1
|
Adla SK, Virtanen H, Thongsodsaeng T, Huttunen KM. Amino acid transporters in neurological disorders and neuroprotective effects of cysteine derivatives. Neurochem Int 2024; 177:105771. [PMID: 38761853 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105771] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
For most diseases and disorders occurring in the brain, the full causes behind them are yet unknown, but many show signs of dysfunction of amino acid transporters or abnormalities in amino acid metabolism. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a key role in supporting the function of the central nervous system (CNS). Because of its unique structure, the BBB can maintain the optimal environment for CNS by controlling the passage of hydrophilic molecules from blood to the brain. Nutrients, such as amino acids, can cross the BBB via specific transporters. Many amino acids are essential for CNS function, and dysfunction of these amino acid transporters can lead to abnormalities in amino acid levels. This has been linked to causes behind certain genetic brain diseases, such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and Huntington's disease (HD). One example of crucial amino acids is L-Cys, the rate-limiting factor in the biosynthesis of an important antioxidant, glutathione (GSH). Deficiency of L-Cys and GSH has been linked to oxidative stress and has been shown as a plausible cause behind certain CNS diseases, like schizophrenia and HD. This review presents the current status of potential L-Cys therapies and gives future directions that can be taken to improve amino acid transportation related to distinct CNS diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kumar Adla
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Heinileena Virtanen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Thanavit Thongsodsaeng
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kristiina M Huttunen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zheng L, Jiao Y, Zhong H, Tan Y, Yin Y, Liu Y, Liu D, Wu M, Wang G, Huang J, Wang P, Qin M, Wang M, Xiao Y, Lv T, Luo Y, Hu H, Hou ST, Kui L. Human-derived fecal microbiota transplantation alleviates social deficits of the BTBR mouse model of autism through a potential mechanism involving vitamin B 6 metabolism. mSystems 2024:e0025724. [PMID: 38780265 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00257-24] [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: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication deficiencies and stereotypic behaviors influenced by hereditary and/or environmental risk factors. There are currently no approved medications for treating the core symptoms of ASD. Human fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a potential intervention to improve autistic symptoms, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we evaluated the effects of human-derived FMT on behavioral and multi-omics profiles of the BTBR mice, an established model for ASD. FMT effectively alleviated the social deficits in the BTBR mice and normalized their distinct plasma metabolic profile, notably reducing the elevated long-chain acylcarnitines. Integrative analysis linked these phenotypic changes to specific Bacteroides species and vitamin B6 metabolism. Indeed, vitamin B6 supplementation improved the social behaviors in BTBR mice. Collectively, these findings shed new light on the interplay between FMT and vitamin B6 metabolism and revealed a potential mechanism underlying the therapeutic role of FMT in ASD.IMPORTANCEAccumulating evidence supports the beneficial effects of human fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the precise mechanism by which FMT induces a shift in the microbiota and leads to symptom improvement remains incompletely understood. This study integrated data from colon-content metagenomics, colon-content metabolomics, and plasma metabolomics to investigate the effects of FMT treatment on the BTBR mouse model for ASD. The analysis linked the amelioration of social deficits following FMT treatment to the restoration of mitochondrial function and the modulation of vitamin B6 metabolism. Bacterial species and compounds with beneficial roles in vitamin B6 metabolism and mitochondrial function may further contribute to improving FMT products and designing novel therapies for ASD treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lifeng Zheng
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Neuroscience, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Xbiome Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Yinming Jiao
- Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haolin Zhong
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Neuroscience, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan Tan
- Xbiome Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | | | | | - Ding Liu
- Xbiome Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Manli Wu
- Xbiome Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Guoyun Wang
- Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Ping Wang
- Shenzhen Institute for Drug Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Meirong Qin
- Shenzhen Institute for Drug Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mingbang Wang
- Microbiome Therapy Center, South China Hospital, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Center for Children's Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Xiao
- Department of Hematology, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tiying Lv
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yangzi Luo
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Han Hu
- Xbiome Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Sheng-Tao Hou
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Neuroscience, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ling Kui
- Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Illescas S, Diaz-Osorio Y, Serradell A, Toro-Soria L, Musokhranova U, Juliá-Palacios N, Ribeiro-Constante J, Altafaj X, Olivella M, O'Callaghan M, Darling A, Armstrong J, Artuch R, García-Cazorla À, Oyarzábal A. Metabolic characterization of neurogenetic disorders involving glutamatergic neurotransmission. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024; 47:551-569. [PMID: 37932875 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12689] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The study of inborn errors of neurotransmission has been mostly focused on monoamine disorders, GABAergic and glycinergic defects. The study of the glutamatergic synapse using the same approach than classic neurotransmitter disorders is challenging due to the lack of biomarkers in the CSF. A metabolomic approach can provide both insight into their molecular basis and outline novel therapeutic alternatives. We have performed a semi-targeted metabolomic analysis on CSF samples from 25 patients with neurogenetic disorders with an important expression in the glutamatergic synapse and 5 controls. Samples from patients diagnosed with MCP2, CDKL5-, GRINpathies and STXBP1-related encephalopathies were included. We have performed univariate (UVA) and multivariate statistical analysis (MVA), using Wilcoxon rank-sum test, principal component analysis (PCA), and OPLS-DA. By using the results of both analyses, we have identified the metabolites that were significantly altered and that were important in clustering the respective groups. On these, we performed pathway- and network-based analyses to define which metabolic pathways were possibly altered in each pathology. We have observed alterations in the tryptophan and branched-chain amino acid metabolism pathways, which interestingly converge on LAT1 transporter-dependency to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Analysis of the expression of LAT1 transporter in brain samples from a mouse model of Rett syndrome (MECP2) revealed a decrease in the transporter expression, that was already noticeable at pre-symptomatic stages. The study of the glutamatergic synapse from this perspective advances the understanding of their pathophysiology, shining light on an understudied feature as is their metabolic signature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Illescas
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yaiza Diaz-Osorio
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Serradell
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucía Toro-Soria
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Uliana Musokhranova
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalia Juliá-Palacios
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Neurometabolic Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juliana Ribeiro-Constante
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Neurometabolic Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Altafaj
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Institute of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Olivella
- School of International Studies, ESCI-UPF, Barcelona, Spain
- Bioinformatics and Bioimaging Group, Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Spain
| | - Mar O'Callaghan
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Neurometabolic Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERER-Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Rare Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandra Darling
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Neurometabolic Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Judith Armstrong
- CIBERER-Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Rare Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Artuch
- CIBERER-Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Rare Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
- Clinical Biochemistry Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Àngels García-Cazorla
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Neurometabolic Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERER-Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Rare Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfonso Oyarzábal
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Neurometabolic Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Department of Neurology, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERER-Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Rare Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pérez-Cano L, Boccuto L, Sirci F, Hidalgo JM, Valentini S, Bosio M, Liogier D’Ardhuy X, Skinner C, Cascio L, Srikanth S, Jones K, Buchanan CB, Skinner SA, Gomez-Mancilla B, Hyvelin JM, Guney E, Durham L. Characterization of a Clinically and Biologically Defined Subgroup of Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Identification of a Tailored Combination Treatment. Biomedicines 2024; 12:991. [PMID: 38790952 PMCID: PMC11117897 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12050991] [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: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) with a high unmet medical need. The diagnosis of ASD is currently based on behavior criteria, which overlooks the diversity of genetic, neurophysiological, and clinical manifestations. Failure to acknowledge such heterogeneity has hindered the development of efficient drug treatments for ASD and other NDDs. DEPI® (Databased Endophenotyping Patient Identification) is a systems biology, multi-omics, and machine learning-driven platform enabling the identification of subgroups of patients with NDDs and the development of patient-tailored treatments. In this study, we provide evidence for the validation of a first clinically and biologically defined subgroup of patients with ASD identified by DEPI, ASD Phenotype 1 (ASD-Phen1). Among 313 screened patients with idiopathic ASD, the prevalence of ASD-Phen1 was observed to be ~24% in 84 patients who qualified to be enrolled in the study. Metabolic and transcriptomic alterations differentiating patients with ASD-Phen1 were consistent with an over-activation of NF-κB and NRF2 transcription factors, as predicted by DEPI. Finally, the suitability of STP1 combination treatment to revert such observed molecular alterations in patients with ASD-Phen1 was determined. Overall, our results support the development of precision medicine-based treatments for patients diagnosed with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pérez-Cano
- Discovery and Data Science (DDS) Unit, STALICLA SL, Moll de Barcelona, s/n, Edif Este, 08039 Barcelona, Spain; (F.S.); (J.M.H.); (S.V.); (M.B.); (E.G.)
| | - Luigi Boccuto
- JC Self Research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC 29649, USA; (L.B.); (C.S.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (K.J.); (C.B.B.); (S.A.S.)
