntyre
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Esteban Delgado
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - James N Bolish
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | | | - Mary Boghos
- Department of Biology, Providence College, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Hayden P Lens
- Department of Biology, Providence College, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Alex G Ramos
- Department of Biology, Providence College, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Vincent B Wilson
- Department of Biological Science, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Kelly Maloney
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Zachary M Padron
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Amaal H Khan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Rosa E Blanco
- The Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Ileana Soto
- Department of Biology, Providence College, Providence, RI, USA.
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11
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Concurrent Assessment of Oxidative Stress and MT-ATP6 Gene Profiling to Facilitate Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Tamil Nadu Population. J Mol Neurosci 2023; 73:214-224. [PMID: 36930427 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-023-02111-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability that causes social impairment, debilitated verbal or nonverbal conversation, and restricted/repeated behavior. Recent research reveals that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress might play a pivotal role in ASD condition. The goal of this case-control study was to investigate oxidative stress and related alterations in ASD patients. In addition, the impact of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, particularly MT-ATP6, and its link with oxidative stress in ASD was studied. We found that ASD patient's plasma had lower superoxide dismutase (SOD) and higher catalase (CAT) activity, resulting in lower SOD/CAT ratio. MT-ATP6 mutation analysis revealed that four variations, 8865 G>A, 8684 C>T, 8697 G>A, and 8836 A>G, have a frequency of more than 10% with missense and synonymous (silent) mutations. It was observed that abnormalities in mitochondrial complexes (I, III, V) are more common in ASD, and it may have resulted in MT-ATP6 changes or vice versa. In conclusion, our findings authenticate that oxidative stress and genetics both have an equal and potential role behind ASD and we recommend to conduct more such concurrent research to understand their unique mechanism for better diagnosis and therapeutic for ASD.
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12
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Arenella M, Mota NR, Teunissen MWA, Brunner HG, Bralten J. Autism spectrum disorder and brain volume link through a set of mTOR-related genes. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023. [PMID: 36922714 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13783] [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] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Larger than average head and brain sizes are often observed in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). ASD and brain volume are both highly heritable, with multiple genetic variants contributing. However, it is unclear whether ASD and brain volume share any genetic mechanisms. Genes from the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway influence brain volume, and variants are found in rare genetic syndromes that include ASD features. Here we investigated whether variants in mTOR-related genes are also associated with ASD and if they constitute a genetic link between large brains and ASD. METHODS We extended our analyses between large heads (macrocephaly) and rare de novo mTOR-related variants in an intellectual disability cohort (N = 2,258). Subsequently using Fisher's exact tests we investigated the co-occurrence of mTOR-related de novo variants and ASD in the de-novo-db database (N = 23,098). We next selected common genetic variants within a set of 96 mTOR-related genes in genome-wide genetic association data of ASD (N = 46,350) to test gene-set association using MAGMA. Lastly, we tested genetic correlation between genome-wide genetic association data of ASD (N = 46,350) and intracranial volume (N = 25,974) globally using linkage disequilibrium score regression as well as mTOR specific by restricting the genetic correlation to the mTOR-related genes using GNOVA. RESULTS Our results show that both macrocephaly and ASD occur above chance level in individuals carrying rare de novo variants in mTOR-related genes. We found a significant mTOR gene-set association with ASD (p = .0029) and an mTOR-stratified positive genetic correlation between ASD and intracranial volume (p = .027), despite the absence of a significant genome-wide correlation (p = .81). CONCLUSIONS This work indicates that both rare and common variants in mTOR-related genes are associated with brain volume and ASD and genetically correlate them in the expected direction. We demonstrate that genes involved in mTOR signalling are potential mediators of the relationship between having a large brain and having ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Arenella
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nina R Mota
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mariel W A Teunissen
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Han G Brunner
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,GROW School of Development and Oncology, MHENS School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Janita Bralten
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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13
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Kim JY, Kim W, Lee KH. The role of microRNAs in the molecular link between circadian rhythm and autism spectrum disorder. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2023; 27:38-52. [PMID: 36860270 PMCID: PMC9970207 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2023.2180535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian rhythm regulates physiological cycles of awareness and sleepiness. Melatonin production is primarily regulated by circadian regulation of gene expression and is involved in sleep homeostasis. If the circadian rhythm is abnormal, sleep disorders, such as insomnia and several other diseases, can occur. The term 'autism spectrum disorder (ASD)' is used to characterize people who exhibit a certain set of repetitive behaviors, severely constrained interests, social deficits, and/or sensory behaviors that start very early in life. Because many patients with ASD suffer from sleep disorders, sleep disorders and melatonin dysregulation are attracting attention for their potential roles in ASD. ASD is caused by abnormalities during the neurodevelopmental processes owing to various genetic or environmental factors. Recently, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in circadian rhythm and ASD have gained attraction. We hypothesized that the relationship between circadian rhythm and ASD could be explained by miRNAs that can regulate or be regulated by either or both. In this study, we introduced a possible molecular link between circadian rhythm and ASD. We performed a thorough literature review to understand their complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Young Kim
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Wanil Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju-si, Republic of Korea, Wanil Kim Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do52727, Republic of Korea; Kyung-Ha Lee Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Ha Lee
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea, Wanil Kim Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do52727, Republic of Korea; Kyung-Ha Lee Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan46241, Republic of Korea
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14
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Mahony C, O'Ryan C. A molecular framework for autistic experiences: Mitochondrial allostatic load as a mediator between autism and psychopathology. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:985713. [PMID: 36506457 PMCID: PMC9732262 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.985713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular autism research is evolving toward a biopsychosocial framework that is more informed by autistic experiences. In this context, research aims are moving away from correcting external autistic behaviors and toward alleviating internal distress. Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) are associated with high rates of depression, suicidality and other comorbid psychopathologies, but this relationship is poorly understood. Here, we integrate emerging characterizations of internal autistic experiences within a molecular framework to yield insight into the prevalence of psychopathology in ASC. We demonstrate that descriptions of social camouflaging and autistic burnout resonate closely with the accepted definitions for early life stress (ELS) and chronic adolescent stress (CAS). We propose that social camouflaging could be considered a distinct form of CAS that contributes to allostatic overload, culminating in a pathophysiological state that is experienced as autistic burnout. Autistic burnout is thought to contribute to psychopathology via psychological and physiological mechanisms, but these remain largely unexplored by molecular researchers. Building on converging fields in molecular neuroscience, we discuss the substantial evidence implicating mitochondrial dysfunction in ASC to propose a novel role for mitochondrial allostatic load in the relationship between autism and psychopathology. An interplay between mitochondrial, neuroimmune and neuroendocrine signaling is increasingly implicated in stress-related psychopathologies, and these molecular players are also associated with neurodevelopmental, neurophysiological and neurochemical aspects of ASC. Together, this suggests an increased exposure and underlying molecular susceptibility to ELS that increases the risk of psychopathology in ASC. This article describes an integrative framework shaped by autistic experiences that highlights novel avenues for molecular research into mechanisms that directly affect the quality of life and wellbeing of autistic individuals. Moreover, this framework emphasizes the need for increased access to diagnoses, accommodations, and resources to improve mental health outcomes in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Colleen O'Ryan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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15
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BDNF, proBDNF and IGF-1 serum levels in naïve and medicated subjects with autism. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13768. [PMID: 35962006 PMCID: PMC9374711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17503-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) promote the development and maintenance of neural circuits. Alterations in these factors might contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We asked whether serum BDNF, proBDNF, and IGF-1 levels are altered in an ASD population compared to controls. We measured serum BDNF, proBDNF, and IGF-1 immunoreactive protein in boys and girls aged 5–15 years old with mild to moderate ASD and non-autistic controls by ELISA. IGF-1 was increased in ASD serum compared to controls and was correlated with age and with CARS scores. Serum BDNF levels did not differ between groups, however, proBDNF serum levels were decreased in subjects with ASD compared to non-autistic controls. Medicated, but not unmedicated, ASD subjects exhibited lower serum proBDNF levels compared to controls, while neither IGF-1 nor BDNF levels differed between treatment groups. These data support the involvement of proBDNF and IGF-1 in the pathogenesis and treatment of autism.
