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Aouci R, El Soudany M, Maakoul Z, Fontaine A, Kurihara H, Levi G, Narboux-Nême N. Dlx5/6 Expression Levels in Mouse GABAergic Neurons Regulate Adult Parvalbumin Neuronal Density and Anxiety/Compulsive Behaviours. Cells 2022; 11:cells11111739. [PMID: 35681437 PMCID: PMC9179869 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal circuits integrating Parvalbumin-positive GABAergic inhibitory interneurons (PV) are essential for normal brain function and are often altered in psychiatric conditions. During development, Dlx5 and Dlx6 (Dlx5/6) genes are involved in the differentiation of PV-interneurons. In the adult, Dlx5/6 continue to be expressed at low levels in most telencephalic GABAergic neurons, but their importance in determining the number and distribution of adult PV-interneurons is unknown. Previously, we have shown that targeted deletion of Dlx5/6 in mouse GABAergic neurons (Dlx5/6VgatCre mice) results in altered behavioural and metabolic profiles. Here we evaluate the consequences of targeted Dlx5/6 gene dosage alterations in adult GABAergic neurons. We compare the effects on normal brain of homozygous and heterozygous (Dlx5/6VgatCre and Dlx5/6VgatCre/+ mice) Dlx5/6 deletions to those of Dlx5 targeted overexpression (GABAergicDlx5/+ mice). We find a linear correlation between Dlx5/6 allelic dosage and the density of PV-positive neurons in the adult prelimbic cortex and in the hippocampus. In parallel, we observe that Dlx5/6 expression levels in GABAergic neurons are also linearly associated with the intensity of anxiety and compulsivity-like behaviours. Our findings reinforce the notion that regulation of Dlx5/6 expression is involved in individual cognitive variability and, possibly, in the genesis of certain neuropsychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rym Aouci
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS UMR7221, Team BBC, Département AVIV, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR-7221, 7 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France; (R.A.); (M.E.S.); (Z.M.); (A.F.); (G.L.)
| | - Mey El Soudany
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS UMR7221, Team BBC, Département AVIV, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR-7221, 7 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France; (R.A.); (M.E.S.); (Z.M.); (A.F.); (G.L.)
| | - Zakaria Maakoul
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS UMR7221, Team BBC, Département AVIV, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR-7221, 7 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France; (R.A.); (M.E.S.); (Z.M.); (A.F.); (G.L.)
| | - Anastasia Fontaine
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS UMR7221, Team BBC, Département AVIV, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR-7221, 7 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France; (R.A.); (M.E.S.); (Z.M.); (A.F.); (G.L.)
| | - Hiroki Kurihara
- Department of Physiological Chemistry and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan;
| | - Giovanni Levi
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS UMR7221, Team BBC, Département AVIV, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR-7221, 7 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France; (R.A.); (M.E.S.); (Z.M.); (A.F.); (G.L.)
| | - Nicolas Narboux-Nême
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS UMR7221, Team BBC, Département AVIV, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR-7221, 7 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France; (R.A.); (M.E.S.); (Z.M.); (A.F.); (G.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-140-798-027
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Levi G, de Lombares C, Giuliani C, Iannuzzi V, Aouci R, Garagnani P, Franceschi C, Grimaud-Hervé D, Narboux-Nême N. DLX5/6 GABAergic Expression Affects Social Vocalization: Implications for Human Evolution. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:4748-4764. [PMID: 34132815 PMCID: PMC8557472 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
DLX5 and DLX6 are two closely related transcription factors involved in brain development and in GABAergic differentiation. The DLX5/6 locus is regulated by FoxP2, a gene involved in language evolution and has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and mental retardation. Targeted inactivation of Dlx5/6 in mouse GABAergic neurons (Dlx5/6VgatCre mice) results in behavioral and metabolic phenotypes notably increasing lifespan by 33%. Here, we show that Dlx5/6VgatCre mice present a hyper-vocalization and hyper-socialization phenotype. While only 7% of control mice emitted more than 700 vocalizations/10 min, 30% and 56% of heterozygous or homozygous Dlx5/6VgatCre mice emitted more than 700 and up to 1,400 calls/10 min with a higher proportion of complex and modulated calls. Hyper-vocalizing animals were more sociable: the time spent in dynamic interactions with an unknown visitor was more than doubled compared to low-vocalizing individuals. The characters affected by Dlx5/6 in the mouse (sociability, vocalization, skull, and brain shape…) overlap those affected in the "domestication syndrome". We therefore explored the possibility that DLX5/6 played a role in human evolution and "self-domestication" comparing DLX5/6 genomic regions from Neanderthal and modern humans. We identified an introgressed Neanderthal haplotype (DLX5/6-N-Haplotype) present in 12.6% of European individuals that covers DLX5/6 coding and regulatory sequences. The DLX5/6-N-Haplotype includes the binding site for GTF2I, a gene associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome, a hyper-sociability and hyper-vocalization neurodevelopmental disorder. The DLX5/6-N-Haplotype is significantly underrepresented in semi-supercentenarians (>105 years of age), a well-established human model of healthy aging and longevity, suggesting their involvement in the coevolution of longevity, sociability, and speech.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Levi