- Healthcare Genetics and Genomics, School of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Francesco Sirci
- Discovery and Data Science (DDS) Unit, STALICLA SL, Moll de Barcelona, s/n, Edif Este, 08039 Barcelona, Spain; (F.S.); (J.M.H.); (S.V.); (M.B.); (E.G.)
| | - Jose Manuel Hidalgo
- Discovery and Data Science (DDS) Unit, STALICLA SL, Moll de Barcelona, s/n, Edif Este, 08039 Barcelona, Spain; (F.S.); (J.M.H.); (S.V.); (M.B.); (E.G.)
| | - Samuel Valentini
- Discovery and Data Science (DDS) Unit, STALICLA SL, Moll de Barcelona, s/n, Edif Este, 08039 Barcelona, Spain; (F.S.); (J.M.H.); (S.V.); (M.B.); (E.G.)
| | - Mattia Bosio
- Discovery and Data Science (DDS) Unit, STALICLA SL, Moll de Barcelona, s/n, Edif Este, 08039 Barcelona, Spain; (F.S.); (J.M.H.); (S.V.); (M.B.); (E.G.)
| | - Xavier Liogier D’Ardhuy
- Drug Development Unit (DDU), STALICLA SA, Avenue de Sécheron 15, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; (X.L.D.); (B.G.-M.); (J.-M.H.)
| | - Cindy Skinner
- JC Self Research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC 29649, USA; (L.B.); (C.S.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (K.J.); (C.B.B.); (S.A.S.)
| | - Lauren Cascio
- JC Self Research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC 29649, USA; (L.B.); (C.S.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (K.J.); (C.B.B.); (S.A.S.)
- Research and Education in Disease Diagnosis and Interventions (REDDI) Lab, Center for Innovative Medical Devices and Sensors (CIMeDS), Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Sujata Srikanth
- JC Self Research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC 29649, USA; (L.B.); (C.S.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (K.J.); (C.B.B.); (S.A.S.)
- Research and Education in Disease Diagnosis and Interventions (REDDI) Lab, Center for Innovative Medical Devices and Sensors (CIMeDS), Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Kelly Jones
- JC Self Research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC 29649, USA; (L.B.); (C.S.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (K.J.); (C.B.B.); (S.A.S.)
- Research and Education in Disease Diagnosis and Interventions (REDDI) Lab, Center for Innovative Medical Devices and Sensors (CIMeDS), Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Caroline B. Buchanan
- JC Self Research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC 29649, USA; (L.B.); (C.S.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (K.J.); (C.B.B.); (S.A.S.)
| | - Steven A. Skinner
- JC Self Research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC 29649, USA; (L.B.); (C.S.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (K.J.); (C.B.B.); (S.A.S.)
| | - Baltazar Gomez-Mancilla
- Drug Development Unit (DDU), STALICLA SA, Avenue de Sécheron 15, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; (X.L.D.); (B.G.-M.); (J.-M.H.)
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Jean-Marc Hyvelin
- Drug Development Unit (DDU), STALICLA SA, Avenue de Sécheron 15, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; (X.L.D.); (B.G.-M.); (J.-M.H.)
| | - Emre Guney
- Discovery and Data Science (DDS) Unit, STALICLA SL, Moll de Barcelona, s/n, Edif Este, 08039 Barcelona, Spain; (F.S.); (J.M.H.); (S.V.); (M.B.); (E.G.)
| | - Lynn Durham
- Discovery and Data Science (DDS) Unit, STALICLA SL, Moll de Barcelona, s/n, Edif Este, 08039 Barcelona, Spain; (F.S.); (J.M.H.); (S.V.); (M.B.); (E.G.)
- Drug Development Unit (DDU), STALICLA SA, Avenue de Sécheron 15, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; (X.L.D.); (B.G.-M.); (J.-M.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hutchinson K, Schlessinger A. Comprehensive Characterization of LAT1 Cholesterol-Binding Sites. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:3349-3358. [PMID: 38597304 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c01391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The human L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1; SLC7A5), is an amino acid exchanger protein, primarily found in the blood-brain barrier, placenta, and testis, where it plays a key role in amino acid homeostasis. Cholesterol is an essential lipid that has been highlighted to play a role in regulating the activity of membrane transporters, such as LAT1, yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms driving this phenomenon. Here we perform a comprehensive computational analysis to investigate cholesterol's role in LAT1 structure and function, focusing on four cholesterol-binding sites (CHOL1-4) identified in a recent LAT1-apo inward-open conformation cryo-EM structure. Through a series of independent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, molecular docking, MM/GBSA free energy calculations, and other analysis tools, we explored the interactions between LAT1 and cholesterol. Our findings suggest that CHOL3 forms the most stable and favorable interactions with LAT1. Principal component analysis (PCA) and center of mass (COM) distance assessments show that CHOL3 binding stabilizes the inward-open state of LAT1 by preserving the spatial arrangement of the hash and bundle domains. Additionally, we propose an alternative cholesterol-binding site for originally assigned CHOL1. Overall, this study improves the understanding of cholesterol's modulatory effect on LAT1 and proposes candidate sites for the discovery of future allosteric ligands with rational design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keino Hutchinson
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Avner Schlessinger
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ahrens AP, Hyötyläinen T, Petrone JR, Igelström K, George CD, Garrett TJ, Orešič M, Triplett EW, Ludvigsson J. Infant microbes and metabolites point to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. Cell 2024; 187:1853-1873.e15. [PMID: 38574728 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.035] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
This study has followed a birth cohort for over 20 years to find factors associated with neurodevelopmental disorder (ND) diagnosis. Detailed, early-life longitudinal questionnaires captured infection and antibiotic events, stress, prenatal factors, family history, and more. Biomarkers including cord serum metabolome and lipidome, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype, infant microbiota, and stool metabolome were assessed. Among the 16,440 Swedish children followed across time, 1,197 developed an ND. Significant associations emerged for future ND diagnosis in general and for specific ND subtypes, spanning intellectual disability, speech disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism. This investigation revealed microbiome connections to future diagnosis as well as early emerging mood and gastrointestinal problems. The findings suggest links to immunodysregulation and metabolism, compounded by stress, early-life infection, and antibiotics. The convergence of infant biomarkers and risk factors in this prospective, longitudinal study on a large-scale population establishes a foundation for early-life prediction and intervention in neurodevelopment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelica P Ahrens
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
| | - Tuulia Hyötyläinen
- School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro 702 81, Sweden
| | - Joseph R Petrone
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
| | - Kajsa Igelström
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Linköping University, Linköping 58185, Sweden
| | - Christian D George
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
| | - Timothy J Garrett
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Matej Orešič
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro 702 81, Sweden; Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku 20520, Finland; Department of Life Technologies, University of Turku, Turku 20014, Finland
| | - Eric W Triplett
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA.