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16
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Sharma A, Bhalla S, Mehan S. PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling inhibitor chrysophanol ameliorates neurobehavioural and neurochemical defects in propionic acid-induced experimental model of autism in adult rats. Metab Brain Dis 2022; 37:1909-1929. [PMID: 35687217 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-022-01026-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder marked by social and communication deficits as well as repetitive behaviour. Several studies have found that overactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathways during brain development plays a significant role in autism pathogenesis. Overexpression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway causes neurological disorders by increasing cell death, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Chrysophanol, also known as chrysophanic acid, is a naturally occurring chemical obtained from the plant Rheum palmatum. This study aimed to examine the neuroprotective effect of CPH on neurobehavioral, molecular, neurochemical, and gross pathological alterations in ICV-PPA induced experimental model of autism in adult rats. The effects of ICV-PPA on PI3K/AKT/mTOR downregulation in the brain were studied in autism-like rats. Furthermore, we investigated how CPH affected myelin basic protein (MBP) levels in rat brain homogenate and apoptotic biomarkers such as caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 levels in rat brain homogenate and blood plasma samples. Rats were tested for behavioural abnormalities such as neuromuscular dysfunction using an actophotometer, motor coordination using a beam crossing task (BCT), depressive behaviour using a forced swim test (FST), cognitive deficiency, and memory consolidation using a Morris water maze (MWM) task. In PPA-treated rats, prolonged oral CPH administration from day 12 to day 44 of the experimental schedule reduces autistic-like symptoms. Furthermore, in rat brain homogenates, blood plasma, and CSF samples, cellular, molecular, and cell death markers, neuroinflammatory cytokines, neurotransmitter levels, and oxidative stress indicators were investigated. The recent findings imply that CPH also restores abnormal neurochemical levels and may prevent autism-like gross pathological alterations, such as demyelination volume, in the rat brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Sharma
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Sonalika Bhalla
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India.
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17
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Cao LH, He HJ, Zhao YY, Wang ZZ, Jia XY, Srivastava K, Miao MS, Li XM. Food Allergy-Induced Autism-Like Behavior is Associated with Gut Microbiota and Brain mTOR Signaling. J Asthma Allergy 2022; 15:645-664. [PMID: 35603013 PMCID: PMC9122063 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s348609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Food allergy-induced autism-like behavior has been increasing for decades, but the causal drivers of this association are unclear. We sought to test the association of gut microbiota and mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling with cow’s milk allergy (CMA)-induced autism pathogenesis. Methods Mice were sensitized intragastrically with whey protein containing cholera toxin before sensitization on intraperitoneal injection with whey-containing alum, followed by intragastric allergen challenge to induce experimental CMA. The food allergic immune responses, ASD-like behavioral tests and changes in the mTOR signaling pathway and gut microbial community structure were performed. Results CMA mice showed autism-like behavioral abnormalities and several distinct biomarkers. These include increased levels of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in the hypothalamus; c-Fos were predominantly located in the region of the lateral orbital prefrontal cortex (PFC), but not ventral; decreased serotonin 1A in amygdala and PFC. CMA mice exhibited a specific microbiota signature characterized by coordinate changes in the abundance of taxa of several bacterial genera, including the Lactobacillus. Interestingly, the changes were accompanied by promoted mTOR signaling in the brain of CMA mice. Conclusion We found that disease-associated microbiota and mTOR activation may thus play a pathogenic role in the intestinal, immunological, and psychiatric Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)-like symptoms seen in CAM associated autism. However, this is only a preliminary study, and their mechanisms require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Hua Cao
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong-Juan He
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Wang
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xing-Yuan Jia
- Department of Pharmacy, Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kamal Srivastava
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA
- General Nutraceutical Technology, Elmsford, NY, 10523, USA
| | - Ming-San Miao
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiu-Min Li
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA
- Correspondence: Xiu-Min Li; Ming-San Miao, Tel +1 914-594-4197, Fax +1 371-65962546, Email ;
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18
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Gawande DY, Kumar S Narasimhan K, Bhatt JM, Pavuluri R, Kesherwani V, Suryavanshi PS, Shelkar GP, Dravid SM. Glutamate delta 1 receptor regulates autophagy mechanisms and affects excitatory synapse maturation in the somatosensory cortex. Pharmacol Res 2022; 178:106144. [PMID: 35304260 PMCID: PMC9090310 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The glutamate delta family of receptors is composed of GluD1 and GluD2 and serve as synaptic organizers. We have previously demonstrated several autism-like molecular and behavioral phenotypes including an increase in dendritic spines in GluD1 knockout mice. Based on previous reports we evaluated whether disruption of autophagy mechanisms may account for these phenotypes. Mouse model with conditional deletion of GluD1 from excitatory neurons in the corticolimbic regions was utilized. GluD1 loss led to overactive Akt-mTOR pathway, higher p62 and a lower LC3-II/LC3-I ratio in the somatosensory cortex suggesting reduced autophagy. Excitatory elements were increased in number but had immature phenotype based on puncta size, lower AMPA subunit GluA1 expression and impaired development switch from predominantly GluN2B to mixed GluN2A/GluN2B subunit expression. Overactive Akt-mTOR signaling and impaired autophagy was also observed in dorsal striatum upon conditional ablation of GluD1 and in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in constitutive knockout. Finally, cognitive deficits in novel object recognition test and fear conditioning were observed in mice with conditional ablation of GluD1 from the corticolimbic regions. Together, these results demonstrate a novel function of GluD1 in the regulation of autophagy pathway which may underlie autism phenotypes and is relevant to the genetic association of GluD1 coding, GRID1 gene with autism and other developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Y Gawande
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Kishore Kumar S Narasimhan
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jay M Bhatt
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ratnamala Pavuluri
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Varun Kesherwani
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Pratyush S Suryavanshi
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Gajanan P Shelkar
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Shashank M Dravid
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA.