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS UMR7221, Département AVIV, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Camille de Lombares
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS UMR7221, Département AVIV, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Cristina Giuliani
- Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology & Centre for Genome Biology, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Iannuzzi
- Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Rym Aouci
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS UMR7221, Département AVIV, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Paolo Garagnani
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky University, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia
| | - Dominique Grimaud-Hervé
- Histoire Naturelle de l’Homme Préhistorique, CNRS UMR 7194, Département H&E, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Narboux-Nême
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS UMR7221, Département AVIV, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
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Imbalance of Excitatory/Inhibitory Neuron Differentiation in Neurodevelopmental Disorders with an NR2F1 Point Mutation. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107521. [PMID: 32320667 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed an essential role for embryonic cortical development in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the genetic basis and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we generate mutant human embryonic stem cell lines (Mut hESCs) carrying an NR2F1-R112K mutation that has been identified in a patient with ASD features and investigate their neurodevelopmental alterations. Mut hESCs overproduce ventral telencephalic neuron progenitors (ventral NPCs) and underproduce dorsal NPCs, causing the imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory neurons. These alterations can be mainly attributed to the aberrantly activated Hedgehog signaling pathway. Moreover, the corresponding Nr2f1 point-mutant mice display a similar excitatory/inhibitory neuron imbalance and abnormal behaviors. Antagonizing the increased inhibitory synaptic transmission partially alleviates their behavioral deficits. Together, our results suggest that the NR2F1-dependent imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory neuron differentiation caused by the activated Hedgehog pathway is one precursor of neurodevelopmental disorders and may enlighten the therapeutic approaches.
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Yang J, Yang X, Tang K. Interneuron development and dysfunction. FEBS J 2021; 289:2318-2336. [PMID: 33844440 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Understanding excitation and inhibition balance in the brain begins with the tale of two basic types of neurons, glutamatergic projection neurons and GABAergic interneurons. The diversity of cortical interneurons is contributed by multiple origins in the ventral forebrain, various tangential migration routes, and complicated regulations of intrinsic factors, extrinsic signals, and activities. Abnormalities of interneuron development lead to dysfunction of interneurons and inhibitory circuits, which are highly associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, and intellectual disability. In this review, we mainly discuss recent findings on the development of cortical interneuron and on neurodevelopmental disorders related to interneuron dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Yang
- Precise Genome Engineering Center, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, China
| | - Xiong Yang
- Precise Genome Engineering Center, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, China
| | - Ke Tang
- Precise Genome Engineering Center, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, China
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Kroeze Y, Oti M, van Beusekom E, Cooijmans RHM, van Bokhoven H, Kolk SM, Homberg JR, Zhou H. Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Multifaceted Regulatory Mechanisms Dictating a Genetic Switch from Neuronal Network Establishment to Maintenance During Postnatal Prefrontal Cortex Development. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:833-851. [PMID: 28108491 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is one of the latest brain regions to mature, which allows the acquisition of complex cognitive abilities through experience. To unravel the underlying gene expression changes during postnatal development, we performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) in the rat medial PFC (mPFC) at five developmental time points from infancy to adulthood, and analyzed the differential expression of protein-coding genes, long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs), and alternative exons. We showed that most expression changes occur in infancy, and that the number of differentially expressed genes reduces toward adulthood. We observed 137 differentially expressed lincRNAs and 796 genes showing alternative exon usage during postnatal development. Importantly, we detected a genetic switch from neuronal network establishment in infancy to maintenance of neural networks in adulthood based on gene expression dynamics, involving changes in protein-coding and lincRNA gene expression as well as alternative exon usage. Our gene expression datasets provide insights into the multifaceted transcriptional regulation of the developing PFC. They can be used to study the basic developmental processes of the mPFC and to understand the mechanisms of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Our study provides an important contribution to the ongoing efforts to complete the "brain map", and to the understanding of PFC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvet Kroeze