| | - Johnny Ludvigsson
- Crown Princess Victoria Children's Hospital and Division of Pediatrics, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping 58185, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Huang Y, Qiu F, Dziegielewska KM, Koehn LM, Habgood MD, Saunders NR. Effects of paracetamol/acetaminophen on the expression of solute carriers (SLCs) in late-gestation fetal rat brain, choroid plexus and the placenta. Exp Physiol 2024; 109:427-444. [PMID: 38059686 PMCID: PMC10988763 DOI: 10.1113/ep091442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Solute carriers (SLCs) regulate transfer of a wide range of molecules across cell membranes using facilitative or secondary active transport. In pregnancy, these transporters, expressed at the placental barrier, are important for delivery of nutrients to the fetus, whilst also limiting entry of potentially harmful substances, such as drugs. In the present study, RNA-sequencing analysis was used to investigate expression of SLCs in the fetal (embryonic day 19) rat brain, choroid plexus and placenta in untreated control animals and following maternal paracetamol treatment. In the treated group, paracetamol (15 mg/kg) was administered to dams twice daily for 5 days (from embryonic day 15 to 19). In untreated animals, overall expression of SLCs was highest in the placenta. In the paracetamol treatment group, expression of several SLCs was significantly different compared with control animals, with ion, amino acid, neurotransmitter and sugar transporters most affected. The number of SLC transcripts that changed significantly following treatment was the highest in the choroid plexus and lowest in the brain. All SLC transcripts that changed in the placenta following paracetamol treatment were downregulated. These results suggest that administration of paracetamol during pregnancy could potentially disrupt fetal nutrient homeostasis and affect brain development, resulting in major consequences for the neonate and extending into childhood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Huang
- Department of NeuroscienceMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Fiona Qiu
- Department of NeuroscienceMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | | | - Liam M. Koehn
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesMonash UniversityParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Mark D. Habgood
- Department of NeuroscienceMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bui DT, Ton ANV, Nguyen CTD, Nguyen SH, Tran HK, Nguyen XT, Nguyen HT, Pham GLT, Tran DS, Harrington J, Pham HN, Pham TNV, Cao TA. Pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations identified in Vietnamese children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder using high-resolution SNP genotyping platform. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2360. [PMID: 38287090 PMCID: PMC10825208 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52777-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Among the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is highly diverse showing a broad phenotypic spectrum. ASD also couples with a broad range of mutations, both de novo and inherited. In this study, we used a proprietary SNP genotyping chip to analyze the genomic DNA of 250 Vietnamese children diagnosed with ASD. Our Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genotyping chip directly targets more than 800 thousand SNPs in the genome. Our primary focus was to identify pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations that are potentially linked to more severe symptoms of autism. We identified and validated 23 pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations in this initial study. The data shows that these mutations were detected in several cases spanning multiple biological pathways. Among the confirmed SNPs, mutations were identified in genes previously known to be strongly associated with ASD such as SLCO1B1, ACADSB, TCF4, HCP5, MOCOS, SRD5A2, MCCC2, DCC, and PRKN while several other mutations are known to associate with autistic traits or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Some mutations were found in multiple patients and some patients carried multiple pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations. These findings contribute to the identification of potential targets for therapeutic solutions in what is considered a genetically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duyen T Bui
- Genetica Research Foundation, National Innovation Center, Hanoi, Vietnam.
- Gene Friend Way Inc, San Francisco, USA.
| | - Anh N V Ton
- Pediatric Center Hue Central Hospital, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
- Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
| | - Chi T D Nguyen
- Pediatric Center Hue Central Hospital, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
| | - Son H Nguyen
- Pediatric Center Hue Central Hospital, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
| | - Hao K Tran
- Pediatric Center Hue Central Hospital, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
| | - Xuan T Nguyen
- Pediatric Center Hue Central Hospital, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
| | - Hang T Nguyen
- Genetica Research Foundation, National Innovation Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Gene Friend Way Inc, San Francisco, USA
| | - Giang L T Pham
- Genetica Research Foundation, National Innovation Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Gene Friend Way Inc, San Francisco, USA
| | - Dong S Tran
- Genetica Research Foundation, National Innovation Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Gene Friend Way Inc, San Francisco, USA
| | - Jillian Harrington
- Genetica Research Foundation, National Innovation Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Gene Friend Way Inc, San Francisco, USA
| | - Hiep N Pham
- Pediatric Center Hue Central Hospital, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
| | - Tuyen N V Pham
- Pediatric Center Hue Central Hospital, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
| | - Tuan A Cao
- Genetica Research Foundation, National Innovation Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Gene Friend Way Inc, San Francisco, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Panoyan MA, Shi Y, Abbatangelo CL, Adler N, Moo-Choy A, Parra EJ, Polimanti R, Hu P, Wendt FR. Exome-wide tandem repeats confer large effects on subcortical volumes in UK Biobank participants. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.12.11.23299818. [PMID: 38168307 PMCID: PMC10760277 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.11.23299818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The human subcortex is involved in memory and cognition. Structural and functional changes in subcortical regions is implicated in psychiatric conditions. We performed an association study of subcortical volumes using 15,941 tandem repeats (TRs) derived from whole exome sequencing (WES) data in 16,527 unrelated European ancestry participants. We identified 17 loci, most of which were associated with accumbens volume, and nine of which had fine-mapping probability supporting their causal effect on subcortical volume independent of surrounding variation. The most significant association involved NTN1 -[GCGG] N and increased accumbens volume (β=5.93, P=8.16x10 -9 ). Three exonic TRs had large effects on thalamus volume ( LAT2 -[CATC] N β=-949, P=3.84x10 -6 and SLC39A4 -[CAG] N β=-1599, P=2.42x10 -8 ) and pallidum volume ( MCM2 -[AGG] N β=-404.9, P=147x10 -7 ). These genetic effects were consistent measurements of per-repeat expansion/contraction effects on organism fitness. With 3-dimensional modeling, we reinforced these effects to show that the expanded and contracted LAT2 -[CATC] N repeat causes a frameshift mutation that prevents appropriate protein folding. These TRs also exhibited independent effects on several psychiatric symptoms, including LAT2 -[CATC] N and the tiredness/low energy symptom of depression (β=0.340, P=0.003). These findings link genetic variation to tractable biology in the brain and relevant psychiatric symptoms. We also chart one pathway for TR prioritization in future complex trait genetic studies.
Collapse
|
10
|
Bilgiç A, Ferahkaya H, Karagöz H, Kılınç İ, Energin VM. Serum claudin-5, claudin-11, occludin, vinculin, paxillin, and beta-catenin levels in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder. Nord J Psychiatry 2023; 77:506-511. [PMID: 36662163 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2023.2168055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
AIM Increased intestinal and blood-brain barriers (BBB) permeability has been suggested to have a role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Claudin-5, claudin-11, occludin, β-catenin, vinculin, and paxillin are crucial components of these barriers. This study assessed concentrations of these molecules in preschool children with ASD. METHODS A total of 80 children with ASD and 40 controls aged 18-60 months were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of biochemical variables were determined using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS Serum claudin-11, occludin, and β-catenin levels were significantly higher in the ASD group than in the control group. However, no significant difference for serum claudin-5, vinculin, and paxillin levels was detected between the groups. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that claudin-11, occludin, and β-catenin may be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD. These proteins may affect the brain by causing dysregulation in intestinal or blood-brain barrier permeability or with other unknown mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayhan Bilgiç
- Faculty of Medicine, Izmir University of Economics, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Hurşit Ferahkaya
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Ali Kemal Belviranlı Gynecology and Pediatrics Hospital, Konya, Turkey
| | - Hülya Karagöz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - İbrahim Kılınç
- Department of Biochemistry, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Vesile Meltem Energin
- Department of Child Health and Disease, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Neuroactive Amino Acid Profile in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results from a Clinical Sample. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:children10020412. [PMID: 36832540 PMCID: PMC9955282 DOI: 10.3390/children10020412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Biological bases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) include both genetic and epigenetic causes. Patients with ASD show anomalies in the profile of certain plasma amino acids, including neuroactive amino acids. Monitoring plasma amino acids may be relevant for patient care and interventions. We evaluated the plasma amino acid profile in samples extracted from dry blood spots by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Fourteen amino acids and eleven amino acid ratios were examined in patients with ASD and intellectual disability (ID), and neurotypical control subjects (TD). The amino acid profile in the ASD group showed reduced levels of ornithine (p = 0.008), phenylalanine (p = 0.042) and tyrosine (p = 0.013). The statistically significant amino acid ratios were Leu+Val/Phe+Tyr (p = 0.002), Tyr/Leu (p = 0.007) and Val/Phe (p = 0.028), such differences remaining significant only in the comparison between ASD and TD. Finally, a positive correlation emerged between the score of the restricted and repetitive behavior on ADOS-2 and the citrulline levels in the ASD group (p = 0.0047). To conclude, patients with ASD may show a distinguishable metabolic profile useful for studying their metabolic pathways in order to develop screening tests and targeted therapies.
