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Chair SY, Chow KM, Chan CWL, Chan JYW, Law BMH, Waye MMY. Structural Variations Identified in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Chinese Population: A Systematic Review of Case-Control Studies. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:1082. [PMID: 39202440 PMCID: PMC11353326 DOI: 10.3390/genes15081082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability characterised by the impairment of social interaction and communication ability. The alarming increase in its prevalence in children urged researchers to obtain a better understanding of the causes of this disease. Genetic factors are considered to be crucial, as ASD has a tendency to run in families. In recent years, with technological advances, the importance of structural variations (SVs) in ASD began to emerge. Most of these studies, however, focus on the Caucasian population. As a populated ethnicity, ASD shall be a significant health issue in China. This systematic review aims to summarise current case-control studies of SVs associated with ASD in the Chinese population. A list of genes identified in the nine included studies is provided. It also reveals that similar research focusing on other genetic backgrounds is demanded to manifest the disease etiology in different ethnic groups, and assist the development of accurate ethnic-oriented genetic diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sek-Ying Chair
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.-M.C.); (C.W.-L.C.); (J.Y.-W.C.); (B.M.-H.L.); (M.M.-Y.W.)
- Asia-Pacific Genomic and Genetic Nursing Centre, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Croucher Laboratory for Human Genomics, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ka-Ming Chow
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.-M.C.); (C.W.-L.C.); (J.Y.-W.C.); (B.M.-H.L.); (M.M.-Y.W.)
- Asia-Pacific Genomic and Genetic Nursing Centre, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Croucher Laboratory for Human Genomics, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cecilia Wai-Ling Chan
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.-M.C.); (C.W.-L.C.); (J.Y.-W.C.); (B.M.-H.L.); (M.M.-Y.W.)
| | - Judy Yuet-Wa Chan
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.-M.C.); (C.W.-L.C.); (J.Y.-W.C.); (B.M.-H.L.); (M.M.-Y.W.)
| | - Bernard Man-Hin Law
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.-M.C.); (C.W.-L.C.); (J.Y.-W.C.); (B.M.-H.L.); (M.M.-Y.W.)
| | - Mary Miu-Yee Waye
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.-M.C.); (C.W.-L.C.); (J.Y.-W.C.); (B.M.-H.L.); (M.M.-Y.W.)
- Asia-Pacific Genomic and Genetic Nursing Centre, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Croucher Laboratory for Human Genomics, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Herrera-Rivero M, Gutiérrez-Fragoso K, Kurtz J, Baune BT. Immunogenetics of lithium response and psychiatric phenotypes in patients with bipolar disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:174. [PMID: 38570518 PMCID: PMC10991481 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02865-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The link between bipolar disorder (BP) and immune dysfunction remains controversial. While epidemiological studies have long suggested an association, recent research has found only limited evidence of such a relationship. To clarify this, we performed an exploratory study of the contributions of immune-relevant genetic factors to the response to lithium (Li) treatment and the clinical presentation of BP. First, we assessed the association of a large collection of immune-related genes (4925) with Li response, defined by the Retrospective Assessment of the Lithium Response Phenotype Scale (Alda scale), and clinical characteristics in patients with BP from the International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLi+Gen, N = 2374). Second, we calculated here previously published polygenic scores (PGSs) for immune-related traits and evaluated their associations with Li response and clinical features. Overall, we observed relatively weak associations (p < 1 × 10-4) with BP phenotypes within immune-related genes. Network and functional enrichment analyses of the top findings from the association analyses of Li response variables showed an overrepresentation of pathways participating in cell adhesion and intercellular communication. These appeared to converge on the well-known Li-induced inhibition of GSK-3β. Association analyses of age-at-onset, number of mood episodes, and presence of psychosis, substance abuse and/or suicidal ideation suggested modest contributions of genes such as RTN4, XKR4, NRXN1, NRG1/3 and GRK5 to disease characteristics. PGS analyses returned weak associations (p < 0.05) between inflammation markers and the studied BP phenotypes. Our results suggest a modest relationship between immunity and clinical features in BP. More research is needed to assess the potential therapeutic relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisol Herrera-Rivero
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Joint Institute for Individualisation in a Changing Environment (JICE), University of Münster and Bielefeld University, Münster, Germany
| | - Karina Gutiérrez-Fragoso
- Division of Engineering in Computational Systems, Higher Technological Institute of the East of the State of Hidalgo, Hidalgo, Mexico
| | - Joachim Kurtz
- Joint Institute for Individualisation in a Changing Environment (JICE), University of Münster and Bielefeld University, Münster, Germany
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Bernhard T Baune
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
- Joint Institute for Individualisation in a Changing Environment (JICE), University of Münster and Bielefeld University, Münster, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
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Cooper JN, Mittal J, Sangadi A, Klassen DL, King AM, Zalta M, Mittal R, Eshraghi AA. Landscape of NRXN1 Gene Variants in Phenotypic Manifestations of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2067. [PMID: 38610832 PMCID: PMC11012327 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13072067] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication challenges and repetitive behaviors. Recent research has increasingly focused on the genetic underpinnings of ASD, with the Neurexin 1 (NRXN1) gene emerging as a key player. This comprehensive systematic review elucidates the contribution of NRXN1 gene variants in the pathophysiology of ASD. Methods: The protocol for this systematic review was designed a priori and was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023450418). A risk of bias analysis was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. We examined various studies that link NRXN1 gene disruptions with ASD, discussing both the genotypic variability and the resulting phenotypic expressions. Results: Within this review, there was marked heterogeneity observed in ASD genotypic and phenotypic manifestations among individuals with NRXN1 mutations. The presence of NRXN1 mutations in this population emphasizes the gene's role in synaptic function and neural connectivity. Conclusion: This review not only highlights the role of NRXN1 in the pathophysiology of ASD but also highlights the need for further research to unravel the complex genetic underpinnings of the disorder. A better knowledge about the multifaceted role of NRXN1 in ASD can provide crucial insights into the neurobiological foundations of autism and pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimee N. Cooper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
- School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Jeenu Mittal
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Akhila Sangadi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Delany L. Klassen
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Ava M. King
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Max Zalta
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Rahul Mittal
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Adrien A. Eshraghi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Achterberg EJM, Biemans B, Vanderschuren LJMJ. Neurexin1α knockout in rats causes aberrant social behaviour: relevance for autism and schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06559-z. [PMID: 38418646 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06559-z] [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] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Genetic and environmental factors cause neuropsychiatric disorders through complex interactions that are far from understood. Loss-of-function mutations in synaptic proteins like neurexin1α have been linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ), both characterised by problems in social behaviour. Childhood social play behaviour is thought to facilitate social development, and lack of social play may precipitate or exacerbate ASD and SCZ. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that an environmental insult acts on top of genetic vulnerability to precipitate psychiatric-like phenotypes. To that aim, social behaviour in neurexin1α knockout rats was assessed, with or without deprivation of juvenile social play. We also tested drugs prescribed in ASD or SCZ to assess the relevance of this dual-hit model for these disorders. RESULTS Neurexin1α knockout rats showed an aberrant social phenotype, with high amounts of social play, increased motivation to play, age-inappropriate sexual mounting, and an increase in general activity. Play deprivation subtly altered later social behaviour, but did not affect the phenotype of neurexin1α knockout rats. Risperidone and methylphenidate decreased play behaviour in both wild-type and knockout rats. Amphetamine-induced hyperactivity was exaggerated in neurexin1α knockout rats. CONCLUSION Deletion of the neurexin1α gene in rats causes exaggerated social play, which is not modified by social play deprivation. This phenotype therefore resembles disinhibited behaviour rather than the social withdrawal seen in ASD and SCZ. The neurexin1α knockout rat could be a model for inappropriate or disinhibited social behaviour seen in childhood mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Marijke Achterberg
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Barbara Biemans
- Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Louk J M J Vanderschuren
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Cui YH, Wu CR, Xu D, Tang JG. Exploration of neuron heterogeneity in human heart failure with dilated cardiomyopathy through single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2024; 24:86. [PMID: 38310240 PMCID: PMC10838417 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-03739-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to explore the heterogeneity of neurons in heart failure with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). METHODS Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of patients with DCM and chronic heart failure and healthy samples from GSE183852 dataset were downloaded from NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus, in which neuron data were extracted for investigation. Cell clustering analysis, differential expression analysis, trajectory analysis, and cell communication analysis were performed, and highly expressed genes in neurons from patients were used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and validated by GSE120895 dataset. RESULTS Neurons were divided into six subclusters involved in various biological processes and each subcluster owned its specific cell communication pathways. Neurons were differentiated into two branches along the pseudotime, one of which was differentiated into mature neurons, whereas another tended to be involved in the immune and inflammation response. Genes exhibited branch-specific differential expression patterns. FLNA, ITGA6, ITGA1, and MDK interacted more with other gene-product proteins in the PPI network. The differential expression of FLNA between DCM and control was validated. CONCLUSION Neurons have significant heterogeneity in heart failure with DCM, and may be involved in the immune and inflammation response to heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hui Cui
- Department of Trauma-Emergency & Critical Care Medicine Center, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No.801 Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Chun-Rong Wu
- Department of Trauma-Emergency & Critical Care Medicine Center, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No.801 Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Dan Xu
- Department of Trauma-Emergency & Critical Care Medicine Center, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No.801 Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jian-Guo Tang
- Department of Trauma-Emergency & Critical Care Medicine Center, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No.801 Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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6
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O'Connor C, Bennett M. Eruptive keratotic melanocytic nevi in 2p deletion syndrome. Int J Dermatol 2024; 63:130-131. [PMID: 37994110 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.16943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cathal O'Connor
- Dermatology, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Mary Bennett
- Dermatology, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
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7
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Fernando MB, Fan Y, Zhang Y, Kammourh S, Murphy AN, Ghorbani S, Onatzevitch R, Pero A, Padilla C, Flaherty EK, Prytkova IK, Cao L, Williams S, Fang G, Slesinger PA, Brennand KJ. Precise Therapeutic Targeting of Distinct NRXN1+/- Mutations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.28.564543. [PMID: 37961635 PMCID: PMC10634884 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.28.564543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
As genetic studies continue to identify risk loci that are significantly associated with risk for neuropsychiatric disease, a critical unanswered question is the extent to which diverse mutations--sometimes impacting the same gene-- will require tailored therapeutic strategies. Here we consider this in the context of rare neuropsychiatric disorder-associated copy number variants (2p16.3) resulting in heterozygous deletions in NRXN1, a pre-synaptic cell adhesion protein that serves as a critical synaptic organizer in the brain. Complex patterns of NRXN1 alternative splicing are fundamental to establishing diverse neurocircuitry, vary between the cell types of the brain, and are differentially impacted by unique (non-recurrent) deletions. We contrast the cell-type-specific impact of patient-specific mutations in NRXN1 using human induced pluripotent stem cells, finding that perturbations in NRXN1 splicing result in divergent cell-type-specific synaptic outcomes. Via distinct loss-of-function (LOF) and gain-of-function (GOF) mechanisms, NRXN1+/- deletions cause decreased synaptic activity in glutamatergic neurons, yet increased synaptic activity in GABAergic neurons. Stratification of patients by LOF and GOF mechanisms will facilitate individualized restoration of NRXN1 isoform repertoires; towards this, antisense oligonucleotides knockdown mutant isoform expression and alters synaptic transcriptional signatures, while treatment with β-estradiol rescues synaptic function in glutamatergic neurons. Given the increasing number of mutations predicted to engender both LOF and GOF mechanisms in brain disease, our findings add nuance to future considerations of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B. Fernando
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Friedman Brain Institute, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520
| | - Yu Fan
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Yanchun Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Sarah Kammourh
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Aleta N. Murphy
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Friedman Brain Institute, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Sadaf Ghorbani
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520
- Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ryan Onatzevitch
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Adriana Pero
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Christopher Padilla
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Erin K. Flaherty
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Iya K. Prytkova
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Lei Cao
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Sarah Williams
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Friedman Brain Institute, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Gang Fang
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Paul A. Slesinger
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Kristen J. Brennand
