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Mykins M, Bridges B, Jo A, Krishnan K. Multidimensional Analysis of a Social Behavior Identifies Regression and Phenotypic Heterogeneity in a Female Mouse Model for Rett Syndrome. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1078232023. [PMID: 38199865 PMCID: PMC10957218 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1078-23.2023] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Regression is a key feature of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, Fragile X syndrome, and Rett syndrome (RTT). RTT is caused by mutations in the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). It is characterized by an early period of typical development with subsequent regression of previously acquired motor and speech skills in girls. The syndromic phenotypes are individualistic and dynamic over time. Thus far, it has been difficult to capture these dynamics and syndromic heterogeneity in the preclinical Mecp2-heterozygous female mouse model (Het). The emergence of computational neuroethology tools allows for robust analysis of complex and dynamic behaviors to model endophenotypes in preclinical models. Toward this first step, we utilized DeepLabCut, a marker-less pose estimation software to quantify trajectory kinematics and multidimensional analysis to characterize behavioral heterogeneity in Het in the previously benchmarked, ethologically relevant social cognition task of pup retrieval. We report the identification of two distinct phenotypes of adult Het: Het that display a delay in efficiency in early days and then improve over days like wild-type mice and Het that regress and perform worse in later days. Furthermore, regression is dependent on age and behavioral context and can be detected in the initial days of retrieval. Together, the novel identification of two populations of Het suggests differential effects on neural circuitry, opens new avenues to investigate the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of heterogeneity, and designs better studies for stratifying therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mykins
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Benjamin Bridges
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Angela Jo
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Keerthi Krishnan
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
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Benachenhou S, Laroui A, Dionne O, Rojas D, Toupin A, Çaku A. Cholesterol alterations in fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorders and other neurodevelopmental disorders. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 173:115-139. [PMID: 37993175 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2023.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of etiologically diverse diseases primarily associated with abnormal brain development, impaired cognition, and various behavioral problems. The majority of NDDs present a wide range of clinical phenotypes while sharing distinct cellular and biochemical alterations. Low plasma cholesterol levels have been reported in a subset of NNDs including, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fragile X syndrome (FXS). The present review focuses on cholesterol metabolism and discusses the current evidence of lipid disruption in ASD, FXS, and other genetically related NDDs. The characterization of these common deficits might provide valuable insights into their underlying physiopathology and help identify potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérine Benachenhou
- Biochemistry and Functional Genomic Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Asma Laroui
- Biochemistry and Functional Genomic Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Olivier Dionne
- Biochemistry and Functional Genomic Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Daniela Rojas
- Biochemistry and Functional Genomic Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Amanda Toupin
- Biochemistry and Functional Genomic Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Artuela Çaku
- Biochemistry and Functional Genomic Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
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Chang KJ, Wu HY, Yarmishyn AA, Li CY, Hsiao YJ, Chi YC, Lo TC, Dai HJ, Yang YC, Liu DH, Hwang DK, Chen SJ, Hsu CC, Kao CL. Genetics behind Cerebral Disease with Ocular Comorbidity: Finding Parallels between the Brain and Eye Molecular Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179707. [PMID: 36077104 PMCID: PMC9456058 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral visual impairments (CVIs) is an umbrella term that categorizes miscellaneous visual defects with parallel genetic brain disorders. While the manifestations of CVIs are diverse and ambiguous, molecular diagnostics stand out as a powerful approach for understanding pathomechanisms in CVIs. Nevertheless, the characterization of CVI disease cohorts has been fragmented and lacks integration. By revisiting the genome-wide and phenome-wide association studies (GWAS and PheWAS), we clustered a handful of renowned CVIs into five ontology groups, namely ciliopathies (Joubert syndrome, Bardet–Biedl syndrome, Alstrom syndrome), demyelination diseases (multiple sclerosis, Alexander disease, Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease), transcriptional deregulation diseases (Mowat–Wilson disease, Pitt–Hopkins disease, Rett syndrome, Cockayne syndrome, X-linked alpha-thalassaemia mental retardation), compromised peroxisome disorders (Zellweger spectrum disorder, Refsum disease), and channelopathies (neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder), and reviewed several mutation hotspots currently found to be associated with the CVIs. Moreover, we discussed the common manifestations in the brain and the eye, and collated animal study findings to discuss plausible gene editing strategies for future CVI correction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kao-Jung Chang
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yu Wu
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | | | - Cheng-Yi Li
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jer Hsiao
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Chi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Chen Lo
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - He-Jhen Dai
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chiang Yang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Ding-Hao Liu
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - De-Kuang Hwang
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jen Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chien Hsu
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-C.H.); (C.-L.K.); Tel.: +886-2-287-573-25 (C.-C.H.); +886-2-287-573-63 (C.-L.K.)
| | - Chung-Lan Kao
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-C.H.); (C.-L.K.); Tel.: +886-2-287-573-25 (C.-C.H.); +886-2-287-573-63 (C.-L.K.)