Collapse
|
12
|
Transcriptomic data analysis of melanocytes and melanoma cell lines of LAT transporter genes for precise medicine. BIO-ALGORITHMS AND MED-SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/bioal-2022-0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a two-step treatment that can be used in some types of cancers. It involves administering a compound containing boron atoms to the patient and irradiating the affected area of the body with a neutron beam. The success of the therapy depends mainly on the delivery of the boron isotope (10B) to the tumor using an appropriate boron carrier. One of the boron carriers used is boronophenylalanine (BPA). Therefore, in research on the use of boron carriers, it is also important to know the mechanisms of its uptake by cells. Aim: To study the expression of LAT family genes in two melanoma (high melanotic WM115 and low melanotic WM266-4) cell lines and melanocytes (HEMa-Lp) which are responsible for the transport the BPA into cells. Methods: To normalize data from the transcriptomic analysis, the ratio of the median method was used. This allowed the samples to be compared with each other. Comparison metrics included log-fold change (LFC) values. The heatmap of LFC values and the cluster map were created. These graphs show the similarities and differences between the samples. Results: Transcriptomic data show that in melanocytes, LFC for SLC7A5 (LAT1) and SLC3A2 (4Fhc) was higher than in melanoma cell lines, which corresponded with their melanin content. Conclusion: Our results indicate overexpression of BPA transporter genes in normal cells (melanocytes), which may suggest the highest level of these proteins in melanocytes compared to less melanotic melanoma. Therefore, for BNCT, the use of BPA as the 10B carrier will require additional qualifying tests of amino acid transporter expression for patients and specific tumors to develop a personalized BNCT.
Collapse
|
13
|
Chen WX, Liu B, Zhou L, Xiong X, Fu J, Huang ZF, Tan T, Tang M, Wang J, Tang YP. De novo mutations within metabolism networks of amino acid/protein/energy in Chinese autistic children with intellectual disability. Hum Genomics 2022; 16:52. [PMID: 36320054 PMCID: PMC9623983 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-022-00427-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often accompanied by intellectual disability (ID). Despite extensive studies, however, the genetic basis for this comorbidity is still not clear. In this study, we tried to develop an analyzing pipeline for de novo mutations and possible pathways related to ID phenotype in ASD. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed to screen de novo mutations and candidate genes in 79 ASD children together with their parents (trios). The de novo altering genes and relative pathways which were associated with ID phenotype were analyzed. The connection nodes (genes) of above pathways were selected, and the diagnostic value of these selected genes for ID phenotype in the study population was also evaluated. RESULTS We identified 89 de novo mutant genes, of which 34 genes were previously reported to be associated with ASD, including double hits in the EGF repeats of NOTCH1 gene (p.V999M and p.S1027L). Interestingly, of these 34 genes, 22 may directly affect intelligence quotient (IQ). Further analyses revealed that these IQ-related genes were enriched in protein synthesis, energy metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, and at least 9 genes (CACNA1A, ALG9, PALM2, MGAT4A, PCK2, PLEKHA1, PSME3, ADI1, and TLE3) were involved in all these three pathways. Seven patients who harbored these gene mutations showed a high prevalence of a low IQ score (< 70), a non-verbal language, and an early diagnostic age (< 4 years). Furthermore, our panel of these 9 genes reached a 10.2% diagnostic rate (5/49) in early diagnostic patients with a low IQ score and also reached a 10% diagnostic yield in those with both a low IQ score and non-verbal language (4/40). CONCLUSION We found some new genetic disposition for ASD accompanied with intellectual disability in this study. Our results may be helpful for etiologic research and early diagnoses of intellectual disability in ASD. Larger population studies and further mechanism studies are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Xiong Chen
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072The Assessment and Intervention Center for Autistic Children, Department of Neurology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 Guangdong China
| | - Bin Liu
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 China ,grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Department of Biobank, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, 518102 Guangdong China
| | - Lijie Zhou
- grid.412719.8Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 China
| | - Xiaoli Xiong
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 China
| | - Jie Fu
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 China
| | - Zhi-Fang Huang
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072The Assessment and Intervention Center for Autistic Children, Department of Neurology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 Guangdong China
| | - Ting Tan
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 China
| | - Mingxi Tang
- grid.488387.8Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000 Sichuan China
| | - Jun Wang
- grid.412719.8Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 China
| | - Ya-Ping Tang
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 China ,grid.412719.8Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 China ,grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080 Guangdong China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Structure of the human heterodimeric transporter 4F2hc-LAT2 in complex with Anticalin, an alternative binding protein for applications in single-particle cryo-EM. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18269. [PMID: 36310334 PMCID: PMC9618567 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23270-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryo-EM structure determination of relatively small and flexible membrane proteins at high resolution is challenging. Increasing the size and structural features by binding of high affinity proteins to the biomolecular target allows for better particle alignment and may result in structural models of higher resolution and quality. Anticalins are alternative binding proteins to antibodies, which are based on the lipocalin scaffold and show potential for theranostic applications. The human heterodimeric amino acid transporter 4F2hc-LAT2 is a membrane protein complex that mediates transport of certain amino acids and derivatives thereof across the plasma membrane. Here, we present and discuss the cryo-EM structure of human 4F2hc-LAT2 in complex with the anticalin D11vs at 3.2 Å resolution. Relative high local map resolution (2.8-3.0 Å) in the LAT2 substrate binding site together with molecular dynamics simulations indicated the presence of fixed water molecules potentially involved in shaping and stabilizing this region. Finally, the presented work expands the application portfolio of anticalins and widens the toolset of binding proteins to promote high-resolution structure solution by single-particle cryo-EM.
Collapse
|
15
|
Jersin RÅ, Jonassen LR, Dankel SN. The neutral amino acid transporter SLC7A10 in adipose tissue, obesity and insulin resistance. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:974338. [PMID: 36172277 PMCID: PMC9512047 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.974338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes represent major global health challenges, and a better mechanistic understanding of the altered metabolism in these conditions may give improved treatment strategies. SLC7A10, a member of the SLC7 subfamily of solute carriers, also named ASC-1 (alanine, serine, cysteine transporter-1), has recently been implicated as an important modulator of core processes in energy- and lipid metabolism, through its particularly high expression in adipocytes. In human cohorts, adipose SLC7A10 mRNA shows strong inverse correlations with insulin resistance, adipocyte size and components of the metabolic syndrome, strong heritability, and an association with type 2 diabetes risk alleles. SLC7A10 has been proposed as a marker of white as opposed to thermogenic beige and brown adipocytes, supported by increased formation of thermogenic beige adipocytes upon loss of Slc7a10 in mouse white preadipocytes. Overexpression of SLC7A10 in mature white adipocytes was found to lower the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and stimulate mitochondrial respiratory capacity, while SLC7A10 inhibition had the opposite effect, indicating that SLC7A10 supports a beneficial increase in mitochondrial activity in white adipocytes. Consistent with these beneficial effects, inhibition of SLC7A10 was in mouse and human white adipocyte cultures found to increase lipid accumulation, likely explained by lowered serine uptake and glutathione production. Additionally, zebrafish with partial global Slc7a10b loss-of-function were found to have greater diet-induced body weight and larger visceral adipocytes compared to controls. However, challenging that SLC7A10 exerts metabolic benefits only in white adipocytes, suppression of SLC7A10 has been reported to decrease mitochondrial respiration and expression of thermogenic genes also in some beige and brown adipocyte cultures. Taken together, the data point to an important but complex role of SLC7A10 in metabolic regulation across different adipose tissue depots and adipocyte subtypes. Further research into SLC7A10 functions in specific adipocyte subtypes may lead to new precision therapeutics for mitigating the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Regine Åsen Jersin
- Hormone Laboratory, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Mohn Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Laura Roxana Jonassen
- Hormone Laboratory, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Mohn Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Simon Nitter Dankel
- Hormone Laboratory, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Mohn Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- *Correspondence: Simon Nitter Dankel,
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Central Nervous System Metabolism in Autism, Epilepsy and Developmental Delays: A Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12050371. [PMID: 35629876 PMCID: PMC9148155 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12050371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are associated with metabolic pathway imbalances; however, most metabolic measurements are made peripherally, leaving central metabolic disturbances under-investigated. Cerebrospinal fluid obtained intraoperatively from children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, n = 34), developmental delays (DD, n = 20), and those without known DD/ASD (n = 34) was analyzed using large-scale targeted mass spectrometry. Eighteen also had epilepsy (EPI). Metabolites significantly related to ASD, DD and EPI were identified by linear models and entered into metabolite–metabolite network pathway analysis. Common disrupted pathways were analyzed for each group of interest. Central metabolites most involved in metabolic pathways were L-cysteine, adenine, and dodecanoic acid for ASD; nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, L-aspartic acid, and glycine for EPI; and adenosine triphosphate, L-glutamine, ornithine, L-arginine, L-lysine, citrulline, and L-homoserine for DD. Amino acid and energy metabolism pathways were most disrupted in all disorders, but the source of the disruption was different for each disorder. Disruption in vitamin and one-carbon metabolism was associated with DD and EPI, lipid pathway disruption was associated with EPI and redox metabolism disruption was related to ASD. Two microbiome metabolites were also detected in the CSF: shikimic and cis-cis-muconic acid. Overall, this study provides increased insight into unique metabolic disruptions in distinct but overlapping neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
|
17
|
Bifidobacterium longum CCFM1077 Ameliorated Neurotransmitter Disorder and Neuroinflammation Closely Linked to Regulation in the Kynurenine Pathway of Autistic-like Rats. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14081615. [PMID: 35458177 PMCID: PMC9031594 DOI: 10.3390/nu14081615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway (KP) is abnormal in autistic patients and model animals. According to studies on the brain–gut axis, probiotics can help ameliorate the metabolic abnormalities of the KP in patients and model animals with neurological diseases. This study was aimed at evaluating the ability of Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) CCFM077 to enhance the gut microbiome and KP metabolism and regulate the neurotransmitter levels and neuroinflammation of autistic rats. The KP metabolism of autistic rats was significantly disordered and significantly related to the regulation of neurotransmitter (excitation and inhibition) and neuroglia states. B. longum CCFM1077 could effectively alleviate autistic-like behaviours (repetitive stereotyped behaviour, learning and memory ability, and despair mood) and regulate the KP metabolism in the periphery system (gut and blood) and brain. In particular, B. longum CCFM1077 could significant regulate the quinolinic acid (QUIN) level in the brain and markedly regulate glutamic acid (Glu) and Glu/γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the brain while alleviating microglia activity in the cerebellum. Through a correlation analysis, the QUIN level in the brain was strongly related with autistic-like behaviours and neurotransmitter levels (GABA and Glu). The QUIN level may thus be a potential therapeutic marker for treating autism through the intestinal and neural pathways.