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Friedman Brain Institute, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520
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Landis BJ, Helvaty LR, Geddes GC, Lin JI, Yatsenko SA, Lo CW, Border WL, Wechsler SB, Murali CN, Azamian MS, Lalani SR, Hinton RB, Garg V, McBride KL, Hodge JC, Ware SM. A Multicenter Analysis of Abnormal Chromosomal Microarray Findings in Congenital Heart Disease. J Am Heart Assoc 2023; 12:e029340. [PMID: 37681527 PMCID: PMC10547279 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.029340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Background Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) provides an opportunity to understand genetic causes of congenital heart disease (CHD). The methods for describing cardiac phenotypes in patients with CMA abnormalities have been inconsistent, which may complicate clinical interpretation of abnormal testing results and hinder a more complete understanding of genotype-phenotype relationships. Methods and Results Patients with CHD and abnormal clinical CMA were accrued from 9 pediatric cardiac centers. Highly detailed cardiac phenotypes were systematically classified and analyzed for their association with CMA abnormality. Hierarchical classification of each patient into 1 CHD category facilitated broad analyses. Inclusive classification allowing multiple CHD types per patient provided sensitive descriptions. In 1363 registry patients, 28% had genomic disorders with well-recognized CHD association, 67% had clinically reported copy number variants (CNVs) with rare or no prior CHD association, and 5% had regions of homozygosity without CNV. Hierarchical classification identified expected CHD categories in genomic disorders, as well as uncharacteristic CHDs. Inclusive phenotyping provided sensitive descriptions of patients with multiple CHD types, which occurred commonly. Among CNVs with rare or no prior CHD association, submicroscopic CNVs were enriched for more complex types of CHD compared with large CNVs. The submicroscopic CNVs that contained a curated CHD gene were enriched for left ventricular obstruction or septal defects, whereas CNVs containing a single gene were enriched for conotruncal defects. Neuronal-related pathways were over-represented in single-gene CNVs, including top candidate causative genes NRXN3, ADCY2, and HCN1. Conclusions Intensive cardiac phenotyping in multisite registry data identifies genotype-phenotype associations in CHD patients with abnormal CMA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chaya N. Murali
- Baylor College of MedicineHoustonTX
- Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonTX
| | | | - Seema R. Lalani
- Baylor College of MedicineHoustonTX
- Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonTX
| | | | - Vidu Garg
- Nationwide Children’s HospitalThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOH
| | - Kim L. McBride
- Nationwide Children’s HospitalThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOH
- University of CalgaryCalgaryCanada
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Molloy CJ, Cooke J, Gatford NJF, Rivera-Olvera A, Avazzadeh S, Homberg JR, Grandjean J, Fernandes C, Shen S, Loth E, Srivastava DP, Gallagher L. Bridging the translational gap: what can synaptopathies tell us about autism? Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1191323. [PMID: 37441676 PMCID: PMC10333541 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1191323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple molecular pathways and cellular processes have been implicated in the neurobiology of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. There is a current focus on synaptic gene conditions, or synaptopathies, which refer to clinical conditions associated with rare genetic variants disrupting genes involved in synaptic biology. Synaptopathies are commonly associated with autism and developmental delay and may be associated with a range of other neuropsychiatric outcomes. Altered synaptic biology is suggested by both preclinical and clinical studies in autism based on evidence of differences in early brain structural development and altered glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission potentially perturbing excitatory and inhibitory balance. This review focusses on the NRXN-NLGN-SHANK pathway, which is implicated in the synaptic assembly, trans-synaptic signalling, and synaptic functioning. We provide an overview of the insights from preclinical molecular studies of the pathway. Concentrating on NRXN1 deletion and SHANK3 mutations, we discuss emerging understanding of cellular processes and electrophysiology from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) models derived from individuals with synaptopathies, neuroimaging and behavioural findings in animal models of Nrxn1 and Shank3 synaptic gene conditions, and key findings regarding autism features, brain and behavioural phenotypes from human clinical studies of synaptopathies. The identification of molecular-based biomarkers from preclinical models aims to advance the development of targeted therapeutic treatments. However, it remains challenging to translate preclinical animal models and iPSC studies to interpret human brain development and autism features. We discuss the existing challenges in preclinical and clinical synaptopathy research, and potential solutions to align methodologies across preclinical and clinical research. Bridging the translational gap between preclinical and clinical studies will be necessary to understand biological mechanisms, to identify targeted therapies, and ultimately to progress towards personalised approaches for complex neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara J. Molloy
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jennifer Cooke
- Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. F. Gatford
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandro Rivera-Olvera
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Sahar Avazzadeh
- Physiology and Cellular Physiology Research Laboratory, CÚRAM SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices, School of Medicine, Human Biology Building, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Joanes Grandjean
- Physiology and Cellular Physiology Research Laboratory, CÚRAM SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices, School of Medicine, Human Biology Building, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sanbing Shen
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- FutureNeuro, The SFI Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eva Loth
- Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deepak P. Srivastava
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Gallagher
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- The Hospital for SickKids, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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10
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Herrera-Rivero M, Gutiérrez-Fragoso K, Thalamuthu A, Amare AT, Adli M, Akiyama K, Akula N, Ardau R, Arias B, Aubry JM, Backlund L, Bellivier F, Benabarre A, Bengesser S, Abesh B, Biernacka J, Birner A, Cearns M, Cervantes P, Chen HC, Chillotti C, Cichon S, Clark S, Colom F, Cruceanu C, Czerski P, Dalkner N, Degenhardt F, Del Zompo M, DePaulo JR, Etain B, Falkai P, Ferensztajn-Rochowiak E, Forstner AJ, Frank J, Frisen L, Frye M, Fullerton J, Gallo C, Gard S, Garnham J, Goes F, Grigoroiu-Serbanescu M, Grof P, Hashimoto R, Hasler R, Hauser J, Heilbronner U, Herms S, Hoffmann P, Hou L, Hsu Y, Jamain S, Jiménez E, Kahn JP, Kassem L, Kato T, Kelsoe J, Kittel-Schneider S, Kuo PH, Kurtz J, Kusumi I, König B, Laje G, Landén M, Lavebratt C, Leboyer M, Leckband S, Maj M, Manchia M, Marie-Claire C, Martinsson L, McCarthy M, McElroy SL, Millischer V, Mitjans M, Mondimore F, Monteleone P, Nievergelt C, Novak T, Nöthen M, Odonovan C, Ozaki N, Papiol S, Pfennig A, Pisanu C, Potash J, Reif A, Reininghaus E, Richard-Lepouriel H, Roberts G, Rouleau G, Rybakowski JK, Schalling M, Schofield P, Schubert KO, Schulte E, Schweizer B, Severino G, Shekhtman T, Shilling P, Shimoda K, Simhandl C, Slaney C, Squassina A, Stamm T, Stopkova P, Streit F, Ayele F, Tortorella A, Turecki G, Veeh J, Vieta E, Viswanath B, Witt S, Zandi P, Alda M, Bauer M, McMahon F, Mitchell P, Rietschel M, Schulze T, Baune B. Immunogenetics of lithium response and psychiatric phenotypes in patients with bipolar disorder. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3068352. [PMID: 37461719 PMCID: PMC10350128 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3068352/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The link between bipolar disorder (BP) and immune dysfunction remains controversial. While epidemiological studies have long suggested an association, recent research has found only limited evidence of such a relationship. To clarify this, we investigated the contributions of immune-relevant genetic factors to the response to lithium (Li) treatment and the clinical presentation of BP. First, we assessed the association of a large collection of immune-related genes (4,925) with Li response, defined by the Retrospective Assessment of the Lithium Response Phenotype Scale (Alda scale), and clinical characteristics in patients with BP from the International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLi+Gen, N = 2,374). Second, we calculated here previously published polygenic scores (PGSs) for immune-related traits and evaluated their associations with Li response and clinical features. We found several genes associated with Li response at p < 1×10- 4 values, including HAS3, CNTNAP5 and NFIB. Network and functional enrichment analyses uncovered an overrepresentation of pathways involved in cell adhesion and intercellular communication, which appear to converge on the well-known Li-induced inhibition of GSK-3β. We also found various genes associated with BP's age-at-onset, number of mood episodes, and presence of psychosis, substance abuse and/or suicidal ideation at the exploratory threshold. These included RTN4, XKR4, NRXN1, NRG1/3 and GRK5. Additionally, PGS analyses suggested serum FAS, ECP, TRANCE and cytokine ligands, amongst others, might represent potential circulating biomarkers of Li response and clinical presentation. Taken together, our results support the notion of a relatively weak association between immunity and clinically relevant features of BP at the genetic level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Kazufumi Akiyama
- Department of Biological Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Dokkyo Medical University
| | - Nirmala Akula
- National Institutes of Health, US Dept of Health & Human Services
| | | | - Bárbara Arias
- Facultat de Biologia and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, CIBERSAM
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Urs Heilbronner
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich
| | | | | | - Liping Hou
- National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tadafumi Kato
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | | | | | - Po-Hsiu Kuo
- College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marina Mitjans
- Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Tomas Novak
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Thomas Stamm
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte
| | | | | | | | | | - Gustavo Turecki
- Douglas Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University
| | | | | | - Biju Viswanath
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | | | | | | | | | - Francis McMahon
- National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program; National Institutes of Health
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11
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Jiravejchakul N, Abe GL, Loza M, Park S, Matangkasombut P, Sasaki JI, Imazato S, Diez D, Standley DM. Intercellular crosstalk in adult dental pulp is mediated by heparin-binding growth factors Pleiotrophin and Midkine. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:184. [PMID: 37024794 PMCID: PMC10077760 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09265-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In-depth knowledge of the cellular and molecular composition of dental pulp (DP) and the crosstalk between DP cells that drive tissue homeostasis are not well understood. To address these questions, we performed a comparative analysis of publicly available single-cell transcriptomes of healthy adult human DP to 5 other reference tissues: peripheral blood mononuclear cells, bone marrow, adipose tissue, lung, and skin. RESULTS Our analysis revealed that DP resident cells have a unique gene expression profile when compared to the reference tissues, and that DP fibroblasts are the main cell type contributing to this expression profile. Genes coding for pleiotrophin (PTN) and midkine (MDK), homologous heparin-binding growth-factors, possessed the highest differential expression levels in DP fibroblasts. In addition, we identified extensive crosstalk between DP fibroblasts and several other DP resident cells, including Schwann cells, mesenchymal stem cells and odontoblasts, mediated by PTN and MDK. CONCLUSIONS DP fibroblasts emerge as unappreciated players in DP homeostasis, mainly through their crosstalk with glial cells. These findings suggest that fibroblast-derived growth factors possess major regulatory functions and thus have a potential role as dental therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natnicha Jiravejchakul
- Department of Genome Informatics, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Gabriela L Abe
- Department of Advanced Functional Materials Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Martin Loza
- Laboratory of Functional Analysis in silico, Human Genome Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108- 8639, Japan
| | - Soyoung Park
- Department of Systems Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ponpan Matangkasombut
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Jun-Ichi Sasaki
- Department of Dental Biomaterials, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Satoshi Imazato
- Department of Advanced Functional Materials Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Dental Biomaterials, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Diego Diez
- Quantitative Immunology Research Unit, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daron M Standley
- Department of Genome Informatics, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
- Department of Systems Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
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12
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Wu D, Zhu J, You L, Wang J, Zhang S, Liu Z, Xu Q, Yuan X, Yang L, Wang W, Tong M, Hong Q, Chi X. NRXN1 depletion in the medial prefrontal cortex induces anxiety-like behaviors and abnormal social phenotypes along with impaired neurite outgrowth in rat. J Neurodev Disord 2023; 15:6. [PMID: 36737720 PMCID: PMC9896742 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09471-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of disorders induced by abnormal brain developmental processes. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays an essential role in executive function, and its role in NDDs has been reported. NDDs are associated with high-risk gene mutations and share partially overlapping genetic abnormalities. METHODS Neurexins (NRXNs) are related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). NRXN1, an essential susceptibility gene for NDDs, has been reported to be associated with NDDs. However, little is known about its key role in NDDs. RESULTS NRXN1 downregulation in the medial PFC induced anxiety-like behaviors and abnormal social phenotypes with impaired neurite outgrowth in Sh-NRXN1 in prefrontal neurons. Moreover, tandem mass tag (TMT)-based proteomic analysis of rat brain samples showed that NRXN1 downregulation led to significant proteome alterations, including pathways related to the extracellular matrix, cell membrane, and morphologic change. Furthermore, full-automatic immunoblotting analysis verified the differently expressed proteins related to cell morphology and membrane structure. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirmed the association of NRXN1 with abnormal behaviors in NDDs and provided richer insights into specific prefrontal knockdown in adolescence, potentially expanding the NRXN1 interactome and contributing to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China.,The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiansheng Zhu
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Lianghui You
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Sufen Zhang
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhonghui Liu
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Qu Xu
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaojie Yuan
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meiling Tong
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Qin Hong
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xia Chi
- Department of Child Healthcare, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China.