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19
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Vellingiri B, Aishwarya SY, Benita Jancy S, Sriram Abhishek G, Winster Suresh Babu H, Vijayakumar P, Narayanasamy A, Mariappan S, Sangeetha R, Valsala Gopalakrishnan A, Parthasarathi R, Iyer M. An anxious relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Gut Microbiota: A tangled chemistry? J Clin Neurosci 2022; 99:169-189. [PMID: 35286970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder often accompanied by strained social communication, repetitive behaviour, immune dysregulation, and gastrointestinal (GI) issues. Recent studies have recorded a link between dysbiosis in the gut microbiota (gm) and the primary stages of ASD. A bidirectional connection (also called microbiota-gut-brain-axis) exchanges information between the gut bacteria and central nervous system. When the homeostasis of the microenvironment of the gut is dysregulated, it causes oxidative stress, affecting neuronal cells and neurotransmitters, thereby causing neurodevelopmental disorders. Studies have confirmed a difference in the constitution of gut bacteria among ASD cases and their controls. Numerous studies on animal models of ASD have shown altered gm and its association with abnormal metabolite profile and altered behaviour phenotype. This process happens due to an abnormal metabolite production in gm, leading to changes in the immune system, especially in ASD. Hence, this review aims to question the current knowledge on gm dysbiosis and its related GI discomforts and ASD behavioural symptoms and shed light on the possible therapeutic approaches available to deal with this situation. Thereby, though it is understood that more research might be needed to prove an association or causal relationship between gm and ASD, therapy with the microbiome may also be considered as an effective strategy to combat this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - S Y Aishwarya
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore 641062, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S Benita Jancy
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore 641062, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - G Sriram Abhishek
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore 641062, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Harysh Winster Suresh Babu
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India; Disease Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Padmavathi Vijayakumar
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Arul Narayanasamy
- Disease Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sujitha Mariappan
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore 641062, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - R Sangeetha
- Department of Zoology and Wild Life Biology, Government Arts College, Udhagamandalam 643002, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014 Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ramakrishnan Parthasarathi
- Computational Toxicology Facility, Centre for Innovation and Translational Research, Environmental Monitoring and Intervention Hub (DSIR-CRTDH), CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow 226001 Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mahalaxmi Iyer
- Livestock Farming and Bioresource Technology, Tamil Nadu, India.
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20
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Al Dera H. Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorders and associated comorbidities: A pathophysiological review. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 148:112688. [PMID: 35149383 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that develop in early life due to interaction between several genetic and environmental factors and lead to alterations in brain function and structure. During the last decades, several mechanisms have been placed to explain the pathogenesis of autism. Unfortunately, these are reported in several studies and reviews which make it difficult to follow by the reader. In addition, some recent molecular mechanisms related to ASD have been unrevealed. This paper revises and highlights the major common molecular mechanisms responsible for the clinical symptoms seen in people with ASD, including the roles of common genetic factors and disorders, neuroinflammation, GABAergic signaling, and alterations in Ca+2 signaling. Besides, it covers the major molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in initiating the epileptic seizure, including the alterations in the GABAergic and glutamate signaling, vitamin and mineral deficiency, disorders of metabolism, and autoimmunity. Finally, this review also discusses sleep disorder patterns and the molecular mechanisms underlying them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussain Al Dera
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine at King Saud, Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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21
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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-a case-control study to investigate the prenatal, perinatal and neonatal factors in Indian Population. BRAIN DISORDERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dscb.2021.100024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
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Reichard J, Zimmer-Bensch G. The Epigenome in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:776809. [PMID: 34803599 PMCID: PMC8595945 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.776809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental diseases (NDDs), such as autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, and schizophrenia, are characterized by diverse facets of neurological and psychiatric symptoms, differing in etiology, onset and severity. Such symptoms include mental delay, cognitive and language impairments, or restrictions to adaptive and social behavior. Nevertheless, all have in common that critical milestones of brain development are disrupted, leading to functional deficits of the central nervous system and clinical manifestation in child- or adulthood. To approach how the different development-associated neuropathologies can occur and which risk factors or critical processes are involved in provoking higher susceptibility for such diseases, a detailed understanding of the mechanisms underlying proper brain formation is required. NDDs rely on deficits in neuronal identity, proportion or function, whereby a defective development of the cerebral cortex, the seat of higher cognitive functions, is implicated in numerous disorders. Such deficits can be provoked by genetic and environmental factors during corticogenesis. Thereby, epigenetic mechanisms can act as an interface between external stimuli and the genome, since they are known to be responsive to external stimuli also in cortical neurons. In line with that, DNA methylation, histone modifications/variants, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, as well as regulatory non-coding RNAs regulate diverse aspects of neuronal development, and alterations in epigenomic marks have been associated with NDDs of varying phenotypes. Here, we provide an overview of essential steps of mammalian corticogenesis, and discuss the role of epigenetic mechanisms assumed to contribute to pathophysiological aspects of NDDs, when being disrupted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Reichard
- Functional Epigenetics in the Animal Model, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Geraldine Zimmer-Bensch
- Functional Epigenetics in the Animal Model, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Mahony C, O’Ryan C. Convergent Canonical Pathways in Autism Spectrum Disorder from Proteomic, Transcriptomic and DNA Methylation Data. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910757. [PMID: 34639097 PMCID: PMC8509728 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with extensive genetic and aetiological heterogeneity. While the underlying molecular mechanisms involved remain unclear, significant progress has been facilitated by recent advances in high-throughput transcriptomic, epigenomic and proteomic technologies. Here, we review recently published ASD proteomic data and compare proteomic functional enrichment signatures with those of transcriptomic and epigenomic data. We identify canonical pathways that are consistently implicated in ASD molecular data and find an enrichment of pathways involved in mitochondrial metabolism and neurogenesis. We identify a subset of differentially expressed proteins that are supported by ASD transcriptomic and DNA methylation data. Furthermore, these differentially expressed proteins are enriched for disease phenotype pathways associated with ASD aetiology. These proteins converge on protein–protein interaction networks that regulate cell proliferation and differentiation, metabolism, and inflammation, which demonstrates a link between canonical pathways, biological processes and the ASD phenotype. This review highlights how proteomics can uncover potential molecular mechanisms to explain a link between mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodevelopmental pathology.