Collapse
|
18
|
A new test for autism spectrum disorder: Metabolic data from different cell types. Data Brief 2021; 39:107598. [PMID: 34877376 PMCID: PMC8633810 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Experiments employing the Phenotype Mammalian Microarray (PM-M) technology were performed on lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and age-matched controls. We used the custom-made PM-M plate designed to assess differential utilization of the amino acid tryptophan. Multiple parameters such as the sample size, incubation time, and cell concentration have been tested, leading to optimized protocols and minimized background noise by variable selection while controlling for false discoveries. The assay generated data based on the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) in the presence of different compounds containing tryptophan and showed clear differences between ASD and control samples.
Collapse
|
19
|
Structural basis for substrate specificity of heteromeric transporters of neutral amino acids. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2113573118. [PMID: 34848541 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2113573118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite having similar structures, each member of the heteromeric amino acid transporter (HAT) family shows exquisite preference for the exchange of certain amino acids. Substrate specificity determines the physiological function of each HAT and their role in human diseases. However, HAT transport preference for some amino acids over others is not yet fully understood. Using cryo-electron microscopy of apo human LAT2/CD98hc and a multidisciplinary approach, we elucidate key molecular determinants governing neutral amino acid specificity in HATs. A few residues in the substrate-binding pocket determine substrate preference. Here, we describe mutations that interconvert the substrate profiles of LAT2/CD98hc, LAT1/CD98hc, and Asc1/CD98hc. In addition, a region far from the substrate-binding pocket critically influences the conformation of the substrate-binding site and substrate preference. This region accumulates mutations that alter substrate specificity and cause hearing loss and cataracts. Here, we uncover molecular mechanisms governing substrate specificity within the HAT family of neutral amino acid transporters and provide the structural bases for mutations in LAT2/CD98hc that alter substrate specificity and that are associated with several pathologies.
Collapse
|
20
|
Cannon Homaei S, Barone H, Kleppe R, Betari N, Reif A, Haavik J. ADHD symptoms in neurometabolic diseases: Underlying mechanisms and clinical implications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:838-856. [PMID: 34774900 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Neurometabolic diseases (NMDs) are typically caused by genetic abnormalities affecting enzyme functions, which in turn interfere with normal development and activity of the nervous system. Although the individual disorders are rare, NMDs are collectively relatively common and often lead to lifelong difficulties and high societal costs. Neuropsychiatric manifestations, including ADHD symptoms, are prominent in many NMDs, also when the primary biochemical defect originates in cells and tissues outside the nervous system. ADHD symptoms have been described in phenylketonuria, tyrosinemias, alkaptonuria, succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, X-linked ichthyosis, maple syrup urine disease, and several mitochondrial disorders, but are probably present in many other NMDs and may pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Here we review current literature linking NMDs with ADHD symptoms. We cite emerging evidence that many NMDs converge on common neurochemical mechanisms that interfere with monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis, transport, metabolism, or receptor functions, mechanisms that are also considered central in ADHD pathophysiology and treatment. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic implications of these findings and propose a path forward to increase our understanding of these relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Selina Cannon Homaei
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Norway.
| | - Helene Barone
- Regional Resource Center for Autism, ADHD, Tourette Syndrome and Narcolepsy, Western Norway, Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway.
| | - Rune Kleppe
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine, Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway.
| | - Nibal Betari
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Norway.
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Jan Haavik
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Jain L, Oberman LM, Beamer L, Cascio L, May M, Srikanth S, Skinner C, Jones K, Allen B, Rogers C, Phelan K, Kaufmann WE, DuPont B, Sarasua SM, Boccuto L. Genetic and metabolic profiling of individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome presenting with seizures. Clin Genet 2021; 101:87-100. [PMID: 34664257 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) (OMIM*606232) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability, autistic features, speech delay, minor dysmorphia, and seizures. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of seizures and the association with genetic and metabolic features since there has been little research related to seizures in PMS. For 57 individuals, seizure data was collected from caregiver interviews, genetic data from existing cytogenetic records and Sanger sequencing for nine 22q13 genes, and metabolic profiling from the Phenotype Mammalian MicroArray (PM-M) developed by Biolog. Results showed that 46% of individuals had seizures with the most common type being absence and grand-mal seizures. Seizures were most prevalent in individuals with pathogenic SHANK3 mutations (70%), those with deletion sizes >4 Mb (16%), and those with deletion sizes <4 Mb (71%) suggesting involvement of genes in addition to SHANK3. Additionally, a 3 Mb genomic region on 22q13.31 containing the gene TBC1D22A, was found to be significantly associated with seizure prevalence. A distinct metabolic profile was identified for individuals with PMS with seizures and suggested among other features a disrupted utilization of main energy sources using Biolog plates. The results of this study will be helpful for clinicians and families in anticipating seizures in these children and for researchers to identify candidate genes for the seizure phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lavanya Jain
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA.,School of Nursing, Healthcare Genetics Program, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Lindsay M Oberman
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Laura Beamer
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren Cascio
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
| | - Melanie May
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
| | | | - Cindy Skinner
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
| | - Kelly Jones
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
| | - Bridgette Allen
- School of Nursing, Healthcare Genetics Program, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Curtis Rogers
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
| | - Katy Phelan
- Genetics Laboratory, Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute, Fort Myers, Florida, USA
| | - Walter E Kaufmann
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Anavex Life Sciences Corp, New York, New York, USA
| | - Barbara DuPont
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
| | - Sara M Sarasua
- School of Nursing, Healthcare Genetics Program, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Luigi Boccuto
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA.,School of Nursing, Healthcare Genetics Program, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.,Clemson University School of Health Research, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
A Proton-Coupled Transport System for β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) in Blood-Brain Barrier Endothelial Cell Line hCMEC/D3. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13093220. [PMID: 34579098 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), a leucine metabolite, is used as a nutritional ingredient to improve skeletal muscle health. Preclinical studies indicate that this supplement also elicits significant benefits in the brain; it promotes neurite outgrowth and prevents age-related reductions in neuronal dendrites and cognitive performance. As orally administered HMB elicits these effects in the brain, we infer that HMB crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, there have been no reports detailing the transport mechanism for HMB in BBB. Here we show that HMB is taken up in the human BBB endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3 via H+-coupled monocarboxylate transporters that also transport lactate and β-hydroxybutyrate. MCT1 (monocarboxylate transporter 1) and MCT4 (monocarboxylate transporter 4) belonging to the solute carrier gene family SLC16 (solute carrier, gene family 16) are involved, but additional transporters also contribute to the process. HMB uptake in BBB endothelial cells results in intracellular acidification, demonstrating cotransport with H+. Since HMB is known to activate mTOR with potential to elicit transcriptomic changes, we examined the influence of HMB on the expression of selective transporters. We found no change in MCT1 and MCT4 expression. Interestingly, the expression of LAT1 (system L amino acid transporter 1), a high-affinity transporter for branched-chain amino acids relevant to neurological disorders such as autism, is induced. This effect is dependent on mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycine) activation by HMB with no involvement of histone deacetylases. These studies show that HMB in systemic circulation can cross the BBB via carrier-mediated processes, and that it also has a positive influence on the expression of LAT1, an important amino acid transporter in the BBB.