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Benítez-Burraco A, Jiménez-Romero MS, Fernández-Urquiza M. Delving into the Genetic Causes of Language Impairment in a Case of Partial Deletion of NRXN1. Mol Syndromol 2023; 13:496-510. [PMID: 36660026 PMCID: PMC9843585 DOI: 10.1159/000524710] [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: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Copy-number variations (CNVs) impacting on small DNA stretches and associated with language deficits provide a unique window to the role played by specific genes in language function. Methods We report in detail on the cognitive, language, and genetic features of a girl bearing a small deletion (0.186 Mb) in the 2p16.3 region, arr[hg19] 2p16.3(50761778_50947729)×1, affecting exons 3-7 of NRXN1, a neurexin-coding gene previously related to schizophrenia, autism (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorder, and intellectual disability (ID). Results The proband exhibits many of the features commonly found in subjects with deletions of NRXN1, like ASD-like traits (including ritualized behaviors, disordered sensory aspects, social disturbances, and impaired theory of mind), ADHD symptoms, moderate ID, and impaired speech and language. Regarding this latter aspect, we observed altered speech production, underdeveloped phonological awareness, minimal syntax, serious shortage of active vocabulary, impaired receptive language, and inappropriate pragmatic behavior (including lack of metapragmatic awareness and communicative use of gaze). Microarray analyses point to the dysregulation of several genes important for language function in the girl compared to her healthy parents. Discussion Although some basic cognitive deficit - such as the impairment of executive function - might contribute to the language problems exhibited by the proband, molecular evidence suggests that they might result, to a great extent, from the abnormal expression of genes directly related to language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Benítez-Burraco
- Department of Spanish, Linguistics, and Theory of Literature (Linguistics), University of Seville, Seville, Spain,*Antonio Benítez-Burraco,
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14
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Wan X, Jing JN, Wang DF, Lv FH. Whole-genome selective scans detect genes associated with important phenotypic traits in goat ( Capra hircus). Front Genet 2023; 14:1173017. [PMID: 37144124 PMCID: PMC10151485 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1173017] [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] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Goats with diverse economic phenotypic traits play an important role in animal husbandry. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying complex phenotypic traits are unclear in goats. Genomic studies of variations provided a lens to identify functional genes. In this study, we focused on the worldwide goat breeds with outstanding traits and used whole-genome resequencing data in 361 samples from 68 breeds to detect genomic selection sweep regions. We identified 210-531 genomic regions with six phenotypic traits, respectively. Further gene annotation analysis revealed 332, 203, 164, 300, 205, and 145 candidate genes corresponding with dairy, wool, high prolificacy, poll, big ear, and white coat color traits. Some of these genes have been reported previously (e.g., KIT, KITLG, NBEA, RELL1, AHCY, and EDNRA), while we also discovered novel genes, such as STIM1, NRXN1, LEP, that may be associated with agronomic traits like poll and big ear morphology. Our study found a set of new genetic markers for genetic improvement in goats and provided novel insights into the genetic mechanisms of complex traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Wan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Nan Jing
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Dong-Feng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, China
| | - Feng-Hua Lv
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Feng-Hua Lv,
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15
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Camasio A, Panzeri E, Mancuso L, Costa T, Manuello J, Ferraro M, Duca S, Cauda F, Liloia D. Linking neuroanatomical abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder with gene expression of candidate ASD genes: A meta-analytic and network-oriented approach. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277466. [PMID: 36441779 PMCID: PMC9704678 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of developmental conditions with widespread neuroanatomical abnormalities and a strong genetic basis. Although neuroimaging studies have indicated anatomical changes in grey matter (GM) morphometry, their associations with gene expression remain elusive. METHODS Here, we aim to understand how gene expression correlates with neuroanatomical atypicalities in ASD. To do so, we performed a coordinate-based meta-analysis to determine the common GM variation pattern in the autistic brain. From the Allen Human Brain Atlas, we selected eight genes from the SHANK, NRXN, NLGN family and MECP2, which have been implicated with ASD, particularly in regards to altered synaptic transmission and plasticity. The gene expression maps for each gene were built. We then assessed the correlation between the gene expression maps and the GM alteration maps. Lastly, we projected the obtained clusters of GM alteration-gene correlations on top of the canonical resting state networks, in order to provide a functional characterization of the structural evidence. RESULTS We found that gene expression of most genes correlated with GM alteration (both increase and decrease) in regions located in the default mode network. Decreased GM was also correlated with gene expression of some ASD genes in areas associated with the dorsal attention and cerebellar network. Lastly, single genes were found to be significantly correlated with increased GM in areas located in the somatomotor, limbic and ganglia/thalamus networks. CONCLUSIONS This approach allowed us to combine the well beaten path of genetic and brain imaging in a novel way, to specifically investigate the relation between gene expression and brain with structural damage, and individuate genes of potential interest for further investigation in the functional domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Camasio
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Elisa Panzeri
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Lorenzo Mancuso
- Focus Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Tommaso Costa
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy
- Focus Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Jordi Manuello
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy
- Focus Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Mario Ferraro
- Department of Physics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sergio Duca
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy
- Focus Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Franco Cauda
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy
- Focus Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Donato Liloia
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy
- Focus Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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16
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Pinson A, Sevrin E, Chatzi C, Le Gac B, Thiry M, Westbrook GL, Parent AS. Induction of Oxidative Stress and Alteration of Synaptic Gene Expression in Newborn Hippocampal Granule Cells after Developmental Exposure to Aroclor 1254. Neuroendocrinology 2022; 113:1248-1261. [PMID: 36257292 PMCID: PMC10110769 DOI: 10.1159/000527576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hippocampal newborn neurons integrate into functional circuits where they play an important role in learning and memory. We previously showed that perinatal exposure to Aroclor 1254, a commercial mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) associated with alterations of cognitive function in children, disrupted the normal maturation of excitatory synapses in the dentate gyrus. We hypothesized that hippocampal immature neurons underlie some of the cognitive effects of PCBs. METHODS We used newly generated neurons to examine the effects of PCBs in mice following maternal exposure. Newborn dentate granule cells were tagged with enhanced green fluorescent protein using a transgenic mouse line. The transcriptome of the newly generated granule cells was assessed using RNA sequencing. RESULTS Gestational and lactational exposure to 6 mg/kg/day of Aroclor 1254 disrupted the mRNA expression of 1,308 genes in newborn granule cells. Genes involved in mitochondrial functions were highly enriched with 154 genes significantly increased in exposed compared to control mice. The upregulation of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation was accompanied by signs of endoplasmic reticulum stress and an increase in lipid peroxidation, a marker of oxidative stress, in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus but not in mature granule cells in the granular zone. Aroclor 1254 exposure also disrupted the expression of synaptic genes. Using laser-captured subgranular and granular zones, this effect was restricted to the subgranular zone, where newborn neurons are located. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that gene expression in newborn granule cells is disrupted by Aroclor 1254 and provide clues to the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneline Pinson
- Neuroendocrinology Unit, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Elena Sevrin
- Neuroendocrinology Unit, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Christina Chatzi
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Benjamin Le Gac
- Neuroendocrinology Unit, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Marc Thiry
- Cellular and tissular biology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Gary L Westbrook
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Anne-Simone Parent
- Neuroendocrinology Unit, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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17
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Jiang PP, Peng SS, Pankratova S, Luo P, Zhou P, Chen Y. Proteins Involved in Synaptic Plasticity Are Downregulated in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Infants With Clinical Sepsis Complicated by Neuroinflammation. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:887212. [PMID: 35634471 PMCID: PMC9130476 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.887212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Newborn infants are prone to sepsis and related inflammation of different organs. Neuroinflammation has been associated with long-term adverse neuronal (neuropsychiatric/neurodegenerative) outcomes, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or even Alzheimer's disease. Despite a vast number of findings on sepsis-induced inflammatory responses in the central nervous system (CNS), how neuroinflammation affects brain development remains largely elusive. In this study, neonates with clinical sepsis and screened for meningitis were included and classified by the neuroinflammation status based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters (INF vs. NOINF). CSF samples collected from clinical screening were subjected to proteomics analysis. Proteins with differential abundance were subjected to enrichment analysis to reveal affected biological pathways. INF and NOINF infants had similar demographic data and hematological and biochemical parameters in blood and CSF. The CSF proteomes were essentially different between the two groups. All 65 proteins with differential abundance showed lower abundance in the INF group and functionally covered pivotal developmental processes, including axonal and synaptic function and extracellular homeostasis. CSF proteins, PTPRZ1 and IGFBP4, were correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) and ratios of immature/total neutrophils in blood. In general, a substantial change in the CSF protein profile was found under neuroinflammation, and these changes are related to systemic conditions. The results suggest that changes in CSF proteins may be involved in sepsis-affected neurodevelopment, such as disturbances in circuit formation, which has the potential to predispose neonates to long-term adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Ping Jiang
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shan-Shan Peng
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Stanislava Pankratova
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ping Luo
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- Department of Neonatology, Bao'an Women and Children's Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - You Chen
- Department of Neonatology, Bao'an Women and Children's Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: You Chen
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Sciacca M, Marino L, Vitaliti G, Falsaperla R, Marino S. NRXN1 Deletion in Two Twins’ Genotype and Phenotype: A Clinical Case and Literature Review. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9050698. [PMID: 35626875 PMCID: PMC9139251 DOI: 10.3390/children9050698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In the literature, deletions in the 2p16.3 region of the neurexin gene (NRXN1) are associated with cognitive impairment, and other neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, autism, and Pitt–Hopkins-like syndrome 2. In this paper, we present twins with deletion 2p16.3 of the NRXN1 gene using a comparative genomic hybridization array. The two children had a dual diagnosis consisting of mild cognitive impairment and neurodevelopmental delay. Furthermore, they showed a dysmorphic phenotype characterized by facio-cranial disproportion, turricephalus, macrocrania, macrosomia, strabismus, and abnormal conformation of both auricles with low implantation. The genetic analysis of the family members showed the presence, in the father’s genetic test, of a microdeletion of the short arm of chromosome 2, in the 2p16.3 region. Our case report can expand the knowledge on the genotype–phenotype association in carriers of 2p16.3 deletion and for genetic counseling that could help in the prevention and eventual treatment of this genetic condition. Newborn carriers should undergo neurobehavioral follow-ups for timely detection of warning signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Sciacca
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy; (M.S.); (L.M.)
| | - Lidia Marino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy; (M.S.); (L.M.)
| | - Giovanna Vitaliti
- Section of Pediatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, Sant’Anna University Hospital, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Raffaele Falsaperla
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, AOU “Policlinico”, PO “San Marco”, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy;
- Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, AOU “Policlinico”, PO “San Marco”, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy;
| | - Silvia Marino
- Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, AOU “Policlinico”, PO “San Marco”, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy;
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19
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Nisar S, Bhat AA, Masoodi T, Hashem S, Akhtar S, Ali TA, Amjad S, Chawla S, Bagga P, Frenneaux MP, Reddy R, Fakhro K, Haris M. Genetics of glutamate and its receptors in autism spectrum disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2380-2392. [PMID: 35296811 PMCID: PMC9135628 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01506-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental impairment characterized by deficits in social interaction skills, impaired communication, and repetitive and restricted behaviors that are thought to be due to altered neurotransmission processes. The amino acid glutamate is an essential excitatory neurotransmitter in the human brain that regulates cognitive functions such as learning and memory, which are usually impaired in ASD. Over the last several years, increasing evidence from genetics, neuroimaging, protein expression, and animal model studies supporting the notion of altered glutamate metabolism has heightened the interest in evaluating glutamatergic dysfunction in ASD. Numerous pharmacological, behavioral, and imaging studies have demonstrated the imbalance in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, thus revealing the involvement of the glutamatergic system in ASD pathology. Here, we review the effects of genetic alterations on glutamate and its receptors in ASD and the role of non-invasive imaging modalities in detecting these changes. We also highlight the potential therapeutic targets associated with impaired glutamatergic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabah Nisar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Tariq Masoodi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sheema Hashem
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabah Akhtar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Tayyiba Akbar Ali
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sara Amjad
- Shibli National College, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, 276001, India
| | - Sanjeev Chawla
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Puneet Bagga
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Michael P Frenneaux
- Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ravinder Reddy
- Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Khalid Fakhro
- Department of Human Genetics, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar.
- Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Laboratory of Animal Research, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
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20
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Rhoades R, Henry B, Prichett D, Fang Y, Teng S. Computational Saturation Mutagenesis to Investigate the Effects of Neurexin-1 Mutations on AlphaFold Structure. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:789. [PMID: 35627176 PMCID: PMC9141173 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurexin-1 (NRXN1) is a membrane protein essential in synapse formation and cell signaling as a cell-adhesion molecule and cell-surface receptor. NRXN1 and its binding partner neuroligin have been associated with deficits in cognition. Recent genetics research has linked NRXN1 missense mutations to increased risk for brain disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Investigation of the structure-function relationship in NRXN1 has proven difficult due to a lack of the experimental full-length membrane protein structure. AlphaFold, a deep learning-based predictor, succeeds in high-quality protein structure prediction and offers a solution for membrane protein model construction. In the study, we applied a computational saturation mutagenesis method to analyze the systemic effects of missense mutations on protein functions in a human NRXN1 structure predicted from AlphaFold and an experimental Bos taurus structure. The folding energy changes were calculated to estimate the effects of the 29,540 mutations of AlphaFold model on protein stability. The comparative study on the experimental and computationally predicted structures shows that these energy changes are highly correlated, demonstrating the reliability of the AlphaFold structure for the downstream bioinformatics analysis. The energy calculation revealed that some target mutations associated with SCZ and ASD could make the protein unstable. The study can provide helpful information for characterizing the disease-causing mutations and elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which the variations cause SCZ and ASD. This methodology could provide the bioinformatics protocol to investigate the effects of target mutations on multiple AlphaFold structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raina Rhoades
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA; (R.R.); (B.H.); (D.P.)
| | - Brianna Henry
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA; (R.R.); (B.H.); (D.P.)
| | - Dominique Prichett
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA; (R.R.); (B.H.); (D.P.)
| | - Yayin Fang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA;
| | - Shaolei Teng
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA; (R.R.); (B.H.); (D.P.)
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21
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Hughes RB, Whittingham-Dowd J, Clapcote SJ, Broughton SJ, Dawson N. Altered medial prefrontal cortex and dorsal raphé activity predict genotype and correlate with abnormal learning behavior in a mouse model of autism-associated 2p16.3 deletion. Autism Res 2022; 15:614-627. [PMID: 35142069 PMCID: PMC9303357 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
2p16.3 deletion, involving NEUREXIN1 (NRXN1) heterozygous deletion, substantially increases the risk of developing autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. We have a poor understanding of how NRXN1 heterozygosity impacts on brain function and cognition to increase the risk of developing the disorder. Here we characterize the impact of Nrxn1α heterozygosity on cerebral metabolism, in mice, using 14C‐2‐deoxyglucose imaging. We also assess performance in an olfactory‐based discrimination and reversal learning (OB‐DaRL) task and locomotor activity. We use decision tree classifiers to test the predictive relationship between cerebral metabolism and Nrxn1α genotype. Our data show that Nrxn1α heterozygosity induces prefrontal cortex (medial prelimbic cortex, mPrL) hypometabolism and a contrasting dorsal raphé nucleus (DRN) hypermetabolism. Metabolism in these regions allows for the predictive classification of Nrxn1α genotype. Consistent with reduced mPrL glucose utilization, prefrontal cortex insulin receptor signaling is decreased in Nrxn1α+/− mice. Behaviorally, Nrxn1α+/− mice show enhanced learning of a novel discrimination, impaired reversal learning and an increased latency to make correct choices. In addition, male Nrxn1α+/− mice show hyperlocomotor activity. Correlative analysis suggests that mPrL hypometabolism contributes to the enhanced novel odor discrimination seen in Nrxn1α+/− mice, while DRN hypermetabolism contributes to their increased latency in making correct choices. The data show that Nrxn1α heterozygosity impacts on prefrontal cortex and serotonin system function, which contribute to the cognitive alterations seen in these animals. The data suggest that Nrxn1α+/− mice provide a translational model for the cognitive and behavioral alterations seen in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders associated with 2p16.3 deletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca B Hughes
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Jayde Whittingham-Dowd
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | | | - Susan J Broughton
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Neil Dawson
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
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22
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Riemersma IW, Havekes R, Kas MJH. Spatial and Temporal Gene Function Studies in Rodents: Towards Gene-Based Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2021; 13:28. [PMID: 35052369 PMCID: PMC8774890 DOI: 10.3390/genes13010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that is characterized by differences in social interaction, repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and sensory differences beginning early in life. Especially sensory symptoms are highly correlated with the severity of other behavioral differences. ASD is a highly heterogeneous condition on multiple levels, including clinical presentation, genetics, and developmental trajectories. Over a thousand genes have been implicated in ASD. This has facilitated the generation of more than two hundred genetic mouse models that are contributing to understanding the biological underpinnings of ASD. Since the first symptoms already arise during early life, it is especially important to identify both spatial and temporal gene functions in relation to the ASD phenotype. To further decompose the heterogeneity, ASD-related genes can be divided into different subgroups based on common functions, such as genes involved in synaptic function. Furthermore, finding common biological processes that are modulated by this subgroup of genes is essential for possible patient stratification and the development of personalized early treatments. Here, we review the current knowledge on behavioral rodent models of synaptic dysfunction by focusing on behavioral phenotypes, spatial and temporal gene function, and molecular targets that could lead to new targeted gene-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Martien J. H. Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Neurobiology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands; (I.W.R.); (R.H.)
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23
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Kight KE, Argue KJ, Bumgardner JG, Bardhi K, Waddell J, McCarthy MM. Social behavior in prepubertal neurexin 1α deficient rats: A model of neurodevelopmental disorders. Behav Neurosci 2021; 135:782-803. [PMID: 34323517 PMCID: PMC8649076 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in the synaptic protein neurexin1α (NRXN1α) are associated with several neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and many of these disorders are defined by core deficits in social cognition. Mouse models of Nrxn1α deficiency are not amenable to studying aspects of social cognition because, in general, mice do not engage in complex social interactions such as social play or prosocial helping behaviors. Rats, on the contrary, engage in these complex, well-characterized social behaviors. Using the Nrxn1tm1Sage Sprague Dawley rat, we tested a range of cognitive and social behaviors in juveniles with haplo- or biallelic Nrxn1α mutation. We found a deficit in ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) of male and female neonatal rats with Nrxn1α deficiency. A male-specific deficit in social play was observed in Nrxn1α-deficient juveniles, although sociability and social discrimination were unaltered. Nurturing behavior induced by exposure to pups was enhanced in male and female juveniles with biallelic Nrxn1α mutation. Performance in tasks of prosocial helping behavior and food retrieval indicated severe deficits in learning and cognition in juveniles with biallelic Nrxn1α mutation, and a less severe deficit in haploinsufficient rats, although Pavlovian learning was altered only in haploinsufficient males. We also observed a male-specific increase in mobility and object investigation in juveniles with complete Nrxn1α deficiency. Together, these observations more fully characterize the Nrxn1tm1Sage Sprague Dawley rat as a model for Nrxn1α-related neurodevelopmental disorders, and support a rationale for the juvenile rat as a more appropriate model for disorders that involve core deficits in complex social behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Kight
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
| | - Kathryn J Argue
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
| | | | - Keti Bardhi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine
| | - Jaylyn Waddell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine
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24
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Avazzadeh S, Quinlan LR, Reilly J, McDonagh K, Jalali A, Wang Y, McInerney V, Krawczyk J, Ding Y, Fitzgerald J, O'Sullivan M, Forman EB, Lynch SA, Ennis S, Feerick N, Reilly R, Li W, Shen X, Yang G, Lu Y, Peeters H, Dockery P, O'Brien T, Shen S, Gallagher L. NRXN1α +/- is associated with increased excitability in ASD iPSC-derived neurons. BMC Neurosci 2021; 22:56. [PMID: 34525970 PMCID: PMC8442436 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-021-00661-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background NRXN1 deletions are identified as one of major rare risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. ASD has 30% co-morbidity with epilepsy, and the latter is associated with excessive neuronal firing. NRXN1 encodes hundreds of presynaptic neuro-adhesion proteins categorized as NRXN1α/β/γ. Previous studies on cultured cells show that the short NRXN1β primarily exerts excitation effect, whereas the long NRXN1α which is more commonly deleted in patients involves in both excitation and inhibition. However, patient-derived models are essential for understanding functional consequences of NRXN1α deletions in human neurons. We recently derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from five controls and three ASD patients carrying NRXN1α+/- and showed increased calcium transients in patient neurons. Methods In this study we investigated the electrophysiological properties of iPSC-derived cortical neurons in control and ASD patients carrying NRXN1α+/- using patch clamping. Whole genome RNA sequencing was carried out to further understand the potential underlying molecular mechanism. Results NRXN1α+/- cortical neurons were shown to display larger sodium currents, higher AP amplitude and accelerated depolarization time. RNASeq analyses revealed transcriptomic changes with significant upregulation glutamatergic synapse and ion channels/transporter activity including voltage-gated potassium channels (GRIN1, GRIN3B, SLC17A6, CACNG3, CACNA1A, SHANK1), which are likely to couple with the increased excitability in NRXN1α+/- cortical neurons. Conclusions Together with recent evidence of increased calcium transients, our results showed that human NRXN1α+/- isoform deletions altered neuronal excitability and non-synaptic function, and NRXN1α+/- patient iPSCs may be used as an ASD model for therapeutic development with calcium transients and excitability as readouts. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12868-021-00661-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Avazzadeh
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | - Leo R Quinlan
- Physiology and Cellular Physiology Research Laboratory, School of Medicine, CÚRAM SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Jamie Reilly
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | - Katya McDonagh
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | | | - Yanqin Wang
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland.,Department of Physiology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Veronica McInerney
- HRB Clinical Research Facility, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Janusz Krawczyk
- Department of Haematology, Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland
| | - Yicheng Ding
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | | | - Matthew O'Sullivan
- Trinity Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eva B Forman
- Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sally A Lynch
- Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Clinical Genetics, OLCHC, Dublin 12, Ireland
| | - Sean Ennis
- School of Medicine and Medical Science, UCD Academic Centre On Rare Diseases, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh Feerick
- Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Richard Reilly
- Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Weidong Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Shen
- School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Guangming Yang
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yin Lu
- College of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hilde Peeters
- Centre for Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Dockery
- Centre for Microscopy and Imaging, Anatomy, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Timothy O'Brien
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | - Sanbing Shen
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland. .,FutureNeuro Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, D02, Ireland.