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EWAS of Monozygotic Twins Implicate a Role of mTOR Pathway in Pathogenesis of Tic Spectrum Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12101510. [PMID: 34680906 PMCID: PMC8535383 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tic spectrum disorder (TSD) is an umbrella term which includes Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and chronic tic disorder (CTD). They are considered highly heritable, yet the genetic components remain largely unknown. In this study we aimed to investigate disease-associated DNA methylation differences to identify genes and pathways which may be implicated in TSD aetiology. For this purpose, we performed an exploratory analysis of the genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in whole blood samples of 16 monozygotic twin pairs, of which eight were discordant and six concordant for TSD, while two pairs were asymptomatic. Although no sites reached genome-wide significance, we identified several sites and regions with a suggestive significance, which were located within or in the vicinity of genes with biological functions associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. The two top genes identified (TSC1 and CRYZ/TYW3) and the enriched pathways and components (phosphoinosides and PTEN pathways, and insulin receptor substrate binding) are related to, or have been associated with, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Genes in this pathway have previously been associated with GTS, and mTOR signalling has been implicated in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders. It is thus possible that altered mTOR signalling plays a role in the complex pathogenesis of TSD.
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Gawlińska K, Gawliński D, Borczyk M, Korostyński M, Przegaliński E, Filip M. A Maternal High-Fat Diet during Early Development Provokes Molecular Changes Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Rat Offspring Brain. Nutrients 2021; 13:3212. [PMID: 34579089 PMCID: PMC8467420 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disruptive neurodevelopmental disorder manifested by abnormal social interactions, communication, emotional circuits, and repetitive behaviors and is more often diagnosed in boys than in girls. It is postulated that ASD is caused by a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetics provides a mechanistic link between exposure to an unbalanced maternal diet and persistent modifications in gene expression levels that can lead to phenotype changes in the offspring. To better understand the impact of the early development environment on the risk of ASD in offspring, we assessed the effect of maternal high-fat (HFD), high-carbohydrate, and mixed diets on molecular changes in adolescent and young adult offspring frontal cortex and hippocampus. Our results showed that maternal HFD significantly altered the expression of 48 ASD-related genes in the frontal cortex of male offspring. Moreover, exposure to maternal HFD led to sex- and age-dependent changes in the protein levels of ANKRD11, EIF4E, NF1, SETD1B, SHANK1 and TAOK2, as well as differences in DNA methylation levels in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the offspring. Taken together, it was concluded that a maternal HFD during pregnancy and lactation periods can lead to abnormal brain development within the transcription and translation of ASD-related genes mainly in male offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gawlińska
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Dawid Gawliński
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Małgorzata Borczyk
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics, Department of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (M.B.); (M.K.)
| | - Michał Korostyński
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics, Department of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (M.B.); (M.K.)
| | - Edmund Przegaliński
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Małgorzata Filip
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
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26
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Sterol and lipid analyses identifies hypolipidemia and apolipoprotein disorders in autism associated with adaptive functioning deficits. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:471. [PMID: 34504056 PMCID: PMC8429516 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01580-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
An improved understanding of sterol and lipid abnormalities in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) could lead to personalized treatment approaches. Toward this end, in blood, we identified reduced synthesis of cholesterol in families with ≥2 children with ASD participating with the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE), as well as reduced amounts of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB), with 19.9% of the subjects presenting with apolipoprotein patterns similar to hypolipidemic clinical syndromes and 30% with either or both ApoA1 and ApoB less than the fifth centile. Subjects with levels less than the fifth centile of HDL or ApoA1 or ApoA1 + ApoB had lower adaptive functioning than other individuals with ASD, and hypocholesterolemic subjects had apolipoprotein deficits significantly divergent from either typically developing individuals participating in National Institutes of Health or the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III.
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27
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Balachandar V, Rajagopalan K, Jayaramayya K, Jeevanandam M, Iyer M. Mitochondrial dysfunction: A hidden trigger of autism? Genes Dis 2021; 8:629-639. [PMID: 34291134 PMCID: PMC8278534 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorder with no precise etiology. Deficits in cognitive functions uncover at early stages and are known to have an environmental and genetic basis. Since autism is multifaceted and also linked with other comorbidities associated with various organs, there is a possibility that there may be a fundamental cellular process responsible for this. These reasons place mitochondria at the point of interest as it is involved in multiple cellular processes predominantly involving metabolism. Mitochondria encoded genes were taken into consideration lately because it is inherited maternally, has its own genome and also functions the time of embryo development. Various researches have linked mitochondrial mishaps like oxidative stress, ROS production and mt-DNA copy number variations to autism. Despite dramatic advances in autism research worldwide, the studies focusing on mitochondrial dysfunction in autism is rather minimal, especially in India. India, owing to its rich diversity, may be able to contribute significantly to autism research. It is vital to urge more studies in this domain as it may help to completely understand the basics of the condition apart from a genetic standpoint. This review focuses on the worldwide and Indian scenario of autism research; mitochondrial abnormalities in autism and possible therapeutic approaches to combat it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vellingiri Balachandar
- Human Molecular Genetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641046, India
| | - Kamarajan Rajagopalan
- Human Molecular Genetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641046, India
| | - Kaavya Jayaramayya
- Department of Zoology, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641043, India
| | - Madesh Jeevanandam
- Human Molecular Genetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641046, India
- Department of Biochemistry, PSG College of Arts and Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641014, India
| | - Mahalaxmi Iyer
- Department of Zoology, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641043, India
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28
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Das JK, Roy S, Guzzi PH. Analyzing host-viral interactome of SARS-CoV-2 for identifying vulnerable host proteins during COVID-19 pathogenesis. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2021; 93:104921. [PMID: 34004362 PMCID: PMC8123524 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of therapeutic targets for COVID-19 relies on understanding the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis. Identifying genes or proteins involved in the infection mechanism is the key to shedding light on the complex molecular mechanisms. The combined effort of many laboratories distributed throughout the world has produced protein and genetic interactions. We integrated available results and obtained a host protein-protein interaction network composed of 1432 human proteins. Next, we performed network centrality analysis to identify critical proteins in the derived network. Finally, we performed a functional enrichment analysis of central proteins. We observed that the identified proteins are primarily associated with several crucial pathways, including cellular process, signaling transduction, neurodegenerative diseases. We focused on the proteins that are involved in human respiratory tract diseases. We highlighted many potential therapeutic targets, including RBX1, HSPA5, ITCH, RAB7A, RAB5A, RAB8A, PSMC5, CAPZB, CANX, IGF2R, and HSPA1A, which are central and also associated with multiple diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayanta Kumar Das
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, MD, USA
| | - Swarup Roy
- Network Reconstruction & Analysis (NetRA) Lab, Department of Computer Applications, Sikkim University, Gangtok, India,Corresponding authors
| | - Pietro Hiram Guzzi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy,Corresponding authors
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29
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Mahalaxmi I, Subramaniam MD, Gopalakrishnan AV, Vellingiri B. Dysfunction in Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Complex I, Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Activity, and Mutations in ND1 and ND4 Gene in Autism Spectrum Disorder Subjects from Tamil Nadu Population, India. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:5303-5311. [PMID: 34279772 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02492-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by impaired social interaction and behavioural abnormalities. Growing evidence proved that impairment in mitochondrial functions could inhibit energy production and may contribute to the onset of ASD. Genetic variants in the genes of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) could interrupt the normal energy metabolism and production in the brain which lead to a wide range of structural and functional changes in the brain resulting in ASD. The present study aims to compare the activities of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complex I, pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and specific mitochondrial DNA gene (MT-ND1 and MT-ND4) variants associated with ASD subjects in the Tamil Nadu population. Mutational analysis revealed that most mutations in ASD subjects showed synonymous type followed by missense in both the ND1 and ND4 genes. Interestingly, we found that the complex I and PDH dysfunctions may have a role in ASD compared to the controls (p ≤ 0.0001). Hence, the results of the present study suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction, specifically the complex I genes, may play a major role in the onset of ASD, concluding that further research on mitochondrial genes are mandatory to unravel the mechanism behind ASD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iyer Mahalaxmi
- Livestock Farming and Bioresource Technology, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mohana Devi Subramaniam
- SN ONGC, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Chennai, 600-006, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu, Vellore, 632 014, India
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641-046, Tamil Nadu, India.