Collapse
|
23
|
Zarate YA, Örsell JL, Bosanko K, Srikanth S, Cascio L, Pauly R, Boccuto L. Individuals with SATB2-associated syndrome with and without autism have a recognizable metabolic profile and distinctive cellular energy metabolism alterations. Metab Brain Dis 2021; 36:1049-1056. [PMID: 33661512 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-021-00706-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
SATB2-associated syndrome (SAS) is a multisystemic disorder characterized by developmental delay often with concurrent autistic tendencies. This study aimed to characterize cellular metabolic pathways and energy metabolism from cells derived from individuals with SAS. The cellular production of NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced form) as determined by the Phenotype Mammalian MicroArrays was measured in lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from 11 subjects with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of SAS and compared to a control population of 50 age-matched typically developing individuals. All patients were evaluated clinically by a multidisciplinary team. Eleven individuals (five in a screening cohort and six in the validation cohort, mean age 6.1 years) were recruited to the study. All individuals had developmental delay and the diagnosis of autism was previously established in five of them. Key metabolic findings included reduced NADH production in the presence of phosphorylated carbohydrates (with corresponding increased production in the presence of alternative carbon-based energy sources), increased response to certain hormones (β-estradiol in particular), and significantly reduced levels of NADH in wells containing tryptophan. The individual analysis revealed no particular differences among the SAS subjects based on molecular findings or phenotypic features. In conclusion, individuals with SAS have a common and recognizable metabolic profile. A lower capacity to utilize glucose as an energy substrate could be contributing to the neurodevelopment phenotype of SAS. The identified abnormalities offer previously unexplored insight into the potential pathophysiology of common SAS phenotypic features.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuri A Zarate
- Section of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children's Way; Slot 512-22, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA.
| | - Jenny-Li Örsell
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katherine Bosanko
- Section of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | | | | | - Rini Pauly
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Luigi Boccuto
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
- School of Nursing, College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Diet-induced dysbiosis of the maternal gut microbiome in early life programming of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurosci Res 2021; 168:3-19. [PMID: 33992660 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The maternal gut microbiome plays a critical role in fetal and early postnatal development, shaping fundamental processes including immune maturation and brain development, among others. Consequently, it also contributes to fetal programming of health and disease. Over the last decade, epidemiological studies and work in preclinical animal models have begun to uncover a link between dysbiosis of the maternal gut microbiome and neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Neurodevelopmental disorders are caused by both genetic and environmental factors, and their interactions; however, clinical heterogeneity, phenotypic variability, and comorbidities make identification of underlying mechanisms difficult. Among environmental factors, exposure to maternal obesity in utero confers a significant increase in risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. Obesogenic diets in humans, non-human primates, and rodents induce functional modifications in maternal gut microbiome composition, which animal studies suggest are causally related to adverse mental health outcomes in offspring. Here, we review evidence linking maternal diet-induced gut dysbiosis to neurodevelopmental disorders and discuss how it could affect pre- and early postnatal brain development. We are hopeful that this burgeoning field of research will revolutionize antenatal care by leading to accessible prophylactic strategies, such as prenatal probiotics, to improve mental health outcomes in children affected by maternal diet-induced obesity.
Collapse
|
25
|
Fitzgerald E, Roberts J, Tennant DA, Boardman JP, Drake AJ. Metabolic adaptations to hypoxia in the neonatal mouse forebrain can occur independently of the transporters SLC7A5 and SLC3A2. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9092. [PMID: 33907288 PMCID: PMC8079390 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88757-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Neonatal encephalopathy due to hypoxia-ischemia is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental effects. The involvement of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) in this is largely unexplored. Transport of BCAAs at the plasma membrane is facilitated by SLC7A5/SLC3A2, which increase with hypoxia. We hypothesized that hypoxia would alter BCAA transport and metabolism in the neonatal brain. We investigated this using an organotypic forebrain slice culture model with, the SLC7A5/SLC3A2 inhibitor, 2-Amino-2-norbornanecarboxylic acid (BCH) under normoxic or hypoxic conditions. We subsequently analysed the metabolome and candidate gene expression. Hypoxia was associated with increased expression of SLC7A5 and SLC3A2 and an increased tissue abundance of BCAAs. Incubation of slices with 13C-leucine confirmed that this was due to increased cellular uptake. BCH had little effect on metabolite abundance under normoxic or hypoxic conditions. This suggests hypoxia drives increased cellular uptake of BCAAs in the neonatal mouse forebrain, and membrane mediated transport through SLC7A5 and SLC3A2 is not essential for this process. This indicates mechanisms exist to generate the compounds required to maintain essential metabolism in the absence of external nutrient supply. Moreover, excess BCAAs have been associated with developmental delay, providing an unexplored mechanism of hypoxia mediated pathogenesis in the developing forebrain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eamon Fitzgerald
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK.
| | - Jennie Roberts
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Daniel A Tennant
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - James P Boardman
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Amanda J Drake
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Indika NLR, Deutz NEP, Engelen MPKJ, Peiris H, Wijetunge S, Perera R. Sulfur amino acid metabolism and related metabotypes of autism spectrum disorder: A review of biochemical evidence for a hypothesis. Biochimie 2021; 184:143-157. [PMID: 33675854 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
There are multiple lines of evidence for an impaired sulfur amino acid (SAA) metabolism in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For instance, the concentrations of methionine, cysteine and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) in body fluids of individuals with ASD is significantly lower while the concentration of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) is significantly higher as compared to healthy individuals. Reduced methionine and SAM may reflect impaired remethylation pathway whereas increased SAH may reflect reduced S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase activity in the catabolic direction. Reduced SAM/SAH ratio reflects an impaired methylation capacity. We hypothesize multiple mechanisms to explain how the interplay of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mercury exposure, maternal use of valproate, altered gut microbiome and certain genetic variants may lead to these SAA metabotypes. Furthermore, we also propose a number of mechanisms to explain the metabolic consequences of abnormal SAA metabotypes. For instance in the brain, reduced SAM/SAH ratio will result in melatonin deficiency and hypomethylation of a number of biomolecules such as DNA, RNA and histones. In addition to previously proposed mechanisms, we propose that impaired activity of "radical SAM" enzymes will result in reduced endogenous lipoic acid synthesis, reduced molybdenum cofactor synthesis and impaired porphyrin metabolism leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, porphyrinuria and impaired sulfation capacity. Furthermore depletion of SAM may also lead to the disturbed mTOR signaling pathway in a subgroup of ASD. The proposed "SAM-depletion hypothesis" is an inclusive model to explain the relationship between heterogeneous risk factors and metabotypes observed in a subset of children with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neluwa-Liyanage R Indika
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
| | - Nicolaas E P Deutz
- Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity, Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Marielle P K J Engelen
- Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity, Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Hemantha Peiris
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Swarna Wijetunge
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka
| | - Rasika Perera
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Fairweather SJ, Shah N, Brӧer S. Heteromeric Solute Carriers: Function, Structure, Pathology and Pharmacology. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 21:13-127. [PMID: 33052588 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2020_584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Solute carriers form one of three major superfamilies of membrane transporters in humans, and include uniporters, exchangers and symporters. Following several decades of molecular characterisation, multiple solute carriers that form obligatory heteromers with unrelated subunits are emerging as a distinctive principle of membrane transporter assembly. Here we comprehensively review experimentally established heteromeric solute carriers: SLC3-SLC7 amino acid exchangers, SLC16 monocarboxylate/H+ symporters and basigin/embigin, SLC4A1 (AE1) and glycophorin A exchanger, SLC51 heteromer Ost α-Ost β uniporter, and SLC6 heteromeric symporters. The review covers the history of the heteromer discovery, transporter physiology, structure, disease associations and pharmacology - all with a focus on the heteromeric assembly. The cellular locations, requirements for complex formation, and the functional role of dimerization are extensively detailed, including analysis of the first complete heteromer structures, the SLC7-SLC3 family transporters LAT1-4F2hc, b0,+AT-rBAT and the SLC6 family heteromer B0AT1-ACE2. We present a systematic analysis of the structural and functional aspects of heteromeric solute carriers and conclude with common principles of their functional roles and structural architecture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Fairweather
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. .,Resarch School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - Nishank Shah
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Stefan Brӧer