| | - Louise Gallagher
- Trinity Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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25
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Levy AM, Paschou P, Tümer Z. Candidate Genes and Pathways Associated with Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome-Where Are We? Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1321. [PMID: 34573303 PMCID: PMC8468358 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental and -psychiatric tic-disorder of complex etiology which is often comorbid with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Twin and family studies of GTS individuals have shown a high level of heritability suggesting, that genetic risk factors play an important role in disease etiology. However, the identification of major GTS susceptibility genes has been challenging, presumably due to the complex interplay between several genetic factors and environmental influences, low penetrance of each individual factor, genetic diversity in populations, and the presence of comorbid disorders. To understand the genetic components of GTS etiopathology, we conducted an extensive review of the literature, compiling the candidate susceptibility genes identified through various genetic approaches. Even though several strong candidate genes have hitherto been identified, none of these have turned out to be major susceptibility genes yet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M. Levy
- Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark;
| | - Peristera Paschou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece;
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Zeynep Tümer
- Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark;
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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26
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Is NRXN1 Gene Expression an Important Marker of Treatment of Depressive Disorders? A Pilot Study. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11070637. [PMID: 34357104 PMCID: PMC8303668 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11070637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Due to the fact that NRXN1 is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of the NRXN1 gene in the etiology and epigenetics of depression by comparison of NRXN1 mRNA expression and NRXN1 protein level expression in patients suffering from depression versus healthy controls, as well as to search for clinical variables related to expression of the analyzed gene. Material and Methods: A total of 180 people aged 19–64 qualified for the study. The experimental group consisted of 97 people who were psychiatrically hospitalized, diagnosed with recurrent depressive disorders (F33) or who met the diagnostic criteria of a depressive episode (F32) according to ICD-10. The control group included 83 healthy people who volunteered to participate in the study. A sample of peripheral blood was obtained from people who were positively qualified to participate in the study—twice in the experimental group and once in the control group for genetic testing. Sociodemographic variables and data on the course of the disorder were also gathered. Patients were examined on study entry and at the end of the hospitalization with the Hamilton Depression Scale. Obtained data were analyzed statistically. The study was approved by the University’s Bioethics Committee. Results: The gene expression of NRXN1 at both mRNA and protein level significantly differs and it is lower in the experimental group compared to expression in healthy people. The difference in gene expression of NRXN1 at both the mRNA and protein levels between the first and second measurement in the experimental group is also significant. The result demonstrates a higher expression level in the first measurement and lower expression level in the second measurement when reported depression symptoms are less severe. Conclusions: Results concerning expression of NRXN1 may play an important role in further researches about the etiopathogenesis of depressive disorders such as looking for depression biomarkers and identifying evidence which may be relevant to personalize treatment for depression.
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Newbury DF, Simpson NH, Thompson PA, Bishop DVM. Stage 2 Registered Report: Variation in neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with sex chromosome trisomies: testing the double hit hypothesis. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 3:85. [PMID: 30271887 PMCID: PMC6134338 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14677.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The presence of an extra sex chromosome is associated with an increased rate of neurodevelopmental difficulties involving language. The 'double hit' hypothesis proposes that the adverse impact of the extra sex chromosome is amplified when genes that are expressed from the sex chromosomes interact with autosomal variants that usually have only mild effects. We predicted that the impact of an additional sex chromosome on neurodevelopment would depend on common autosomal variants involved in synaptic functions. Methods: We analysed data from 130 children with sex chromosome trisomies (SCTs: 42 girls with trisomy X, 43 boys with Klinefelter syndrome, and 45 boys with XYY). Two comparison groups were formed from 370 children from a twin study. Three indicators of phenotype were: (i) Standard score on a test of nonword repetition; (ii). A language factor score derived from a test battery; (iii) A general scale of neurodevelopmental challenges based on all available information. Preselected regions of two genes, CNTNAP2 and NRXN1, were tested for association with neurodevelopmental outcomes using Generalised Structural Component Analysis. Results: There was wide phenotypic variation in the SCT group, as well as overall impairment on all three phenotypic measures. There was no association of phenotype with CNTNAP2 or NRXN1 variants in either the SCT group or the comparison groups. Supplementary analyses found no indication of any impact of trisomy type on the results, and exploratory analyses of individual SNPs confirmed the lack of association. Conclusions: We cannot rule out that a double hit may be implicated in the phenotypic variability in children with SCTs, but our analysis does not find any support for the idea that common variants in CNTNAP2 or NRXN1 are associated with the severity of language and neurodevelopmental impairments that often accompany an extra X or Y chromosome. Stage 1 report: http://dx.doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.13828.2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dianne F. Newbury
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Nuala H. Simpson
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Paul A. Thompson
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Dorothy V. M. Bishop
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
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Cross-platform validation of neurotransmitter release impairments in schizophrenia patient-derived NRXN1-mutant neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2025598118. [PMID: 34035170 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2025598118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterozygous NRXN1 deletions constitute the most prevalent currently known single-gene mutation associated with schizophrenia, and additionally predispose to multiple other neurodevelopmental disorders. Engineered heterozygous NRXN1 deletions impaired neurotransmitter release in human neurons, suggesting a synaptic pathophysiological mechanism. Utilizing this observation for drug discovery, however, requires confidence in its robustness and validity. Here, we describe a multicenter effort to test the generality of this pivotal observation, using independent analyses at two laboratories of patient-derived and newly engineered human neurons with heterozygous NRXN1 deletions. Using neurons transdifferentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells that were derived from schizophrenia patients carrying heterozygous NRXN1 deletions, we observed the same synaptic impairment as in engineered NRXN1-deficient neurons. This impairment manifested as a large decrease in spontaneous synaptic events, in evoked synaptic responses, and in synaptic paired-pulse depression. Nrxn1-deficient mouse neurons generated from embryonic stem cells by the same method as human neurons did not exhibit impaired neurotransmitter release, suggesting a human-specific phenotype. Human NRXN1 deletions produced a reproducible increase in the levels of CASK, an intracellular NRXN1-binding protein, and were associated with characteristic gene-expression changes. Thus, heterozygous NRXN1 deletions robustly impair synaptic function in human neurons regardless of genetic background, enabling future drug discovery efforts.
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Tran SMS, Mohajeri MH. The Role of Gut Bacterial Metabolites in Brain Development, Aging and Disease. Nutrients 2021; 13:732. [PMID: 33669008 PMCID: PMC7996516 DOI: 10.3390/nu13030732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, emerging evidence has reported correlations between the gut microbiome and human health and disease, including those affecting the brain. We performed a systematic assessment of the available literature focusing on gut bacterial metabolites and their associations with diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). The bacterial metabolites short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as well as non-SCFAs like amino acid metabolites (AAMs) and bacterial amyloids are described in particular. We found significantly altered SCFA levels in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), affective disorders, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Non-SCFAs yielded less significantly distinct changes in faecal levels of patients and healthy controls, with the majority of findings were derived from urinary and blood samples. Preclinical studies have implicated different bacterial metabolites with potentially beneficial as well as detrimental mechanisms in brain diseases. Examples include immunomodulation and changes in catecholamine production by histone deacetylase inhibition, anti-inflammatory effects through activity on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and involvement in protein misfolding. Overall, our findings highlight the existence of altered bacterial metabolites in patients across various brain diseases, as well as potential neuroactive effects by which gut-derived SCFAs, p-cresol, indole derivatives and bacterial amyloids could impact disease development and progression. The findings summarized in this review could lead to further insights into the gut-brain-axis and thus into potential diagnostic, therapeutic or preventive strategies in brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M. Hasan Mohajeri
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland;
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Davatolhagh MF, Fuccillo MV. Neurexin1⍺ differentially regulates synaptic efficacy within striatal circuits. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108773. [PMID: 33626349 PMCID: PMC8071350 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in genes essential for synaptic function, such as the presynaptic adhesion molecule Neurexin1α (Nrxn1α), are strongly implicated in neuropsychiatric pathophysiology. As the input nucleus of the basal ganglia, the striatum integrates diverse excitatory projections governing cognitive and motor control, and its impairment may represent a recurrent pathway to disease. Here, we test the functional relevance of Nrxn1α in striatal circuits by employing optogenetic-mediated afferent recruitment of dorsal prefrontal cortical (dPFC) and parafascicular thalamic connections onto dorsomedial striatal (DMS) spiny projection neurons (SPNs). For dPFC-DMS circuits, we find decreased synaptic strength specifically onto indirect pathway SPNs in both Nrxn1α+/- and Nrxn1α-/- mice, driven by reductions in neurotransmitter release. In contrast, thalamic excitatory inputs to DMS exhibit relatively normal excitatory synaptic strength despite changes in synaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) content. These findings suggest that dysregulation of Nrxn1α modulates striatal function in an input- and target-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Felicia Davatolhagh
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Marc V Fuccillo
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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31
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Lee PH, Feng YCA, Smoller JW. Pleiotropy and Cross-Disorder Genetics Among Psychiatric Disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:20-31. [PMID: 33131714 PMCID: PMC7898275 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide analyses of common and rare genetic variations have documented the heritability of major psychiatric disorders, established their highly polygenic genetic architecture, and identified hundreds of contributing variants. In recent years, these studies have illuminated another key feature of the genetic basis of psychiatric disorders: the important role and pervasive nature of pleiotropy. It is now clear that a substantial fraction of genetic influences on psychopathology transcend clinical diagnostic boundaries. In this review, we summarize evidence in psychiatry for pleiotropy at multiple levels of analysis: from overall genome-wide correlation to biological pathways and down to the level of individual loci. We examine underlying mechanisms of observed pleiotropy, including genetic effects on neurodevelopment, diverse actions of regulatory elements, mediated effects, and spurious associations of genomic variation with multiple phenotypes. We conclude with an exploration of the implications of pleiotropy for understanding the genetic basis of psychiatric disorders, informing nosology, and advancing the aims of precision psychiatry and genomic medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phil H Lee
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Yen-Chen A Feng
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jordan W Smoller
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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32
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Uchigashima M, Konno K, Demchak E, Cheung A, Watanabe T, Keener DG, Abe M, Le T, Sakimura K, Sasaoka T, Uemura T, Imamura Kawasawa Y, Watanabe M, Futai K. Specific Neuroligin3-αNeurexin1 signaling regulates GABAergic synaptic function in mouse hippocampus. eLife 2020; 9:e59545. [PMID: 33355091 PMCID: PMC7758064 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapse formation and regulation require signaling interactions between pre- and postsynaptic proteins, notably cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). It has been proposed that the functions of neuroligins (Nlgns), postsynaptic CAMs, rely on the formation of trans-synaptic complexes with neurexins (Nrxns), presynaptic CAMs. Nlgn3 is a unique Nlgn isoform that localizes at both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. However, Nlgn3 function mediated via Nrxn interactions is unknown. Here we demonstrate that Nlgn3 localizes at postsynaptic sites apposing vesicular glutamate transporter 3-expressing (VGT3+) inhibitory terminals and regulates VGT3+ inhibitory interneuron-mediated synaptic transmission in mouse organotypic slice cultures. Gene expression analysis of interneurons revealed that the αNrxn1+AS4 splice isoform is highly expressed in VGT3+ interneurons as compared with other interneurons. Most importantly, postsynaptic Nlgn3 requires presynaptic αNrxn1+AS4 expressed in VGT3+ interneurons to regulate inhibitory synaptic transmission. Our results indicate that specific Nlgn-Nrxn signaling generates distinct functional properties at synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motokazu Uchigashima
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Department of Cellular Neuropathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata UniversityNiigataJapan
| | - Kohtarou Konno
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Emily Demchak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute for Personalized Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyUnited States