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30
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Boksha IS, Prokhorova TA, Tereshkina EB, Savushkina OK, Burbaeva GS. Protein Phosphorylation Signaling Cascades in Autism: The Role of mTOR Pathway. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2021; 86:577-596. [PMID: 33993859 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297921050072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is a central regulator of cell metabolism, growth, and survival in response to hormones, growth factors, nutrients, and stress-induced signals. In this review, we analyzed the studies on the molecular abnormalities of the mTOR-associated signaling cascades in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and outlined the prospects for the pathogenicity-targeting pharmacotherapeutic approaches to ASDs, in particular syndromic ASDs. Based on available experimental and clinical data, we suggest that very early detection of molecular abnormalities in the ASD risk groups can be facilitated by using peripheral blood platelets. Also, identification of the time window of critical dysregulations in the described pathways in the ASD risk groups might suggest further research directions leading to more efficacious pharmacotherapeutic interventions in ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina S Boksha
- Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, 115522, Russia. .,Gamaleya Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 123098, Russia
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31
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Herrera-Úbeda C, Garcia-Fernàndez J. New Genes Born-In or Invading Vertebrate Genomes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:713918. [PMID: 34295903 PMCID: PMC8290160 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.713918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Which is the origin of genes is a fundamental question in Biology, indeed a question older than the discovery of genes itself. For more than a century, it was uneven to think in origins other than duplication and divergence from a previous gene. In recent years, however, the intersection of genetics, embryonic development, and bioinformatics, has brought to light that de novo generation from non-genic DNA, horizontal gene transfer and, noticeably, virus and transposon invasions, have shaped current genomes, by integrating those newcomers into old gene networks, helping to shape morphological and physiological innovations. We here summarized some of the recent research in the field, mostly in the vertebrate lineage with a focus on protein-coding novelties, showing that the placenta, the adaptative immune system, or the highly developed neocortex, among other innovations, are linked to de novo gene creation or domestication of virus and transposons. We provocatively suggest that the high tolerance to virus infections by bats may also be related to previous virus and transposon invasions in the bat lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jordi Garcia-Fernàndez
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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32
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Das JK, Chakraborty S, Roy S. A scheme for inferring viral-host associations based on codon usage patterns identifies the most affected signaling pathways during COVID-19. J Biomed Inform 2021; 118:103801. [PMID: 33965637 PMCID: PMC8102073 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2021.103801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the molecular mechanism of COVID-19 pathogenesis helps in the rapid therapeutic target identification. Usually, viral protein targets host proteins in an organized fashion. The expression of any viral gene depends mostly on the host translational machinery. Recent studies report the great significance of codon usage biases in establishing host-viral protein–protein interactions (PPI). Exploring the codon usage patterns between a pair of co-evolved host and viral proteins may present novel insight into the host-viral protein interactomes during disease pathogenesis. Leveraging the similarity in codon usage patterns, we propose a computational scheme to recreate the host-viral protein–protein interaction network. We use host proteins from seventeen (17) essential signaling pathways for our current work towards understanding the possible targeting mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 proteins. We infer both negatively and positively interacting edges in the network. Further, extensive analysis is performed to understand the host PPI network topologically and the attacking behavior of the viral proteins. Our study reveals that viral proteins mostly utilize codons, rare in the targeted host proteins (negatively correlated interaction). Among them, non-structural proteins, NSP3 and structural protein, Spike (S), are the most influential proteins in interacting with multiple host proteins. While ranking the most affected pathways, MAPK pathways observe to be the worst affected during the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several proteins participating in multiple pathways are highly central in host PPI and mostly targeted by multiple viral proteins. We observe many potential targets (host proteins) from the affected pathways associated with the various drug molecules, including Arsenic trioxide, Dexamethasone, Hydroxychloroquine, Ritonavir, and Interferon beta, which are either under clinical trial or in use during COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayanta Kumar Das
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, MD, USA
| | | | - Swarup Roy
- Network Reconstruction & Analysis (NetRA) Lab, Department of Computer Applications, Sikkim University, Gangtok, India.
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33
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Vcp Overexpression and Leucine Supplementation Increase Protein Synthesis and Improve Fear Memory and Social Interaction of Nf1 Mutant Mice. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107835. [PMID: 32610136 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a dominant genetic disorder manifesting, in part, as cognitive defects. Previous study indicated that neurofibromin (NF1 protein) interacts with valosin-containing protein (VCP)/P97 to control dendritic spine formation, but the mechanism is unknown. Here, using Nf1+/- mice and transgenic mice overexpressing wild-type Vcp/p97, we demonstrate that neurofibromin acts with VCP to control endoplasmic reticulum (ER) formation and consequent protein synthesis and regulates dendritic spine formation, thereby modulating contextual fear memory and social interaction. To validate the role of protein synthesis, we perform leucine supplementation in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that leucine can effectively enter the brain and increase protein synthesis and dendritic spine density of Nf1+/- neurons. Contextual memory and social behavior of Nf1+/- mice are also restored by leucine supplementation. Our study suggests that the "ER-protein synthesis" pathway downstream of neurofibromin and VCP is a critical regulator of dendritic spinogenesis and brain function.