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Errasti-Murugarren E, Palacín M. Heteromeric Amino Acid Transporters in Brain: from Physiology to Pathology. Neurochem Res 2021; 47:23-36. [PMID: 33606172 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03261-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In humans, more than 50 transporters are responsible for the traffic and balance of amino acids within and between cells and tissues, and half of them have been associated with disease [1]. Covering all common amino acids, Heteromeric Amino acid Transporters (HATs) are one class of such transporters. This review first highlights structural and functional studies that solved the atomic structure of HATs and revealed molecular clues on substrate interaction. Moreover, this review focuses on HATs that have a role in the central nervous system (CNS) and that are related to neurological diseases, including: (i) LAT1/CD98hc and its role in the uptake of branched chain amino acids trough the blood brain barrier and autism. (ii) LAT2/CD98hc and its potential role in the transport of glutamine between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. (iii) y+LAT2/CD98hc that is emerging as a key player in hepatic encephalopathy. xCT/CD98hc as a potential therapeutic target in glioblastoma, and (iv) Asc-1/CD98hc as a potential therapeutic target in pathologies with alterations in NMDA glutamate receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ekaitz Errasti-Murugarren
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine. Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Manuel Palacín
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine. Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 08028, Barcelona, Spain. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Schenkel LC, Aref-Eshghi E, Rooney K, Kerkhof J, Levy MA, McConkey H, Rogers RC, Phelan K, Sarasua SM, Jain L, Pauly R, Boccuto L, DuPont B, Cappuccio G, Brunetti-Pierri N, Schwartz CE, Sadikovic B. DNA methylation epi-signature is associated with two molecularly and phenotypically distinct clinical subtypes of Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:2. [PMID: 33407854 PMCID: PMC7789817 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00990-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Phelan-McDermid syndrome is characterized by a range of neurodevelopmental phenotypes with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. It is caused by a variable size and breakpoint microdeletions in the distal long arm of chromosome 22, referred to as 22q13.3 deletion syndrome, including the SHANK3 gene. Genetic defects in a growing number of neurodevelopmental genes have been shown to cause genome-wide disruptions in epigenomic profiles referred to as epi-signatures in affected individuals. Results In this study we assessed genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in a cohort of 22 individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome, including 11 individuals with large (2 to 5.8 Mb) 22q13.3 deletions, 10 with small deletions (< 1 Mb) or intragenic variants in SHANK3 and one mosaic case. We describe a novel genome-wide DNA methylation epi-signature in a subset of individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Conclusion We identified the critical region including the BRD1 gene as responsible for the Phelan-McDermid syndrome epi-signature. Metabolomic profiles of individuals with the DNA methylation epi-signature showed significantly different metabolomic profiles indicating evidence of two molecularly and phenotypically distinct clinical subtypes of Phelan-McDermid syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L C Schenkel
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, N6A5W9, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, N6A3K7, Canada
| | - E Aref-Eshghi
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, N6A5W9, Canada
| | - K Rooney
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, N6A5W9, Canada
| | - J Kerkhof
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, N6A5W9, Canada
| | - M A Levy
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, N6A5W9, Canada
| | - H McConkey
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, N6A5W9, Canada
| | - R C Rogers
- Greenville Office, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA
| | - K Phelan
- Genetics Laboratory, Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute, Fort Myers, FL, 33816, USA
| | | | - L Jain
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA.,Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - R Pauly
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA
| | - L Boccuto
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA.,Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - B DuPont
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA
| | - G Cappuccio
- Department of Translational Medicine, University Federico II, 80131, Naples, NA, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - N Brunetti-Pierri
- Department of Translational Medicine, University Federico II, 80131, Naples, NA, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - C E Schwartz
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA.
| | - B Sadikovic
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, N6A5W9, Canada. .,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, N6A3K7, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Brain Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Maple Syrup Urine Disease: Implications for Neurological Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207490. [PMID: 33050626 PMCID: PMC7590055 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by decreased activity of the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex (BCKDC), which catalyzes the irreversible catabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Current management of this BCAA dyshomeostasis consists of dietary restriction of BCAAs and liver transplantation, which aims to partially restore functional BCKDC activity in the periphery. These treatments improve the circulating levels of BCAAs and significantly increase survival rates in MSUD patients. However, significant cognitive and psychiatric morbidities remain. Specifically, patients are at a higher lifetime risk for cognitive impairments, mood and anxiety disorders (depression, anxiety, and panic disorder), and attention deficit disorder. Recent literature suggests that the neurological sequelae may be due to the brain-specific roles of BCAAs. This review will focus on the derangements of BCAAs observed in the brain of MSUD patients and will explore the potential mechanisms driving neurologic dysfunction. Finally, we will discuss recent evidence that implicates the relevance of BCAA metabolism in other neurological disorders. An understanding of the role of BCAAs in the central nervous system may facilitate future identification of novel therapeutic approaches in MSUD and a broad range of neurological disorders.
Collapse
|
31
|
Analyzing the Potential Biological Determinants of Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Neuroinflammation to the Kynurenine Pathway. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10090631. [PMID: 32932826 PMCID: PMC7563403 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10090631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) etiopathogenesis is still unclear and no effective preventive and treatment measures have been identified. Research has focused on the potential role of neuroinflammation and the Kynurenine pathway; here we review the nature of these interactions. Pre-natal or neonatal infections would induce microglial activation, with secondary consequences on behavior, cognition and neurotransmitter networks. Peripherally, higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-brain antibodies have been identified. Increased frequency of autoimmune diseases, allergies, and recurring infections have been demonstrated both in autistic patients and in their relatives. Genetic studies have also identified some important polymorphisms in chromosome loci related to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. The persistence of immune-inflammatory deregulation would lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, creating a self-sustaining cytotoxic loop. Chronic inflammation activates the Kynurenine pathway with an increase in neurotoxic metabolites and excitotoxicity, causing long-term changes in the glutamatergic system, trophic support and synaptic function. Furthermore, overactivation of the Kynurenine branch induces depletion of melatonin and serotonin, worsening ASD symptoms. Thus, in genetically predisposed subjects, aberrant neurodevelopment may derive from a complex interplay between inflammatory processes, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and Kynurenine pathway overexpression. To validate this hypothesis a new translational research approach is necessary.
Collapse
|
32
|
Scalise M, Console L, Rovella F, Galluccio M, Pochini L, Indiveri C. Membrane Transporters for Amino Acids as Players of Cancer Metabolic Rewiring. Cells 2020; 9:cells9092028. [PMID: 32899180 PMCID: PMC7565710 DOI: 10.3390/cells9092028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells perform a metabolic rewiring to sustain an increased growth rate and compensate for the redox stress caused by augmented energy metabolism. The metabolic changes are not the same in all cancers. Some features, however, are considered hallmarks of this disease. As an example, all cancer cells rewire the amino acid metabolism for fulfilling both the energy demand and the changed signaling routes. In these altered conditions, some amino acids are more frequently used than others. In any case, the prerequisite for amino acid utilization is the presence of specific transporters in the cell membrane that can guarantee the absorption and the traffic of amino acids among tissues. Tumor cells preferentially use some of these transporters for satisfying their needs. The evidence for this phenomenon is the over-expression of selected transporters, associated with specific cancer types. The knowledge of the link between the over-expression and the metabolic rewiring is crucial for understanding the molecular mechanism of reprogramming in cancer cells. The continuous growth of information on structure-function relationships and the regulation of transporters will open novel perspectives in the fight against human cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariafrancesca Scalise
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia, Scienze della Terra), University of Calabria, Via Bucci 4C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (M.S.); (L.C.); (F.R.); (M.G.); (L.P.)
| | - Lara Console
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia, Scienze della Terra), University of Calabria, Via Bucci 4C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (M.S.); (L.C.); (F.R.); (M.G.); (L.P.)
| | - Filomena Rovella
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia, Scienze della Terra), University of Calabria, Via Bucci 4C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (M.S.); (L.C.); (F.R.); (M.G.); (L.P.)
| | - Michele Galluccio
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia, Scienze della Terra), University of Calabria, Via Bucci 4C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (M.S.); (L.C.); (F.R.); (M.G.); (L.P.)
| | - Lorena Pochini
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia, Scienze della Terra), University of Calabria, Via Bucci 4C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (M.S.); (L.C.); (F.R.); (M.G.); (L.P.)
| | - Cesare Indiveri
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia, Scienze della Terra), University of Calabria, Via Bucci 4C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (M.S.); (L.C.); (F.R.); (M.G.); (L.P.)
