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Mitjans M, Begemann M, Ju A, Dere E, Wüstefeld L, Hofer S, Hassouna I, Balkenhol J, Oliveira B, van der Auwera S, Tammer R, Hammerschmidt K, Völzke H, Homuth G, Cecconi F, Chowdhury K, Grabe H, Frahm J, Boretius S, Dandekar T, Ehrenreich H. Sexual dimorphism of AMBRA1-related autistic features in human and mouse. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1247. [PMID: 28994820 PMCID: PMC5682605 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ambra1 is linked to autophagy and neurodevelopment. Heterozygous Ambra1 deficiency induces autism-like behavior in a sexually dimorphic manner. Extraordinarily, autistic features are seen in female mice only, combined with stronger Ambra1 protein reduction in brain compared to males. However, significance of AMBRA1 for autistic phenotypes in humans and, apart from behavior, for other autism-typical features, namely early brain enlargement or increased seizure propensity, has remained unexplored. Here we show in two independent human samples that a single normal AMBRA1 genotype, the intronic SNP rs3802890-AA, is associated with autistic features in women, who also display lower AMBRA1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells relative to female GG carriers. Located within a non-coding RNA, likely relevant for mRNA and protein interaction, rs3802890 (A versus G allele) may affect its stability through modification of folding, as predicted by in silico analysis. Searching for further autism-relevant characteristics in Ambra1+/- mice, we observe reduced interest of female but not male mutants regarding pheromone signals of the respective other gender in the social intellicage set-up. Moreover, altered pentylentetrazol-induced seizure propensity, an in vivo readout of neuronal excitation-inhibition dysbalance, becomes obvious exclusively in female mutants. Magnetic resonance imaging reveals mild prepubertal brain enlargement in both genders, uncoupling enhanced brain dimensions from the primarily female expression of all other autistic phenotypes investigated here. These data support a role of AMBRA1/Ambra1 partial loss-of-function genotypes for female autistic traits. Moreover, they suggest Ambra1 heterozygous mice as a novel multifaceted and construct-valid genetic mouse model for female autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mitjans
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany,DFG Research Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - M Begemann
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany,DFG Research Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, UMG, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - A Ju
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - E Dere
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany,DFG Research Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - L Wüstefeld
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - S Hofer
- Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - I Hassouna
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - J Balkenhol
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - B Oliveira
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - S van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine, and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - R Tammer
- Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - K Hammerschmidt
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - H Völzke
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - G Homuth
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - F Cecconi
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia and Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy,Unit of Cell Stress and Survival, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - K Chowdhury
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - H Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine, and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - J Frahm
- Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - S Boretius
- Department of Functional Imaging, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute of Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - T Dandekar
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - H Ehrenreich
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany,DFG Research Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany,Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, Göttingen 37075, Germany. E-mail:
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Hassouna I, Ott C, Wüstefeld L, Offen N, Neher RA, Mitkovski M, Winkler D, Sperling S, Fries L, Goebbels S, Vreja IC, Hagemeyer N, Dittrich M, Rossetti MF, Kröhnert K, Hannke K, Boretius S, Zeug A, Höschen C, Dandekar T, Dere E, Neher E, Rizzoli SO, Nave KA, Sirén AL, Ehrenreich H. Revisiting adult neurogenesis and the role of erythropoietin for neuronal and oligodendroglial differentiation in the hippocampus. Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:1752-1767. [PMID: 26809838 PMCID: PMC5193535 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) improves cognitive performance in neuropsychiatric diseases ranging from schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis to major depression and bipolar disease. This consistent EPO effect on cognition is independent of its role in hematopoiesis. The cellular mechanisms of action in brain, however, have remained unclear. Here we studied healthy young mice and observed that 3-week EPO administration was associated with an increased number of pyramidal neurons and oligodendrocytes in the hippocampus of ~20%. Under constant cognitive challenge, neuron numbers remained elevated until >6 months of age. Surprisingly, this increase occurred in absence of altered cell proliferation or apoptosis. After feeding a 15N-leucine diet, we used nanoscopic secondary ion mass spectrometry, and found that in EPO-treated mice, an equivalent number of neurons was defined by elevated 15N-leucine incorporation. In EPO-treated NG2-Cre-ERT2 mice, we confirmed enhanced differentiation of preexisting oligodendrocyte precursors in the absence of elevated DNA synthesis. A corresponding analysis of the neuronal lineage awaits the identification of suitable neuronal markers. In cultured neurospheres, EPO reduced Sox9 and stimulated miR124, associated with advanced neuronal differentiation. We are discussing a resulting working model in which EPO drives the differentiation of non-dividing precursors in both (NG2+) oligodendroglial and neuronal lineages. As endogenous EPO expression is induced by brain injury, such a mechanism of adult neurogenesis may be relevant for central nervous system regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Hassouna
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen,
Germany,On leave of absence from Physiology
Unit, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University,
Al Minufya, Egypt
| | - C Ott
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - L Wüstefeld
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - N Offen
- Department of Neurosurgery,
University of Würzburg, Würzburg,
Germany
| | - R A Neher
- Evolutionary Dynamics and Biophysics,
Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology,
Tübingen, Germany
| | - M Mitkovski
- Light Microscopy Facility, Max Planck
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - D Winkler
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - S Sperling
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - L Fries
- Department of Neurosurgery,
University of Würzburg, Würzburg,
Germany
| | - S Goebbels
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max
Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine,
Göttingen, Germany
| | - I C Vreja
- Department of Neuro- and Sensory
Physiology, University Medical Center
Göttingen, Germany,International Max Planck Research
School Molecular Biology, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - N Hagemeyer
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - M Dittrich
- Department of Bioinformatics,
Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg,
Germany
| | - M F Rossetti
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - K Kröhnert
- Department of Neuro- and Sensory
Physiology, University Medical Center
Göttingen, Germany
| | - K Hannke
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - S Boretius
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology,
Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel,
Germany
| | - A Zeug
- Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover
Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - C Höschen
- Department of Ecology and Ecosystem
Management, Lehrstuhl für Bodenkunde, Technische Universität
München, Freising-Weihenstephan,
Germany
| | - T Dandekar
- Department of Bioinformatics,
Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg,
Germany
| | - E Dere
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - E Neher
- Department of Membrane Biophysics,
Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry,
Göttingen, Germany,DFG Center for Nanoscale Microscopy
and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - S O Rizzoli
- Department of Neuro- and Sensory
Physiology, University Medical Center
Göttingen, Germany,DFG Center for Nanoscale Microscopy
and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - K-A Nave
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max
Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine,
Göttingen, Germany,DFG Center for Nanoscale Microscopy
and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Göttingen,
Germany
| | - A-L Sirén
- Department of Neurosurgery,
University of Würzburg, Würzburg,
Germany
| | - H Ehrenreich
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen,
Germany,DFG Center for Nanoscale Microscopy
and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Göttingen,
Germany,Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of
Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str.3,
Göttingen
37075, Germany. E-mail:
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