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34
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Dai L, Weiss RB, Dunn DM, Ramirez A, Paul S, Korenberg JR. Core transcriptional networks in Williams syndrome: IGF1-PI3K-AKT-mTOR, MAPK and actin signaling at the synapse echo autism. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:411-429. [PMID: 33564861 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene networks for disorders of social behavior provide the mechanisms critical for identifying therapeutic targets and biomarkers. Large behavioral phenotypic effects of small human deletions make the positive sociality of Williams syndrome (WS) ideal for determining transcriptional networks for social dysfunction currently based on DNA variations for disorders such as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCHZ). Consensus on WS networks has been elusive due to the need for larger cohort size, sensitive genome-wide detection and analytic tools. We report a core set of WS network perturbations in a cohort of 58 individuals (34 with typical, 6 atypical deletions and 18 controls). Genome-wide exon-level expression arrays robustly detected changes in differentially expressed gene (DEG) transcripts from WS deleted genes that ranked in the top 11 of 12 122 transcripts, validated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR, RNASeq and western blots. WS DEG's were strictly dosed in the full but not the atypical deletions that revealed a breakpoint position effect on non-deleted CLIP2, a caveat for current phenotypic mapping based on copy number variants. Network analyses tested the top WS DEG's role in the dendritic spine, employing GeneMANIA to harmonize WS DEGs with comparable query gene-sets. The results indicate perturbed actin cytoskeletal signaling analogous to the excitatory dendritic spines. Independent protein-protein interaction analyses of top WS DEGs generated a 100-node graph annotated topologically revealing three interacting pathways, MAPK, IGF1-PI3K-AKT-mTOR/insulin and actin signaling at the synapse. The results indicate striking similarity of WS transcriptional networks to genome-wide association study-based ASD and SCHZ risk suggesting common network dysfunction for these disorders of divergent sociality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Dai
- Center for Integrated Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Brain Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Robert B Weiss
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Diane M Dunn
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Anna Ramirez
- Center for Integrated Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Brain Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sharan Paul
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Julie R Korenberg
- Center for Integrated Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Brain Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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35
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Frazier TW, Jaini R, Busch RM, Wolf M, Sadler T, Klaas P, Hardan AY, Martinez-Agosto JA, Sahin M, Eng C. Cross-level analysis of molecular and neurobehavioral function in a prospective series of patients with germline heterozygous PTEN mutations with and without autism. Mol Autism 2021; 12:5. [PMID: 33509259 PMCID: PMC7841880 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00406-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background PTEN is a well-established risk gene for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, little is known about how PTEN mutations and associated molecular processes influence neurobehavioral function in mutation carriers with (PTEN-ASD) and without ASD (PTEN no-ASD). The primary aim of the present study was to examine group differences in peripheral blood-derived PTEN pathway protein levels between PTEN-ASD, PTEN no-ASD, and idiopathic macrocephalic ASD patients (macro-ASD). Secondarily, associations between protein levels and neurobehavioral functions were examined in the full cohort.
Methods Patients were recruited at four tertiary medical centers. Peripheral blood-derived protein levels from canonical PTEN pathways (PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK) were analyzed using Western blot analyses blinded to genotype and ASD status. Neurobehavioral measures included standardized assessments of global cognitive ability and multiple neurobehavioral domains. Analysis of variance models examined group differences in demographic, neurobehavioral, and protein measures. Bivariate correlations, structural models, and statistical learning procedures estimated associations between molecular and neurobehavioral variables. To complement patient data, Western blots for downstream proteins were generated to evaluate canonical PTEN pathways in the PTEN-m3m4 mouse model.
Results Participants included 61 patients (25 PTEN-ASD, 16 PTEN no-ASD, and 20 macro-ASD). Decreased PTEN and S6 were observed in both PTEN mutation groups. Reductions in MnSOD and increases in P-S6 were observed in ASD groups. Elevated neural P-AKT/AKT and P-S6/S6 from PTEN murine models parallel our patient observations. Patient PTEN and AKT levels were independently associated with global cognitive ability, and p27 expression was associated with frontal sub-cortical functions. As a group, molecular measures added significant predictive value to several neurobehavioral domains over and above PTEN mutation status. Limitations Sample sizes were small, precluding within-group analyses. Protein and neurobehavioral data were limited to a single evaluation. A small number of patients were excluded with invalid protein data, and cognitively impaired patients had missing data on some assessments. Conclusions Several canonical PTEN pathway molecules appear to influence the presence of ASD and modify neurobehavioral function in PTEN mutation patients. Protein assays of the PTEN pathway may be useful for predicting neurobehavioral outcomes in PTEN patients. Future longitudinal analyses are needed to replicate these findings and evaluate within-group relationships between protein and neurobehavioral measures. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02461446
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Frazier
- Department of Psychology, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH, 44118, USA. .,Autism Speaks, Cleveland, OH, USA. .,Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Ritika Jaini
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Robyn M Busch
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.,Department of Neurology and Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Matthew Wolf
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Tammy Sadler
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Patricia Klaas
- Department of Neurology and Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Antonio Y Hardan
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | | | - Mustafa Sahin
- Translational Neurosciences Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA. .,Center for Personalized Genetic Healthcare, Cleveland Clinic Community Care and Population Health, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA. .,Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. .,Cleveland Clinic Genomic Medicine Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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Sotelo-Orozco J, Abbeduto L, Hertz-Picciotto I, Slupsky CM. Association Between Plasma Metabolites and Psychometric Scores Among Children With Developmental Disabilities: Investigating Sex-Differences. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:579538. [PMID: 33414730 PMCID: PMC7783080 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.579538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Developmental disabilities are defined by delays in learning, language, and behavior, yet growing evidence has revealed disturbances in metabolic systems that may also be present. Little is known about whether these metabolic issues contribute to the symptoms or severity of these disabilities, or whether sex plays a role in these associations, given that boys are disproportionately affected by some developmental disabilities. Here we sought to investigate the correlation between psychometric scores, sex, and the plasma metabolome. Methods: The plasma metabolomes of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 167), idiopathic developmental delay (i-DD; n = 51), Down syndrome (DS; n = 31), and typically developing controls (TD; n = 193) were investigated using NMR spectroscopy. Spearman rank correlations and multiple linear regression models (adjusted for child's neurodevelopmental diagnosis, child's sex, child's age, child's race/ethnicity, maternal age at child's birth, and parental homeownership) were used to examine the association between plasma metabolites and sex in relation to psychometric measures of cognitive skills, adaptive behavior, and maladaptive behavior in our study population. Results: Higher levels of metabolites involved in cellular energy and mitochondrial function among children with ASD (fumarate and cis-aconitate), DS (lactate), and TD (pyruvate) are associated with poorer cognitive and adaptive subscales. Similarly, higher o-acetylcarnitine associated with deficits in cognitive subscales among all DS cases and TD boys, and carnitine correlated with increased maladaptive behavior among girls with ASD and girls with DS. Among children with DS, elevated myo-inositol, ornithine, and creatine correlated with poorer scores across several subscales. Even among TD cases, elevated 3-hydroxybutyrate correlated with decreased receptive language. In contrast, higher levels of glutamate were associated with better socialization skills among ASD cases. Even after adjusting for the child's neurodevelopmental diagnosis, sex, and other possible confounders, key metabolites including glycolysis metabolites (lactate and pyruvate), ketone bodies (3-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate), TCA cycle metabolites (cis-aconitate and fumarate), as well as ornithine were associated with deficits in multiple domains of cognitive function, adaptive skills, and aberrant behaviors. Conclusions: Our results highlight that some plasma metabolites may relate to specific functional subdomains within cognitive, adaptive, and behavioral development with some variation by diagnosis and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennie Sotelo-Orozco
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Leonard Abbeduto
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, United States