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 EZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Human Genetics, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Oti
- Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ellen van Beusekom
- Department of Human Genetics, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roel H M Cooijmans
- Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans van Bokhoven
- Department of Human Genetics, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sharon M Kolk
- Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 EZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Huiqing Zhou
- Department of Human Genetics, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Reilly J, Gallagher L, Chen JL, Leader G, Shen S. Bio-collections in autism research. Mol Autism 2017; 8:34. [PMID: 28702161 PMCID: PMC5504648 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-017-0154-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders with diverse clinical manifestations and symptoms. In the last 10 years, there have been significant advances in understanding the genetic basis for ASD, critically supported through the establishment of ASD bio-collections and application in research. Here, we summarise a selection of major ASD bio-collections and their associated findings. Collectively, these include mapping ASD candidate genes, assessing the nature and frequency of gene mutations and their association with ASD clinical subgroups, insights into related molecular pathways such as the synapses, chromatin remodelling, transcription and ASD-related brain regions. We also briefly review emerging studies on the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to potentially model ASD in culture. These provide deeper insight into ASD progression during development and could generate human cell models for drug screening. Finally, we provide perspectives concerning the utilities of ASD bio-collections and limitations, and highlight considerations in setting up a new bio-collection for ASD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Reilly
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, BioMedical Sciences Building, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Louise Gallagher
- Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital Street, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - June L Chen
- Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
| | - Geraldine Leader
- Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN), Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Sanbing Shen
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, BioMedical Sciences Building, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
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Zhubi A, Chen Y, Guidotti A, Grayson DR. Epigenetic regulation of RELN and GAD1 in the frontal cortex (FC) of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) subjects. Int J Dev Neurosci 2017; 62:63-72. [PMID: 28229923 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Both Reelin (RELN) and glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD1) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We have previously shown that both mRNAs are reduced in the cerebella (CB) of ASD subjects through a mechanism that involves increases in the amounts of MECP2 binding to the corresponding promoters. In the current study, we examined the expression of RELN, GAD1, GAD2, and several other mRNAs implicated in this disorder in the frontal cortices (FC) of ASD and CON subjects. We also focused on the role that epigenetic processes play in the regulation of these genes in ASD brain. Our goal is to better understand the molecular basis for the down-regulation of genes expressed in GABAergic neurons in ASD brains. We measured mRNA levels corresponding to selected GABAergic genes using qRT-PCR in RNA isolated from both ASD and CON groups. We determined the extent of binding of MECP2 and DNMT1 repressor proteins by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. The amount of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) present in the promoters of the target genes was quantified by methyl DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) and hydroxyl MeDIP (hMeDIP). We detected significant reductions in the mRNAs associated with RELN and GAD1 and significant increases in mRNAs encoding the Ten-eleven Translocation (TET) enzymes 1, 2, and 3. We also detected increased MECP2 and DNMT1 binding to the corresponding promoter regions of GAD1, RELN, and GAD2. Interestingly, there were decreased amounts of 5mC at both promoters and little change in 5hmC content in these same DNA fragments. Our data demonstrate that RELN, GAD1, and several other genes selectively expressed in GABAergic neurons, are down-regulated in post-mortem ASD FC. In addition, we observed increased DNMT1 and MECP2 binding at the corresponding promoters of these genes. The finding of increased MECP2 binding to the RELN, GAD1 and GAD2 promoters, with reduced amounts of 5mC and unchanged amounts of 5hmC present in these regions, suggests the possibility that DNMT1 interacts with and alters MECP2 binding properties to selected promoters. Comparisons between data obtained from the FC with CB studies showed some common themes between brain regions which are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Zhubi
- The Psychiatric Institute, Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States.
| | - Ying Chen
- The Psychiatric Institute, Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States.
| | - Alessandro Guidotti
- The Psychiatric Institute, Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States.
| | - Dennis R Grayson
- The Psychiatric Institute, Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States.