- CNR Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (IBIOM) via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-09-8449-2939
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Alles SR, Gomez K, Moutal A, Khanna R. Putative roles of SLC7A5 (LAT1) transporter in pain. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2020; 8:100050. [PMID: 32715162 PMCID: PMC7369351 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2020.100050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Large amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), also known as SLC7A5, is an essential amino acid transporter that forms a heterodimeric complex with the glycoprotein cell-surface antigen heavy chain (4F2hc (CD98, SLC3A2)). Within nociceptive pathways, LAT1 is expressed in the dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord. Although LAT1 expression is upregulated following spinal cord injury, little is known about LAT1 in neuropathic pain. To date, only circumstantial evidence supports LAT1/4F2hc's role in pain. Notably, LAT1's expression and regulation link it to key cell types and pathways implicated in pain. Transcriptional regulation of LAT1 expression occurs via the Wnt/frizzled/β-catenin signal transduction pathway, which has been shown to be involved in chronic pain. The LAT1/4F2hc complex may also be involved in pain pathways related to T- and B-cells. LAT1's expression induces activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling axis, which is involved in inflammation and neuropathic pain. Similarly, hypoxia and cancer induce activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha, promoting not only LAT1's expression but also mTORC1's activation. Perhaps the strongest evidence linking LAT1 to pain is its interactions with key voltage-gated ion channels connected to nociception, namely the voltage-gated potassium channels Kv1.1 and Kv1.2 and the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7. Through functional regulation of these channels, LAT1 may play a role in governing the excitatory to inhibitory ratio which is altered in chronic neuropathic pain states. Remarkably, the most direct role for LAT1 in pain is to mediate the influx of gabapentin and pregabalin, two first-line neuropathic pain drugs, that indirectly inhibit high voltage-activated calcium channel auxiliary subunit α2δ-1. In this review, we discuss the expression, regulation, relevant signaling pathways, and protein interactions of LAT1 that may link it to the development and/or maintenance of pain. We hypothesize that LAT1 expressed in nociceptive pathways may be a viable new target in pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sascha R.A. Alles
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, United States
| | - Kimberly Gomez
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, United States
| | - Aubin Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, United States
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, 1657 East Helen Street Tucson, AZ 85719, United States
- Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
- Regulonix Holding Inc., Tucson, AZ, United States
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Abstract
Knowledge about the transport of active compounds across the blood-brain barrier is of essential importance for drug development. Systemically applied drugs for the central nervous system (CNS) must be able to cross the blood-brain barrier in order to reach their target sites, whereas drugs that are supposed to act in the periphery should not permeate the blood-brain barrier so that they do not trigger any adverse central adverse effects. A number of approaches have been pursued, and manifold in silico, in vitro, and in vivo animal models were developed in order to be able to make a better prediction for humans about the possible penetration of active substances into the CNS. In this particular case, however, in vitro models play a special role, since the data basis for in silico models is usually in need of improvement, and the predictive power of in vivo animal models has to be checked for possible species differences. The blood-brain barrier is a dynamic, highly selective barrier formed by brain capillary endothelial cells. One of its main tasks is the maintenance of homeostasis in the CNS. The function of the barrier is regulated by cells of the microenvironment and the shear stress mediated by the blood flow, which makes the model development most complex. In general, one could follow the credo "as easy as possible, as complex as necessary" for the usage of in vitro BBB models for drug development. In addition to the description of the classical cell culture models (transwell, hollow fiber) and guidance how to apply them, the latest developments (spheroids, microfluidic models) will be introduced in this chapter, as it is attempted to get more in vivo-like and to be applicable for high-throughput usage with these models. Moreover, details about the development of models based on stem cells derived from different sources with a special focus on human induced pluripotent stem cells are presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Winfried Neuhaus
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center Health and Bioresources, AIT - Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Yahyaoui R, Pérez-Frías J. Amino Acid Transport Defects in Human Inherited Metabolic Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010119. [PMID: 31878022 PMCID: PMC6981491 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Amino acid transporters play very important roles in nutrient uptake, neurotransmitter recycling, protein synthesis, gene expression, cell redox balance, cell signaling, and regulation of cell volume. With regard to transporters that are closely connected to metabolism, amino acid transporter-associated diseases are linked to metabolic disorders, particularly when they involve different organs, cell types, or cell compartments. To date, 65 different human solute carrier (SLC) families and more than 400 transporter genes have been identified, including 11 that are known to include amino acid transporters. This review intends to summarize and update all the conditions in which a strong association has been found between an amino acid transporter and an inherited metabolic disorder. Many of these inherited disorders have been identified in recent years. In this work, the physiological functions of amino acid transporters will be described by the inherited diseases that arise from transporter impairment. The pathogenesis, clinical phenotype, laboratory findings, diagnosis, genetics, and treatment of these disorders are also briefly described. Appropriate clinical and diagnostic characterization of the underlying molecular defect may give patients the opportunity to avail themselves of appropriate therapeutic options in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Yahyaoui
- Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders and Newborn Screening Center of Eastern Andalusia, Málaga Regional University Hospital, 29011 Málaga, Spain
- Grupo Endocrinología y Nutrición, Diabetes y Obesidad, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, 29010 Málaga, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Javier Pérez-Frías
- Grupo Multidisciplinar de Investigación Pediátrica, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, 29010 Málaga, Spain;
- Departamento de Farmacología y Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Cascio L, Chen CF, Pauly R, Srikanth S, Jones K, Skinner CD, Stevenson RE, Schwartz CE, Boccuto L. Abnormalities in the genes that encode Large Amino Acid Transporters increase the risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2019; 8:e1036. [PMID: 31701662 PMCID: PMC6978257 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder whose molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Several studies have shown an association between ASD and abnormalities in the metabolism of amino acids, specifically tryptophan and branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs). Methods Ninety‐seven patients with ASD were screened by Sanger sequencing the genes encoding the heavy (SLC3A2) and light subunits (SLC7A5 and SLC7A8) of the large amino acid transporters (LAT) 1 and 2. LAT1 and 2 are responsible for the transportation of tryptophan and BCAA across the blood–brain barrier and are expressed both in blood and brain. Functional studies were performed employing the Biolog Phenotype Microarray Mammalian (PM‐M) technology to investigate the metabolic profiling in lymphoblastoid cell lines from 43 patients with ASD and 50 controls with particular focus on the amino acid substrates of LATs. Results We detected nine likely pathogenic variants in 11 of 97 patients (11.3%): three in SLC3A2, three in SLC7A5, and three in SLC7A8. Six variants of unknown significance were detected in eight patients, two of which also carrying a likely pathogenic variant. The functional studies showed a consistently reduced utilization of tryptophan, accompanied by evidence of reduced utilization of other large aromatic amino acids (LAAs), either alone or as part of a dipeptide. Conclusion Coding variants in the LAT genes were detected in 17 of 97 patients with ASD (17.5%). Metabolic assays indicate that such abnormalities affect the utilization of certain amino acids, particularly tryptophan and other LAAs, with potential consequences on their transport across the blood barrier and their availability during brain development. Therefore, abnormalities in the LAT1 and two transporters are likely associated with an increased risk of developing ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Cascio
- JC Self research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Chin-Fu Chen
- JC Self research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Rini Pauly
- JC Self research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Sujata Srikanth
- JC Self research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Kelly Jones
- JC Self research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Cindy D Skinner
- JC Self research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Roger E Stevenson
- JC Self research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Charles E Schwartz
- JC Self research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Luigi Boccuto
- JC Self research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
| |
Collapse
|