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Carolyn M. Slupsky
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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Iyer M, Subramaniam MD, Venkatesan D, Cho SG, Ryding M, Meyer M, Vellingiri B. Role of RhoA-ROCK signaling in Parkinson's disease. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 894:173815. [PMID: 33345850 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex and widespread neurodegenerative disease characterized by depletion of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Key issues are the development of therapies that can stop or reverse the disease progression, identification of dependable biomarkers, and better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of PD. RhoA-ROCK signals appear to have an important role in PD symptoms, making it a possible approach for PD treatment strategies. Activation of RhoA-ROCK (Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase) appears to stimulate various PD risk factors including aggregation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn), dysregulation of autophagy, and activation of apoptosis. This manuscript reviews current updates about the biology and function of the RhoA-ROCK pathway and discusses the possible role of this signaling pathway in causing the pathogenesis of PD. We conclude that inhibition of the RhoA-ROCK signaling pathway may have high translational potential and could be a promising therapeutic target in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahalaxmi Iyer
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, 600 006, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mohana Devi Subramaniam
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, 600 006, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Dhivya Venkatesan
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ssang-Goo Cho
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, South Korea
| | - Matias Ryding
- Department of Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Morten Meyer
- Department of Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Brain Research - Inter Disciplinary Guided Excellence (BRIDGE), Odense, Denmark
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Chandran N, Iyer M, Siama Z, Vellingiri B, Narayanasamy A. Purinergic signalling pathway: therapeutic target in ovarian cancer. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMAN GENETICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1186/s43042-020-00059-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The lack of early diagnostic tools and the development of chemoresistance have made ovarian cancer (OC) one of the deadliest gynaecological cancers. The tumour microenvironment is characterised by the extracellular release of high levels of ATP, which is followed by the activation of P1 adenosinergic and P2 purinergic signalling systems. The sequential hydrolysis of ATP by the ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73 generates adenosine, which creates an immune suppressive microenvironment by inhibiting the T and NK cell responses via the A2A adenosine receptor.
Main body of the abstract
In OC, adenosine-induced pAMPK pathway leads to the inhibition of cell growth and proliferation, which offers new treatment options to prevent or overcome chemoresistance. The activation of P2Y12 and P2Y1 purinergic receptors expressed in the platelets promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The inhibitors of these receptors will be the effective therapeutic targets in managing OC. Furthermore, research on these signalling systems indicates an expanding field of opportunities to specifically target the purinergic receptors for the treatment of OC.
Short conclusion
In this review, we have described the complex purinergic signalling mechanism involved in the development of OC and discussed the merits of targeting the components involved in the purinergic signalling pathway.
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Hu VW, Hong Y, Xu M, Shu HT. Altered DNA methylation in a severe subtype of idiopathic autism: Evidence for sex differences in affected metabolic pathways. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2020; 25:887-910. [PMID: 33256464 DOI: 10.1177/1362361320971085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT This study investigates altered DNA methylation that may contribute to autism spectrum disorders. DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism for regulating the level at which genes are expressed, and is thus complementary to genetics and gene expression analyses which look at the variations in gene structure and gene products in cells. Here, we identify DNA methylation differences between autistic and sex-matched non-autistic siblings, focusing on a subgroup of severely affected individuals with language impairment to reduce the clinical heterogeneity among the cases. Our results show significant differentially methylated genes between the sibling groups that are enriched in autism risk genes as well as in signaling and biochemical pathways previously associated with the pathobiology of autism spectrum disorders. Moreover, we show for the first time that these differences are in part sex dependent, with differentially methylated genes in females associated with pathways that implicate mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic disorders that may offer some protection to females against autism spectrum disorders. Further investigations of sex differences are required to develop a fuller understanding of the pathobiology, gene regulatory mechanisms, and differential susceptibility of males and females toward autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie W Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Yi Hong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.,Planned Systems International, Inc., Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Minyi Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Henry T Shu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.,The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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40
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Hu VW, Bi C. Phenotypic Subtyping and Re-analyses of Existing Transcriptomic Data from Autistic Probands in Simplex Families Reveal Differentially Expressed and ASD Trait-Associated Genes. Front Neurol 2020; 11:578972. [PMID: 33281715 PMCID: PMC7689346 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.578972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) describes a collection of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by core symptoms that include social communication deficits and repetitive, stereotyped behaviors often coupled with restricted interests. Primary challenges to understanding and treating ASD are the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of cases that complicates all omics analyses as well as a lack of information on relationships among genes, pathways, and autistic traits. In this study, we re-analyze existing transcriptomic data from simplex families by subtyping individuals with ASD according to multivariate cluster analyses of clinical ADI-R scores that encompass a broad range of behavioral symptoms. We also correlate multiple ASD traits, such as deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication, play and social skills, ritualistic behaviors, and savant skills, with expression profiles using Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analyses (WGCNA). Our results show that subtyping greatly enhances the ability to identify differentially expressed genes involved in specific canonical pathways and biological functions associated with ASD within each phenotypic subgroup. Moreover, using WGCNA, we identify gene modules that correlate significantly with specific ASD traits. Network prediction analyses of the genes in these modules reveal canonical pathways as well as neurological functions and disorders relevant to the pathobiology of ASD. Finally, we compare the WGCNA-derived data on autistic traits in simplex families with analogous data from multiplex families using transcriptomic data from our previous studies. The comparison reveals overlapping trait-associated pathways as well as upstream regulators of the module-associated genes that may serve as useful targets for a precision medicine approach to ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie W Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Chongfeng Bi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
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Chae HS, Gil M, Saha SK, Kwak HJ, Park HW, Vellingiri B, Cho SG. Sestrin2 Expression Has Regulatory Properties and Prognostic Value in Lung Cancer. J Pers Med 2020; 10:jpm10030109. [PMID: 32882793 PMCID: PMC7565522 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10030109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer remains the most dangerous type of cancer despite recent progress in therapeutic modalities. Development of prognostic markers and therapeutic targets is necessary to enhance lung cancer patient survival. Sestrin family genes (Sestrin1, Sestrin2, and Sestrin3) are involved in protecting cells from stress. In particular, Sestrin2, which mainly protects cells from oxidative stress and acts as a leucine sensor protein in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, is thought to affect various cancers in different ways. To investigate the role of Sestrin2 expression in lung cancer cells, we knocked down Sestrin2 in A549, a non-small cell lung cancer cell line; this resulted in reduced cell proliferation, migration, sphere formation, and drug resistance, suggesting that Sestrin2 is closely related to lung cancer progression. We analyzed Sestrin2 expression in human tissue using various bioinformatic databases and confirmed higher expression of Sestrin2 in lung cancer cells than in normal lung cells using Oncomine and the Human Protein Atlas. Moreover, analyses using Prognoscan and KMplotter showed that Sestrin2 expression is negatively correlated with the survival of lung cancer patients in multiple datasets. Co-expressed gene analysis revealed Sestrin2-regulated genes and possible associated pathways. Overall, these data suggest that Sestrin2 expression has prognostic value and that it is a possible therapeutic target in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Sung Chae
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Incurable Disease Animal Model & Stem Cell Institute (IDASI), Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea; (H.S.C.); (M.G.); (S.K.S.); (H.J.K.)