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Hu H, Coon H, Li M, Yandell M, Huff CD. VARPRISM: incorporating variant prioritization in tests of de novo mutation association. Genome Med 2016; 8:91. [PMID: 27562213 PMCID: PMC4997702 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-016-0341-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with certain genetic diseases, such as autism spectrum disorder, have increased rates of de novo mutations within some protein-coding genes. Results We introduce the VARiant PRIoritization SuM (VARPRISM), a software package which incorporates functional variant prioritization information to improve the power to detect de novo mutations influencing disease risk. VARPRISM evaluates the consequence of any given exonic mutation on the protein sequence to estimate the likelihood that the mutation is benign or damaging and conducts a likelihood ratio test on the gene level. We analyzed the Simons Simplex Collection of 2508 parent-offspring autism trios using VARPRISM, replicating 44 genes previously implicated in autism susceptibility and identifying 20 additional candidate genes, including MYO1E, KCND3, PDCD1, DLX3, and TSPAN4 (false discovery rate < 0.3). Conclusion By incorporating functional predictions, VARPRISM improved the statistical power to identify de novo mutations increasing disease risks. VARPRISM is available at http://www.hufflab.org/software/VARPRISM. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13073-016-0341-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hilary Coon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Man Li
- Department of Human Genetics and USTAR Center for Genetic Discovery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Mark Yandell
- Department of Human Genetics and USTAR Center for Genetic Discovery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Chad D Huff
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Impairments in dendrite morphogenesis as etiology for neurodevelopmental disorders and implications for therapeutic treatments. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 68:946-978. [PMID: 27143622 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Dendrite morphology is pivotal for neural circuitry functioning. While the causative relationship between small-scale dendrite morphological abnormalities (shape, density of dendritic spines) and neurodevelopmental disorders is well established, such relationship remains elusive for larger-scale dendrite morphological impairments (size, shape, branching pattern of dendritic trees). Here, we summarize published data on dendrite morphological irregularities in human patients and animal models for neurodevelopmental disorders, with focus on autism and schizophrenia. We next discuss high-risk genes for these disorders and their role in dendrite morphogenesis. We finally overview recent developments in therapeutic attempts and we discuss how they relate to dendrite morphology. We find that both autism and schizophrenia are accompanied by dendritic arbor morphological irregularities, and that majority of their high-risk genes regulate dendrite morphogenesis. Thus, we present a compelling argument that, along with smaller-scale morphological impairments in dendrites (spines and synapse), irregularities in larger-scale dendrite morphology (arbor shape, size) may be an important part of neurodevelopmental disorders' etiology. We suggest that this should not be ignored when developing future therapeutic treatments.
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Molecular underpinnings of prefrontal cortex development in rodents provide insights into the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:795-809. [PMID: 25450230 PMCID: PMC4486649 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Revised: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC), seat of the highest-order cognitive functions, constitutes a conglomerate of highly specialized brain areas and has been implicated to have a role in the onset and installation of various neurodevelopmental disorders. The development of a properly functioning PFC is directed by transcription factors, guidance cues and other regulatory molecules and requires the intricate and temporal orchestration of a number of developmental processes. Disturbance or failure of any of these processes causing neurodevelopmental abnormalities within the PFC may contribute to several of the cognitive deficits seen in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. In this review, we elaborate on the specific processes underlying prefrontal development, such as induction and patterning of the prefrontal area, proliferation, migration and axonal guidance of medial prefrontal progenitors, and their eventual efferent and afferent connections. We furthermore integrate for the first time the available knowledge from genome-wide studies that have revealed genes linked to neurodevelopmental disorders with experimental molecular evidence in rodents. The integrated data suggest that the pathogenic variants in the neurodevelopmental disorder-associated genes induce prefrontal cytoarchitectonical impairments. This enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of prefrontal (mis)development underlying the four major neurodevelopmental disorders in humans, that is, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia, and may thus provide clues for the development of novel therapies.
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Abstract
Pharmacologic treatments targeting specific molecular mechanisms relevant for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are beginning to emerge in early drug development. This article reviews the evidence for the disruption of glutamatergic neurotransmission in animal models of social deficits and summarizes key pre-clinical and clinical efforts in developing pharmacologic interventions based on modulation of glutamatergic systems in individuals with ASD. Understanding the pathobiology of the glutamatergic system has led to the development of new investigational treatments for individuals with ASD. Specific examples of medications that modulate the glutamatergic system in pre-clinical and clinical studies are described. Finally, we discuss the limitations of current strategies and future opportunities in developing medications targeting the glutamatergic system for treating individuals with ASD.