| | - Amy Cheung
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Takuya Watanabe
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - David G Keener
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Manabu Abe
- Department of Animal Model Development, Brain Research Institute, Niigata UniversityNiigataJapan
| | - Timmy Le
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Kenji Sakimura
- Department of Animal Model Development, Brain Research Institute, Niigata UniversityNiigataJapan
| | - Toshikuni Sasaoka
- Department of Comparative and Experimental Medicine, Brain Research Institute, Niigata UniversityNiigataJapan
| | - Takeshi Uemura
- Division of Gene Research, Research Center for Supports to Advanced Science, Shinshu UniversityNaganoJapan
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu UniversityNaganoJapan
| | - Yuka Imamura Kawasawa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute for Personalized Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyUnited States
- Department of Pharmacology Pennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyUnited States
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Kensuke Futai
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
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Alabi OO, Davatolhagh MF, Robinson M, Fortunato MP, Vargas Cifuentes L, Kable JW, Fuccillo MV. Disruption of Nrxn1α within excitatory forebrain circuits drives value-based dysfunction. eLife 2020; 9:e54838. [PMID: 33274715 PMCID: PMC7759380 DOI: 10.7554/elife.54838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [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: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Goal-directed behaviors are essential for normal function and significantly impaired in neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite extensive associations between genetic mutations and these disorders, the molecular contributions to goal-directed dysfunction remain unclear. We examined mice with constitutive and brain region-specific mutations in Neurexin1α, a neuropsychiatric disease-associated synaptic molecule, in value-based choice paradigms. We found Neurexin1α knockouts exhibited reduced selection of beneficial outcomes and impaired avoidance of costlier options. Reinforcement modeling suggested that this was driven by deficits in updating and representation of value. Disruption of Neurexin1α within telencephalic excitatory projection neurons, but not thalamic neurons, recapitulated choice abnormalities of global Neurexin1α knockouts. Furthermore, this selective forebrain excitatory knockout of Neurexin1α perturbed value-modulated neural signals within striatum, a central node in feedback-based reinforcement learning. By relating deficits in value-based decision-making to region-specific Nrxn1α disruption and changes in value-modulated neural activity, we reveal potential neural substrates for the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disease-associated cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Opeyemi O Alabi
- Department of NeurosciencePhiladelphiaUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - M Felicia Davatolhagh
- Department of NeurosciencePhiladelphiaUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | | | | | - Luigim Vargas Cifuentes
- Department of NeurosciencePhiladelphiaUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Joseph W Kable
- Department of Psychology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
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34
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Newbury DF, Simpson NH, Thompson PA, Bishop DVM. Stage 2 Registered Report: Variation in neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with sex chromosome trisomies: testing the double hit hypothesis. Wellcome Open Res 2020; 3:85. [PMID: 30271887 PMCID: PMC6134338 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14677.3] [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] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 04/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The presence of an extra sex chromosome is associated with an increased rate of neurodevelopmental difficulties involving language. The 'double hit' hypothesis proposes that the adverse impact of the extra sex chromosome is amplified when genes that are expressed from the sex chromosomes interact with autosomal variants that usually have only mild effects. We predicted that the impact of an additional sex chromosome on neurodevelopment would depend on common autosomal variants involved in synaptic functions. Methods: We analysed data from 130 children with sex chromosome trisomies (SCTs: 42 girls with trisomy X, 43 boys with Klinefelter syndrome, and 45 boys with XYY). Two comparison groups were formed from 370 children from a twin study. Three indicators of phenotype were: (i) Standard score on a test of nonword repetition; (ii). A language factor score derived from a test battery; (iii) A general scale of neurodevelopmental challenges based on all available information. Preselected regions of two genes, CNTNAP2 and NRXN1, were tested for association with neurodevelopmental outcomes using Generalised Structural Component Analysis. Results: There was wide phenotypic variation in the SCT group, as well as overall impairment on all three phenotypic measures. There was no association of phenotype with CNTNAP2 or NRXN1 variants in either the SCT group or the comparison groups. Supplementary analyses found no indication of any impact of trisomy type on the results, and exploratory analyses of individual SNPs confirmed the lack of association. Conclusions: We cannot rule out that a double hit may be implicated in the phenotypic variability in children with SCTs, but our analysis does not find any support for the idea that common variants in CNTNAP2 or NRXN1 are associated with the severity of language and neurodevelopmental impairments that often accompany an extra X or Y chromosome. Stage 1 report: http://dx.doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.13828.2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dianne F. Newbury
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Nuala H. Simpson
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Paul A. Thompson
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Dorothy V. M. Bishop
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
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35
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Deletion of NRXN1α impairs long-range and local connectivity in amygdala fear circuit. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:242. [PMID: 32684634 PMCID: PMC7370229 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-00926-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurexins are a family of presynaptic cell adhesion proteins that regulate synaptic structure and maintain normal synaptic transmission. Mutations in the α-isoform of neurexin1-gene (NRXN1α) are linked with cognitive and emotional dysregulation, which are heavily dependent on the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). It is however not known whether deletion of NRXN1α gene affect specific synaptic elements within the amygdala microcircuit and connectivity with mPFC. In this study, we show that NRXN1α deletion impairs synaptic transmission between the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and basal amygdala (BA) principal neurons. Stimulation of dmPFC fibers resulted in reduced paired pulse ratio (PPR) and AMPA/NMDA ratio at dmPFC to BA synapses in NRXN1α-knockout (KO) (NRXN1α KO) mice suggestive of pre- and postsynaptic deficits but there was no change at the lateral amygdala (LA) to BA synapses following LA stimulation. However, feedforward inhibition from either pathway was significantly reduced, suggestive of input-independent deficit in GABAergic transmission within BA. We further analyzed BA inhibitory network and found reduced connectivity between BA GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons in NRXN1α KO mice. As this circuit is tightly linked with fear regulation, we subjected NRXN1α KO and WT mice to discriminative fear conditioning and found a deficit in fear memory retrieval in NRXN1α KO mice compared with WT mice. Together, we provide novel evidence that deletion of NRNX1α disrupts amygdala fear circuit.
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36
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Alfieri P, Scibelli F, Sinibaldi L, Valeri G, Caciolo C, Novello RL, Novelli A, Digilio MC, Tartaglia M, Vicari S. Further insight into the neurobehavioral pattern of children carrying the 2p16.3 heterozygous deletion involving NRXN1: Report of five new cases. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 19:e12687. [PMID: 32658356 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence links heterozygosity for NRXN1 gene deletions to a clinically wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and neurological disorders. However, to date, the neurocognitive and social communication features of children carrying this genomic rearrangement have not been assessed in detail. The cognitive and behavioral profiles of five children carrying a heterozygous NRXN1 deletion were investigated through systematic assessment of the cognitive and developmental levels, adaptive profile and presence of behavioral symptoms and autistic features. Furthermore, four transmitting parents were assessed by means of cognitive, psychopathological and parental stress tests. A below-average cognitive level was documented in all children, and defective adaptive levels were observed in four of them. Three of the five children were diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder in comorbidity with intellectual disability/global developmental delay, with a major impairment in social communication skills. The remaining two children presented with isolated intellectual disability and an unclassifiable neurodevelopmental disorder, respectively. This study provide data contributing to a more accurate characterization of the neurobehavioral phenotype of individuals carrying heterozygous NRXN1 deletions. This analysis indicates that these structural rearrangements are associated with a variable expression of neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cast some doubts about the incomplete penetrance of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Alfieri
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Scibelli
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Sinibaldi
- Medical Genetic Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Valeri
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Caciolo
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Lucia Novello
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Novelli
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Marco Tartaglia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Catholic University, Rome, Italy
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Furlong MA, Paul KC, Yan Q, Chuang YH, Cockburn MG, Bronstein JM, Horvath S, Ritz B. An epigenome-wide association study of ambient pyrethroid pesticide exposures in California's central valley. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 229:113569. [PMID: 32679516 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pyrethroid pesticide use is increasing worldwide, although the full extent of associated health effects is unknown. An epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) with exploratory pathway analysis may help identify potential pyrethroid-related health effects. METHODS We performed an exploratory EWAS of chronic ambient pyrethroid exposure using control participants' blood in the Parkinson's Environment and Genes Study in the Central Valley of California (N = 237). We estimated associations of living and working near agricultural pyrethroid pesticide applications in the past 5 years (binary) with site-specific differential methylation, and used a false discovery rate (FDR) cut off of 0.05 for significance. We controlled for age, sex, education, cell count, and an ancestral marker for Hispanic ethnicity. We normalized methylation values for Type I/II probe bias using Beta-Mixture Quantile (BMIQ) normalization, filtered out cross-reactive probes, and evaluated for remaining bias with Surrogate Variable Analysis (SVA). We also evaluated the effects of controlling for cell count and normalizing for Type I/II probe bias by comparing changes in effect estimates and p-values for the top hits across BMIQ and GenomeStudio normalization methods, and controlling for cell count. To facilitate broader interpretation, we annotated genes to the CpG sites and performed gene set overrepresentation analysis, using genes annotated to CpG sites that were associated with pyrethroids at a raw p < 0.05, and controlling for background representation of CpG sites on the chip. We did this for both a biological process context (Gene Ontology terms) using missMethyl, and a disease set context using WebGestalt. For these gene set overrepresentation analyses we also used an FDR cut off of 0.05 for significance of gene sets. RESULTS After controlling for cell count and applying BMIQ normalization, 4 CpG sites were differentially methylated in relation to pyrethroid exposures. When using GenomeStudio's Illumina normalization, 415 CpG sites were differentially methylated, including all four identified with the BMIQ method. In the gene set overrepresentation analyses, we identified 6 GO terms using BMIQ normalization, and 76 using Illumina normalization, including the 6 identified by BMIQ. For disease sets, we identified signals for Alzheimer's disease, leukemia and several other cancers, diabetes, birth defects, and other diseases, for both normalization methods. We identified minimal changes in effect estimates after controlling for cell count, and controlling for cell count generally weakened p-values. BMIQ normalization, however, resulted in different beta coefficients and weakened p-values. CONCLUSIONS Chronic ambient pyrethroid exposure is associated with differential methylation at CpG sites that annotate to a wide variety of disease states and biological mechanisms that align with prior research. However, this EWAS also implicates several novel diseases for future investigation, and highlights the relative importance of different background normalization methods in identifying associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Furlong
- Department of Community, Environment, and Policy, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Kimberly C Paul
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Qi Yan
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yu-Hsuan Chuang
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Myles G Cockburn
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, CA, USA
| | - Jeff M Bronstein
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Beate Ritz
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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B Hughes R, Whittingham-Dowd J, Simmons RE, Clapcote SJ, Broughton SJ, Dawson N. Ketamine Restores Thalamic-Prefrontal Cortex Functional Connectivity in a Mouse Model of Neurodevelopmental Disorder-Associated 2p16.3 Deletion. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:2358-2371. [PMID: 31812984 PMCID: PMC7175007 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
2p16.3 deletions, involving heterozygous NEUREXIN1 (NRXN1) deletion, dramatically increase the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. We have little understanding of how NRXN1 heterozygosity increases the risk of developing these disorders, particularly in terms of the impact on brain and neurotransmitter system function and brain network connectivity. Thus, here we characterize cerebral metabolism and functional brain network connectivity in Nrxn1α heterozygous mice (Nrxn1α+/- mice), and assess the impact of ketamine and dextro-amphetamine on cerebral metabolism in these animals. We show that heterozygous Nrxn1α deletion alters cerebral metabolism in neural systems implicated in autism and schizophrenia including the thalamus, mesolimbic system, and select cortical regions. Nrxn1α heterozygosity also reduces the efficiency of functional brain networks, through lost thalamic "rich club" and prefrontal cortex (PFC) hub connectivity and through reduced thalamic-PFC and thalamic "rich club" regional interconnectivity. Subanesthetic ketamine administration normalizes the thalamic hypermetabolism and partially normalizes thalamic disconnectivity present in Nrxn1α+/- mice, while cerebral metabolic responses to dextro-amphetamine are unaltered. The data provide new insight into the systems-level impact of heterozygous Nrxn1α deletion and how this increases the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders. The data also suggest that the thalamic dysfunction induced by heterozygous Nrxn1α deletion may be NMDA receptor-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca B Hughes