| | - Minchan Gil
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Incurable Disease Animal Model & Stem Cell Institute (IDASI), Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea; (H.S.C.); (M.G.); (S.K.S.); (H.J.K.)
| | - Subbroto Kumar Saha
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Incurable Disease Animal Model & Stem Cell Institute (IDASI), Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea; (H.S.C.); (M.G.); (S.K.S.); (H.J.K.)
| | - Hee Jeung Kwak
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Incurable Disease Animal Model & Stem Cell Institute (IDASI), Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea; (H.S.C.); (M.G.); (S.K.S.); (H.J.K.)
| | - Hwan-Woo Park
- Department of Cell Biology, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon 35365, Korea;
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641-046, India;
| | - Ssang-Goo Cho
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Incurable Disease Animal Model & Stem Cell Institute (IDASI), Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea; (H.S.C.); (M.G.); (S.K.S.); (H.J.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-450-4207; Fax: +82-2-444-4207
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Posar A, Visconti P. Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mammalian Target of Rapamycin System. J Pediatr Neurosci 2020; 15:164-165. [PMID: 33042256 PMCID: PMC7519741 DOI: 10.4103/jpn.jpn_172_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Annio Posar
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Neuropsichiatria Infantile, Bologna, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paola Visconti
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Neuropsichiatria Infantile, Bologna, Italy
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Vellingiri B, Iyer M, Devi Subramaniam M, Jayaramayya K, Siama Z, Giridharan B, Narayanasamy A, Abdal Dayem A, Cho SG. Understanding the Role of the Transcription Factor Sp1 in Ovarian Cancer: from Theory to Practice. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1153. [PMID: 32050495 PMCID: PMC7038193 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the deadliest cancers among women contributing to high risk of mortality, mainly owing to delayed detection. There is no specific biomarker for its detection in early stages. However, recent findings show that over-expression of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) is involved in many OC cases. The ubiquitous transcription of Sp1 apparently mediates the maintenance of normal and cancerous biological processes such as cell growth, differentiation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, cellular reprogramming and tumorigenesis. Sp1 exerts its effects on cellular genes containing putative GC-rich Sp1-binding site in their promoters. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying Sp1 transcription factor (TF) regulation and functions in OC tumorigenesis could help identify novel prognostic markers, to target cancer stem cells (CSCs) by following cellular reprogramming and enable the development of novel therapies for future generations. In this review, we address the structure, function, and biology of Sp1 in normal and cancer cells, underpinning the involvement of Sp1 in OC tumorigenesis. In addition, we have highlighted the influence of Sp1 TF in cellular reprogramming of iPSCs and how it plays a role in controlling CSCs. This review highlights the drugs targeting Sp1 and their action on cancer cells. In conclusion, we predict that research in this direction will be highly beneficial for OC treatment, and chemotherapeutic drugs targeting Sp1 will emerge as a promising therapy for OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, India
| | - Mahalaxmi Iyer
- Department of Zoology, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore 641043, India; (M.I.); (K.J.)
| | - Mohana Devi Subramaniam
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600006, India;
| | - Kaavya Jayaramayya
- Department of Zoology, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore 641043, India; (M.I.); (K.J.)
| | - Zothan Siama
- Department of Zoology, School of Life-science, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India;
| | - Bupesh Giridharan
- R&D Wing, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH), BIHER, Chromepet, Chennai 600044, Tamil Nadu, India;
| | - Arul Narayanasamy
- Disease Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India;
| | - Ahmed Abdal Dayem
- Molecular & Cellular Reprogramming Center, Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea;
| | - Ssang-Goo Cho
- Molecular & Cellular Reprogramming Center, Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea;
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Jayaramayya K, Iyer M, Venkatesan D, Balasubramanian V, Narayanasamy A, Subramaniam MD, Cho SG, Vellingiri B. Unraveling correlative roles of dopamine transporter (DAT) and Parkin in Parkinson's disease (PD) - A road to discovery? Brain Res Bull 2020; 157:169-179. [PMID: 32035946 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder accompanied by depletion of dopamine(DA) and loss of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons in the brain that is believed to be responsible for the motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. Dopamine Transporter (DAT) is essential for reuptake of DA into the presynaptic terminal, thereby controlling the availability and spatial activity of released DA. Parkin interacts with proteins involved in the endosomal pathway, suggesting that presynaptic Parkin could regulate the expression of DAT in the plasma membrane. Parkin mutations lead to early synaptic damage and it appears as a crucial gene having a vast functioning area. PD-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived DA neurons exist as a potential tool for in-vitro modeling of PD, as they can recapitulate the pathological features of PD. The exact mechanism of PARKIN influenced DAT variations and changes in DA reuptake by DAT remain unknown. Hence, DAT and PARKIN mutated PD-specific iPSCs-derived DA neurons could provide important clues for elucidating the pathogenesis and mechanism of PD. This mysterious and hidden connection may prove to be a boon in disguise, hence, here we review the influence of PARKIN and DAT on DA mechanism and will discuss how these findings underpin the concept of how downregulation or upregulation of DAT is influenced by PARKIN. We conclude that the establishment of new model for PD with a combination of DAT and PARKIN would have a high translational potential, which includes the identification of drug targets and testing of known and novel therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaavya Jayaramayya
- Department of Zoology, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women - University for Women, Coimbatore, 641 043, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Mahalaxmi Iyer
- Department of Zoology, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women - Avinashilingam University for Women, Coimbatore, 641 043, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Dhivya Venkatesan
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Venkatesh Balasubramanian
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Arul Narayanasamy
- Disease Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Mohana Devi Subramaniam
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, 600006, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Ssang Goo Cho
- Molecular & Cellular Reprogramming Center, Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, South Korea.
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India.
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