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Javed S, Selliah T, Lee YJ, Huang WH. Dosage-sensitive genes in autism spectrum disorders: From neurobiology to therapy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 118:538-567. [PMID: 32858083 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of heterogenous neurodevelopmental disorders affecting 1 in 59 children. Syndromic ASDs are commonly associated with chromosomal rearrangements or dosage imbalance involving a single gene. Many of these genes are dosage-sensitive and regulate transcription, protein homeostasis, and synaptic function in the brain. Despite vastly different molecular perturbations, syndromic ASDs share core symptoms including social dysfunction and repetitive behavior. However, each ASD subtype has a unique pathogenic mechanism and combination of comorbidities that require individual attention. We have learned a great deal about how these dosage-sensitive genes control brain development and behaviors from genetically-engineered mice. Here we describe the clinical features of eight monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders caused by dosage imbalance of four genes, as well as recent advances in using genetic mouse models to understand their pathogenic mechanisms and develop intervention strategies. We propose that applying newly developed quantitative molecular and neuroscience technologies will advance our understanding of the unique neurobiology of each disorder and enable the development of personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sehrish Javed
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Tharushan Selliah
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Yu-Ju Lee
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Wei-Hsiang Huang
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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Kucukkal TG, Yang Y, Uvarov O, Cao W, Alexov E. Impact of Rett Syndrome Mutations on MeCP2 MBD Stability. Biochemistry 2015; 54:6357-68. [PMID: 26418480 PMCID: PMC9871983 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Rett syndrome causing missense mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) of methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) were investigated both in silico and in vitro to reveal their effect on protein stability. It is demonstrated that the vast majority of frequently occurring mutations in the human population indeed alter the MBD folding free energy by a fraction of a kcal/mol up to more than 1 kcal/mol. While the absolute magnitude of the change of the free energy is small, the effect on the MBD functionality may be substantial since the folding free energy of MBD is about 2 kcal/mol only. Thus, it is emphasized that the effect of mutations on protein integrity should be evaluated with respect to the wild-type folding free energy but not with the absolute value of the folding free energy change. Furthermore, it was observed that the magnitude of the effect is correlated neither with the burial of the mutation sites nor with the basic amino acid physicochemical property change. Mutations that strongly perturb the immediate structural features were found to have little effect on folding free energy, while very conservative mutations resulted in large changes of the MBD stability. This observation was attributed to the protein's ability to structurally relax and reorganize to reduce the effect of mutation. Comparison between in silico and in vitro results indicated that some Web servers perform relatively well, while the free energy perturbation approach frequently overpredicts the magnitude of the free energy change especially when a charged amino acid is involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tugba G Kucukkal
- Department of Physics, Clemson University, 118 Kinard Laboratory, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Ye Yang
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 049 Life Sciences Facility, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Olga Uvarov
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 049 Life Sciences Facility, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Weiguo Cao
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 049 Life Sciences Facility, Clemson, SC 29634, USA,Weiguo Cao: , Tel: 864-656-4176; Fax: 864-656-6879, Alexov: , Tel: 864-908-4796, Fax: 864-656-0805
| | - Emil Alexov
- Department of Physics, Clemson University, 118 Kinard Laboratory, Clemson, SC 29634, USA,Weiguo Cao: , Tel: 864-656-4176; Fax: 864-656-6879, Alexov: , Tel: 864-908-4796, Fax: 864-656-0805
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Derecki NC, Cronk JC, Kipnis J. The role of microglia in brain maintenance: implications for Rett syndrome. Trends Immunol 2012; 34:144-50. [PMID: 23122051 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2012.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2012] [Revised: 09/29/2012] [Accepted: 10/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The role of microglia in central nervous system (CNS) pathology has been studied extensively, and more recently, examination of microglia in the healthy brain has yielded important insights into their many functions. It was long assumed that microglia were essentially quiescent cells, unless provoked into activation, which was considered a hallmark of disease. More recently, however, it has become increasingly clear that they are extraordinarily dynamic cells, constantly sampling their environment and adjusting to exquisitely delicate stimuli. Along these lines, our laboratory has identified a new and unexpected role for microglial phagocytosis - or lack thereof - in the pathophysiology of Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disease caused by mutation of the gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein (MECP)2. We have shown that specific expression of wild type Mecp2 in myeloid cells of Mecp2-null mice is sufficient to arrest major symptoms associated with this devastating disease. This beneficial effect, however, is abolished if phagocytic activity of microglia is inhibited. Here, we discuss microglial origins, the role of microglia in brain development and maintenance, and the phenomenon of microglial augmentation by myeloid progenitor cells in the adult brain. Finally, we address in some detail the beneficial roles of microglia as clinical targets in Rett syndrome and other neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noël C Derecki
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia and Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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