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Jayde Whittingham-Dowd
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Rachel E Simmons
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Steven J Clapcote
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Susan J Broughton
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Neil Dawson
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
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39
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De Los Angeles A, Tunbridge EM. Unraveling Mechanisms of Patient-Specific NRXN1 Mutations in Neuropsychiatric Diseases Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2020; 29:1142-1144. [PMID: 32122280 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2020.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Rare heterozygous deletions in the neurexin 1 (NRXN1) gene robustly increase an individual's risk of developing neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, the molecular bases by which different mutations result in different clinical presentations, with variable penetrance, are unknown. To better understand the molecular and cellular consequences of heterozygous NRXN1 mutations, Flaherty and colleagues studied how patient mutations influence the NRXN1 isoform repertoire and neuronal phenotypes using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Advancing from disease association to mechanistic insights, the authors provide insight into how patient mutations might impinge on neuronal function. This research highlights the value of iPS cells for elucidating otherwise elusive links between molecular and neuronal function. In addition, they provide further evidence of the importance of alternative splicing in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth M Tunbridge
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
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40
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Wong HS, Wadon M, Evans A, Kirov G, Modi N, O'Donovan MC, Thapar A. Contribution of de novo and inherited rare CNVs to very preterm birth. J Med Genet 2020; 57:552-557. [PMID: 32051258 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2019-106619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genomic contribution to adverse health sequelae in babies born very preterm (<32 weeks' gestation) is unknown. We conducted an investigation of rare CNVs in infants born very preterm as part of a study to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a larger, well-powered genome-wide investigation in the UK, with follow-up using linked National Health Service records and DNA storage for additional research. METHODS We studied 488 parent-offspring trios. We performed genotyping using Illumina Infinium OmniExpress Arrays. CNV calling and quality control (QC) were undertaken using published protocols. We examined de novo CNVs in infants and the rate of known pathogenic variants in infants, mothers and fathers and compared these with published comparator data. We defined rare pathogenic CNVs as those consistently reported to be associated with clinical phenotypes. RESULTS We identified 14 de novo CNVs, representing a mutation rate of 2.9%, compared with 2.1% reported in control populations. The median size of these CNV was much higher than in comparator data (717 kb vs 255 kb). The rate of pathogenic CNVs was 4.3% in infants, 2.7% in mothers and 2% in fathers, compared with 2.3% in UK Biobank participants. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the rate of de novo CNVs, especially rare pathogenic CNVs, could be elevated in those born very preterm. However, we will need to conduct a much larger study to corroborate this conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary S Wong
- Department of Paediatrics, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Megan Wadon
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Alexandra Evans
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - George Kirov
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Neena Modi
- Section of Neonatal Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Michael C O'Donovan
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Anita Thapar
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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Cosemans N, Vandenhove L, Vogels A, Devriendt K, Van Esch H, Van Buggenhout G, Olivié H, de Ravel T, Ortibus E, Legius E, Aerssens P, Breckpot J, R Vermeesch J, Shen S, Fitzgerald J, Gallagher L, Peeters H. The clinical relevance of intragenic NRXN1 deletions. J Med Genet 2020; 57:347-355. [PMID: 31932357 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2019-106448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intragenic NRXN1 deletions are susceptibility variants for neurodevelopmental disorders; however, their clinical interpretation is often unclear. Therefore, a literature study and an analysis of 43 previously unpublished deletions are provided. METHODS The literature cohort covered 629 heterozygous NRXN1 deletions: 148 in controls, 341 in probands and 140 in carrier relatives, and was used for clinical hypothesis testing. Exact breakpoint determination was performed for 43 in-house deletions. RESULTS The prevalence of exonic NRXN1 deletions in controls was ~1/3000 as compared with ~1/800 in patients with neurodevelopmental/neuropsychiatric disorders. The differential distribution of deletions across the gene between controls and probands allowed to distinguish distinct areas within the gene. Exon 6-24 deletions appeared only twice in over 100000 control individuals, had an estimated penetrance for neurodevelopmental disorders of 32.43%, a de novo rate of 50% and segregated mainly with intellectual disability (ID) and schizophrenia. In contrast, exon 1-5 deletions appeared in 20 control individuals, had an estimated penetrance of 12.59%, a de novo rate of 32.5% and were reported with a broad range of neurodevelopmental phenotypes. Exact breakpoint determination revealed six recurrent intron 5 deletions. CONCLUSION Exon 6-24 deletions have a high penetrance and are mainly associated with ID and schizophrenia. In contrast, the actual contribution of exon 1-5 deletions to a neurodevelopmental/neuropsychiatric disorder in an individual patient and family remains very difficult to assess. To enhance the clinical interpretation, this study provides practical considerations for counselling and an interactive table for comparing a deletion of interest with the available literature data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Cosemans
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Annick Vogels
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Hilde Van Esch
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Hilde Olivié
- Center for Developmental Disabilities Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomy de Ravel
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Els Ortibus
- Center for Developmental Disabilities Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eric Legius
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Sanbing Shen
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, BioMedical Sciences Building, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Louise Gallagher
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Hilde Peeters
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium .,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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42
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Avazzadeh S, McDonagh K, Reilly J, Wang Y, Boomkamp SD, McInerney V, Krawczyk J, Fitzgerald J, Feerick N, O'Sullivan M, Jalali A, Forman EB, Lynch SA, Ennis S, Cosemans N, Peeters H, Dockery P, O'Brien T, Quinlan LR, Gallagher L, Shen S. Increased Ca 2+ signaling in NRXN1α +/- neurons derived from ASD induced pluripotent stem cells. Mol Autism 2019; 10:52. [PMID: 31893021 PMCID: PMC6937972 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0303-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a high co-morbidity of epilepsy and associated with hundreds of rare risk factors. NRXN1 deletion is among the commonest rare genetic factors shared by ASD, schizophrenia, intellectual disability, epilepsy, and developmental delay. However, how NRXN1 deletions lead to different clinical symptoms is unknown. Patient-derived cells are essential to investigate the functional consequences of NRXN1 lesions to human neurons in different diseases. Methods Skin biopsies were donated by five healthy donors and three ASD patients carrying NRXN1α+/− deletions. Seven control and six NRXN1α+/− iPSC lines were derived and differentiated into day 100 cortical excitatory neurons using dual SMAD inhibition. Calcium (Ca2+) imaging was performed using Fluo4-AM, and the properties of Ca2+ transients were compared between two groups of neurons. Transcriptome analysis was carried out to undercover molecular pathways associated with NRXN1α+/− neurons. Results NRXN1α+/− neurons were found to display altered calcium dynamics, with significantly increased frequency, duration, and amplitude of Ca2+ transients. Whole genome RNA sequencing also revealed altered ion transport and transporter activity, with upregulated voltage-gated calcium channels as one of the most significant pathways in NRXN1α+/− neurons identified by STRING and GSEA analyses. Conclusions This is the first report to show that human NRXN1α+/− neurons derived from ASD patients’ iPSCs present novel phenotypes of upregulated VGCCs and increased Ca2+ transients, which may facilitate the development of drug screening assays for the treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Avazzadeh
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
| | - Katya McDonagh
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
| | - Jamie Reilly
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
| | - Yanqin Wang
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland.,2Department of Physiology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Stephanie D Boomkamp
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
| | - Veronica McInerney
- 3HRB Clinical Research Facility, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Janusz Krawczyk
- 4Department of Haematology, Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Niamh Feerick
- 5School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Amirhossein Jalali
- 6School of Medicine, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Eva B Forman
- 7Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sally A Lynch
- Department of Clinical Genetics, OLCHC, Dublin 12, Ireland.,9Children's University Hospital, Temple St, Dublin, Ireland.,10Academic Center on Rare Diseases, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean Ennis
- 11UCD Academic Centre on Rare Diseases, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nele Cosemans
- 12Centre for Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hilde Peeters
- 10Academic Center on Rare Diseases, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Peter Dockery
- 13Centre for Microscopy and Imaging, Anatomy, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Timothy O'Brien
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
| | - Leo R Quinlan
- 14Physiology and Human Movement Laboratory, CÚRAM SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Sanbing Shen
- 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Upper Newcastle, Galway, Ireland
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Mossa A, Manzini MC. Molecular causes of sex-specific deficits in rodent models of neurodevelopmental disorders. J Neurosci Res 2019; 99:37-56. [PMID: 31872500 PMCID: PMC7754327 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder consistently show a male bias in prevalence, but it remains unclear why males and females are affected with different frequency. While many behavioral studies of transgenic NDD models have focused only on males, the requirement by the National Institutes of Health to consider sex as a biological variable has promoted the comparison of male and female performance in wild-type and mutant animals. Here, we review examples of rodent models of NDDs in which sex-specific deficits were identified in molecular, physiological, and/or behavioral responses, showing sex differences in susceptibility to disruption of genes mutated in NDDs. Haploinsufficiency in genes involved in mechanisms such as synaptic function (GABRB3 and NRXN1), chromatin remodeling (CHD8, EMHT1, and ADNP), and intracellular signaling (CC2D1A and ERK1) lead to more severe behavioral outcomes in males. However, in the absence of behavioral deficits, females can still present with cellular and electrophysiological changes that could be due to compensatory mechanisms or differential allocation of molecular and cellular functions in the two sexes. By contrasting these findings with mouse models where females are more severely affected (MTHFR and AMBRA1), we propose a framework to approach the study of sex-specific deficits possibly leading to sex bias in NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adele Mossa
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - M Chiara Manzini
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.,Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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44
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Dissecting the genetic basis of comorbid epilepsy phenotypes in neurodevelopmental disorders. Genome Med 2019; 11:65. [PMID: 31653223 PMCID: PMC6815046 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-019-0678-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, developmental disability, and epilepsy are characterized by abnormal brain development that may affect cognition, learning, behavior, and motor skills. High co-occurrence (comorbidity) of NDDs indicates a shared, underlying biological mechanism. The genetic heterogeneity and overlap observed in NDDs make it difficult to identify the genetic causes of specific clinical symptoms, such as seizures. Methods We present a computational method, MAGI-S, to discover modules or groups of highly connected genes that together potentially perform a similar biological function. MAGI-S integrates protein-protein interaction and co-expression networks to form modules centered around the selection of a single “seed” gene, yielding modules consisting of genes that are highly co-expressed with the seed gene. We aim to dissect the epilepsy phenotype from a general NDD phenotype by providing MAGI-S with high confidence NDD seed genes with varying degrees of association with epilepsy, and we assess the enrichment of de novo mutation, NDD-associated genes, and relevant biological function of constructed modules. Results The newly identified modules account for the increased rate of de novo non-synonymous mutations in autism, intellectual disability, developmental disability, and epilepsy, and enrichment of copy number variations (CNVs) in developmental disability. We also observed that modules seeded with genes strongly associated with epilepsy tend to have a higher association with epilepsy phenotypes than modules seeded at other neurodevelopmental disorder genes. Modules seeded with genes strongly associated with epilepsy (e.g., SCN1A, GABRA1, and KCNB1) are significantly associated with synaptic transmission, long-term potentiation, and calcium signaling pathways. On the other hand, modules found with seed genes that are not associated or weakly associated with epilepsy are mostly involved with RNA regulation and chromatin remodeling. Conclusions In summary, our method identifies modules enriched with de novo non-synonymous mutations and can capture specific networks that underlie the epilepsy phenotype and display distinct enrichment in relevant biological processes. MAGI-S is available at https://github.com/jchow32/magi-s.