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Sulakhe D, Balasubramanian S, Xie B, Feng B, Taylor A, Wang S, Berrocal E, Dave U, Xu J, Börnigen D, Gilliam TC, Maltsev N. Lynx: a database and knowledge extraction engine for integrative medicine. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:D1007-12. [PMID: 24270788 PMCID: PMC3965040 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
We have developed Lynx (http://lynx.ci.uchicago.edu)—a web-based database and a knowledge extraction engine, supporting annotation and analysis of experimental data and generation of weighted hypotheses on molecular mechanisms contributing to human phenotypes and disorders of interest. Its underlying knowledge base (LynxKB) integrates various classes of information from >35 public databases and private collections, as well as manually curated data from our group and collaborators. Lynx provides advanced search capabilities and a variety of algorithms for enrichment analysis and network-based gene prioritization to assist the user in extracting meaningful knowledge from LynxKB and experimental data, whereas its service-oriented architecture provides public access to LynxKB and its analytical tools via user-friendly web services and interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinanath Sulakhe
- Computation Institute, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA, Department of Human Genetics, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA, Department of Computer Science, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA and Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Lin S, Li T, Zhu D, Ma C, Wang Y, He L, Zhu C, Xing Q. The association between GAD1 gene polymorphisms and cerebral palsy in Chinese infants. CYTOL GENET+ 2013. [DOI: 10.3103/s0095452713050071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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14
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Neuropathology and animal models of autism: genetic and environmental factors. AUTISM RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2013; 2013:731935. [PMID: 24151553 PMCID: PMC3787615 DOI: 10.1155/2013/731935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2013] [Revised: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Autism is a heterogeneous behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disorder. It is defined by the presence of marked social deficits, specific language abnormalities, and stereotyped repetitive patterns of behavior. Because of the variability in the behavioral phenotype of the disorder among patients, the term autism spectrum disorder has been established. In the first part of this review, we provide an overview of neuropathological findings from studies of autism postmortem brains and identify the cerebellum as one of the key brain regions that can play a role in the autism phenotype. We review research findings that indicate possible links between the environment and autism including the role of mercury and immune-related factors. Because both genes and environment can alter the structure of the developing brain in different ways, it is not surprising that there is heterogeneity in the behavioral and neuropathological phenotypes of autism spectrum disorders. Finally, we describe animal models of autism that occur following insertion of different autism-related genes and exposure to environmental factors, highlighting those models which exhibit both autism-like behavior and neuropathology.
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15
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Polymorphisms in the glutamate decarboxylase 1 gene associated with heroin dependence. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2012; 422:91-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.04.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2012] [Accepted: 04/21/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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16
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Sgadò P, Dunleavy M, Genovesi S, Provenzano G, Bozzi Y. The role of GABAergic system in neurodevelopmental disorders: a focus on autism and epilepsy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2011; 3:223-235. [PMID: 21941613 PMCID: PMC3175748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2011] [Accepted: 09/05/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and epilepsy are very common neurological disorders of childhood, with an estimated incidence of about 0.5 - 1 % in worldwide population. ASD and epilepsy are often associated, suggesting that common neurodevelopmental bases may exist for these two disorders. The neurodevelopmental bases of both ASD and epilepsy have been clearly showed by a number of genetic, neuroimaging and neuropathological studies. In recent years, dysfunction of inhibitory GABAergic circuits has been proposed as a cause for both disorders. Several studies performed on both animal models and postmortem human samples indicate that GABAergic neurons and circuits are altered in both ASD and epilepsy, suggesting that the excitation/inhibition imbalance resulting from neurodevelopmental defects in GABAergic circuitry might represent a common pathogenetic mechanism for these disorders. Here, we will review the most significant studies supporting this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Sgadò
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of TrentoItaly
| | - Mark Dunleavy
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of TrentoItaly
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublin, Ireland
| | - Sacha Genovesi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of TrentoItaly
| | - Giovanni Provenzano
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of TrentoItaly
| | - Yuri Bozzi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of TrentoItaly
- CNR Neuroscience InstitutePisa, Italy
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