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45
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Agahi M, Noormohammadi Z, Salahshourifar I, Mahdavi Hezaveh N. Genotype Variations of rs13381800 in TCF4 Gene and rs17039988 in NRXN1 Gene among a Sample of Iranian Patients with Schizophrenia. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 2019; 14:265-273. [PMID: 32071599 PMCID: PMC7007506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Schizophrenia is a complicated mental disorder that affects about 1% of the world's population. It is a complex disease and is approximately 80% inherited. One of the candidate genes in schizophrenia is transcription factor 4 (TCF4), which is positioned on chromosome 18 and is a transcription factor that plays a role in the transcription of Neurexin 1(NRXN1) gene, which is one of the candidate genes for developing schizophrenia. This case-control study aimed to investigate the correlation of TCF4 rs13381800 and NRXN1 rs17039988 polymorphisms with the risk of schizophrenia in a sample of Iranian patients with schizophrenia. Method : A total of 200 individuals were included in this study: 100 patients with schizophrenia (65 males and 35 females), with the mean age of 40.80 ± 11.298 years, and 100 as a control group (63 males and 37 females), with the mean age 32.92 ± 7.391 years. Allele specific polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) were done, respectively, for genotyping of rs13381800 (T/C) and rs17039988 (A/C) polymorphisms. Results: The results showed that the frequency of C / C genotype in rs13381800 in patients' group was 9%, while it was 13% in the control group. Also, the frequency of C / C genotype in rs17039988 was 9% in patients and 7% in control groups. Statistical analysis of polymorphisms showed no correlation between patients and controls in rs13381800 (OR = 1.51; CI = 95%; P = 0.366) and rs17039988 (OR = 0.76; CI = 95%; P = 0.602). Conclusion: No significant difference was found between rs13381800 and rs17039988 genotypes between patients and control groups in terms of gender, age and education in the patients group. Our study suggests that there was no correlation between desired polymorphisms with schizophrenia in the studied population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohadeseh Agahi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Noormohammadi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.,Corresponding Author: Address: Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Poonak, Tehran, Iran, Postal Code: 1477893855. Tel: 98-2144865939 Fax: 98-2144865939,
| | - Iman Salahshourifar
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niloufar Mahdavi Hezaveh
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Meng X, McGraw CM, Wang W, Jing J, Yeh SY, Wang L, Lopez J, Brown AM, Lin T, Chen W, Xue M, Sillitoe RV, Jiang X, Zoghbi HY. Neurexophilin4 is a selectively expressed α-neurexin ligand that modulates specific cerebellar synapses and motor functions. eLife 2019; 8:e46773. [PMID: 31524598 PMCID: PMC6763262 DOI: 10.7554/elife.46773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurexophilins are secreted neuropeptide-like glycoproteins, and neurexophilin1 and neurexophilin3 are ligands for the presynaptic cell adhesion molecule α-neurexin. Neurexophilins are more selectively expressed in the brain than α-neurexins, however, which led us to ask whether neurexophilins modulate the function of α-neurexin in a context-specific manner. We characterized the expression and function of neurexophilin4 in mice and found it to be expressed in subsets of neurons responsible for feeding, emotion, balance, and movement. Deletion of Neurexophilin4 caused corresponding impairments, most notably in motor learning and coordination. We demonstrated that neurexophilin4 interacts with α-neurexin and GABAARs in the cerebellum. Loss of Neurexophilin4 impaired cerebellar Golgi-granule inhibitory neurotransmission and synapse number, providing a partial explanation for the motor learning and coordination deficits observed in the Neurexophilin4 null mice. Our data illustrate how selectively expressed Neurexophilin4, an α-neurexin ligand, regulates specific synapse function and modulates cerebellar motor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangling Meng
- Department of NeuroscienceBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Christopher M McGraw
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Program in Developmental BiologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Wei Wang
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Human GeneticsBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Junzhan Jing
- Department of NeuroscienceBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Szu-Ying Yeh
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Program in Developmental BiologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Li Wang
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Human GeneticsBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Joanna Lopez
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Human GeneticsBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Amanda M Brown
- Department of NeuroscienceBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Department of Pathology and ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Tao Lin
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Department of Pathology and ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Wu Chen
- Department of NeuroscienceBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- The Cain Foundation LaboratoriesJan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Mingshan Xue
- Department of NeuroscienceBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Program in Developmental BiologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Human GeneticsBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- The Cain Foundation LaboratoriesJan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Roy V Sillitoe
- Department of NeuroscienceBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Program in Developmental BiologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Pathology and ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Xiaolong Jiang
- Department of NeuroscienceBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Department of NeuroscienceBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Program in Developmental BiologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Human GeneticsBaylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
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Breen MS, Dobbyn A, Li Q, Roussos P, Hoffman GE, Stahl E, Chess A, Sklar P, Li JB, Devlin B, Buxbaum JD. Global landscape and genetic regulation of RNA editing in cortical samples from individuals with schizophrenia. Nat Neurosci 2019; 22:1402-1412. [PMID: 31455887 PMCID: PMC6791127 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0463-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
RNA editing critically regulates neurodevelopment and normal neuronal function. The global landscape of RNA editing was surveyed across 364 schizophrenia cases and 383 control postmortem brain samples from the CommonMind Consortium, comprising two regions: dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. In schizophrenia, RNA editing sites in genes encoding AMPA-type glutamate receptors and postsynaptic density proteins were less edited, whereas those encoding translation initiation machinery were edited more. These sites replicate between brain regions, map to 3'-untranslated regions and intronic regions, share common sequence motifs and overlap with binding sites for RNA-binding proteins crucial for neurodevelopment. These findings cross-validate in hundreds of non-overlapping dorsolateral prefrontal cortex samples. Furthermore, ~30% of RNA editing sites associate with cis-regulatory variants (editing quantitative trait loci or edQTLs). Fine-mapping edQTLs with schizophrenia risk loci revealed co-localization of eleven edQTLs with six loci. The findings demonstrate widespread altered RNA editing in schizophrenia and its genetic regulation, and suggest a causal and mechanistic role of RNA editing in schizophrenia neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Breen
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Amanda Dobbyn
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qin Li
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Panos Roussos
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (VISN 2 South), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabriel E Hoffman
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technologies, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eli Stahl
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technologies, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Chess
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technologies, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pamela Sklar
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technologies, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jin Billy Li
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bernie Devlin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Riggs ER, Nelson T, Merz A, Ackley T, Bunke B, Collins CD, Collinson MN, Fan YS, Goodenberger ML, Golden DM, Haglund-Hazy L, Krgovic D, Lamb AN, Lewis Z, Li G, Liu Y, Meck J, Neufeld-Kaiser W, Runke CK, Sanmann JN, Stavropoulos DJ, Strong E, Su M, Tayeh MK, Kokalj Vokac N, Thorland EC, Andersen E, Martin CL. Copy number variant discrepancy resolution using the ClinGen dosage sensitivity map results in updated clinical interpretations in ClinVar. Hum Mutat 2019; 39:1650-1659. [PMID: 30095202 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Conflict resolution in genomic variant interpretation is a critical step toward improving patient care. Evaluating interpretation discrepancies in copy number variants (CNVs) typically involves assessing overlapping genomic content with focus on genes/regions that may be subject to dosage sensitivity (haploinsufficiency (HI) and/or triplosensitivity (TS)). CNVs containing dosage sensitive genes/regions are generally interpreted as "likely pathogenic" (LP) or "pathogenic" (P), and CNVs involving the same known dosage sensitive gene(s) should receive the same clinical interpretation. We compared the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) Dosage Map, a publicly available resource documenting known HI and TS genes/regions, against germline, clinical CNV interpretations within the ClinVar database. We identified 251 CNVs overlapping known dosage sensitive genes/regions but not classified as LP or P; these were sent back to their original submitting laboratories for re-evaluation. Of 246 CNVs re-evaluated, an updated clinical classification was warranted in 157 cases (63.8%); no change was made to the current classification in 79 cases (32.1%); and 10 cases (4.1%) resulted in other types of updates to ClinVar records. This effort will add curated interpretation data into the public domain and allow laboratories to focus attention on more complex discrepancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin R Riggs
- Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
| | - Tristan Nelson
- Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
| | - Andrew Merz
- Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
| | - Todd Ackley
- Michigan Medical Genetics Laboratories (MMGL), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Morag N Collinson
- Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Yao-Shan Fan
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - McKinsey L Goodenberger
- Genomics Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Denae M Golden
- Human Genetics Laboratory, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Linda Haglund-Hazy
- Michigan Medical Genetics Laboratories (MMGL), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Danijela Krgovic
- University Medical Centre Maribor, Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Maribor, Slovenia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Allen N Lamb
- ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Zoe Lewis
- ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Yajuan Liu
- Clinical Cytogenomics Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Whitney Neufeld-Kaiser
- Clinical Cytogenomics Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cassandra K Runke
- Genomics Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jennifer N Sanmann
- Human Genetics Laboratory, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Emma Strong
- Genome Diagnostics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Meng Su
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Marwan K Tayeh
- Michigan Medical Genetics Laboratories (MMGL), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nadja Kokalj Vokac
- University Medical Centre Maribor, Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Maribor, Slovenia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Erik C Thorland
- Genomics Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Erica Andersen
- ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Christa L Martin
- Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
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49
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Raciti M, Salma J, Spulber S, Gaudenzi G, Khalajzeyqami Z, Conti M, Anderlid BM, Falk A, Hermanson O, Ceccatelli S. NRXN1 Deletion and Exposure to Methylmercury Increase Astrocyte Differentiation by Different Notch-Dependent Transcriptional Mechanisms. Front Genet 2019; 10:593. [PMID: 31316548 PMCID: PMC6610538 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Controversial evidence points to a possible involvement of methylmercury (MeHg) in the etiopathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In the present study, we used human neuroepithelial stem cells from healthy donors and from an autistic patient bearing a bi-allelic deletion in the gene encoding for NRXN1 to evaluate whether MeHg would induce cellular changes comparable to those seen in cells derived from the ASD patient. In healthy cells, a subcytotoxic concentration of MeHg enhanced astroglial differentiation similarly to what observed in the diseased cells (N1), as shown by the number of GFAP positive cells and immunofluorescence signal intensity. In both healthy MeHg-treated and N1 untreated cells, aberrations in Notch pathway activity seemed to play a critical role in promoting the differentiation toward glia. Accordingly, treatment with the established Notch inhibitor DAPT reversed the altered differentiation. Although our data are not conclusive since only one of the genes involved in ASD is considered, the results provide novel evidence suggesting that developmental exposure to MeHg, even at subcytotoxic concentrations, induces alterations in astroglial differentiation similar to those observed in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilena Raciti
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jahan Salma
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Spulber
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giulia Gaudenzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Mirko Conti
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Britt-Marie Anderlid
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Falk
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ola Hermanson
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sandra Ceccatelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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50
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Zambonino M, Pereira P. The structure of Neurexin 1α (n1α) and its role as synaptic organizer. BIONATURA 2019. [DOI: 10.21931/rb/2019.04.02.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
α - and b-neurexins (NRXNs) are transmembrane adhesion protein complexes localized in presynaptic membranes into neurons and interact with the postsynaptic neuroligins (NLGNs). Our findings indicate that the neurexin 1α (n1α) is a synaptic organizer that directs postsynaptic development in neurons, evidenced in GABAergic neurons and trials with Knock-out Mice. Also, the interactions between hypervariable surfaces of n1α and ligands (neurexophilin, a-dystroglycan, and GABAA) promotes a proper protein-binding recognition, and consequently, a better synaptic adhesion.
There is a direct relationship between mental disorders and the n1α assemblage because NRXN1 gene encodes for n1α proteins which are involved in the transmission of information into the brain. For this reason, damage in this complex-protein or some neurexin gene variations causes pathological abnormalities and neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, and intellectual disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie Zambonino
- Universidad de Investigación de Tecnología Experimental Yachay Tech 1,2School of Biological and Applied - Biomedical Engineering Department
| | - Pamela Pereira
- Universidad de Investigación de Tecnología Experimental Yachay Tech 1,2School of Biological and Applied - Biomedical Engineering Department
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