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Izquierdo-Luengo C, Ponce-Renilla M, Ten-Blanco M, Arnanz MA, Tolón RM, Pereda-Pérez I, Berrendero F. Long-term consequences of adolescent exposure to the synthetic cannabinoid AB-FUBINACA in male and female mice. iScience 2025; 28:111857. [PMID: 39991544 PMCID: PMC11847088 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.111857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2024] [Revised: 12/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2025] [Indexed: 02/25/2025] Open
Abstract
The consumption of synthetic cannabinoids during adolescence is reported to be a risk factor for the appearance of psychiatric disorders later in life. AB-FUBINACA is a member of the indazole carboxamide family of synthetic cannabinoids present in Spice/K2 preparations. The present study sought to investigate the long-term effects of AB-FUBINACA consumption during adolescence in both male and female mice. AB-FUBINACA revealed several sex-dependent behavioral alterations. In this sense, the administration of this synthetic cannabinoid in female, but not male, mice induced psychotic-like symptoms which were associated with changes in dendritic arborization and density of mature dendritic spines in pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex, as well as with an up-regulation of differentially expressed genes in this brain area. This study helps to clarify the potential late detrimental effects of this potent synthetic cannabinoid that may derive from its use during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Izquierdo-Luengo
- Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Ponce-Renilla
- Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marc Ten-Blanco
- Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Andrea Arnanz
- Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa María Tolón
- Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Pereda-Pérez
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Complutense, 28224 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Berrendero
- Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
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Nishikawa M, Hayashi S, Nakayama A, Nishio Y, Shiraki A, Ito H, Maruyama K, Muramatsu Y, Ogi T, Mizuno S, Nagata KI. Pathophysiological significance of the p.E31G variant in RAC1 responsible for a neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2025; 1871:167520. [PMID: 39307291 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167520] [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: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
RAC1 encodes a Rho family small GTPase that regulates actin cytoskeletal reorganization and intracellular signaling pathways. Pathogenic RAC1 variants lead to a neurodevelopmental disorder with diverse phenotypic manifestations, including abnormalities in brain size and facial dysmorphism. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. Here, we present the case of a school-aged male who exhibited global developmental delay, intellectual disability, and acquired microcephaly. Through whole exome sequencing, we identified a novel de novo variant in RAC1, (NM_006908.5): c.92 A > G,p.(E31G). We then examined the pathophysiological significance of the p.E31G variant by focusing on brain development. Biochemical analyses revealed that the recombinant RAC1-E31G had no discernible impact on the intrinsic GDP/GTP exchange activity. However, it exhibited a slight inhibitory effect on GTP hydrolysis. Conversely, it demonstrated a typical response to both a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor and a GTPase-activating protein. In transient expression analyses using COS7 cells, RAC1-E31G exhibited minimal interaction with the downstream effector PAK1, even in its GTP-bound state. Additionally, overexpression of RAC1-E31G was observed to exert a weak inhibitory effect on the differentiation of primary cultured hippocampal neurons. Moreover, in vivo studies employing in utero electroporation revealed that acute expression of RAC1-E31G resulted in impairments in axonal elongation and dendritic arborization in the young adult stage. These findings suggest that the p.E31G variant functions as a dominant-negative version in the PAK1-mediated signaling pathway and is responsible for the clinical features observed in the patient under investigation, namely microcephaly and intellectual disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Nishikawa
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, 713-8 Kamiya, Kasugai 480-0392, Japan
| | - Shin Hayashi
- Department of Genetics, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, 713-8 Kamiya, Kasugai 480-0392, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nakayama
- Department of Pediatrics, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, 3-35 Michishita-cho, Nagoya 453-8511, Japan
| | - Yosuke Nishio
- Department of Genetics, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Furo-Cho, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Anna Shiraki
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Hidenori Ito
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, 713-8 Kamiya, Kasugai 480-0392, Japan
| | - Kouichi Maruyama
- Central Hospital, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, 713-8 Kamiya, Kasugai 480-0392, Japan
| | - Yukako Muramatsu
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Tomoo Ogi
- Department of Genetics, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Furo-Cho, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Seiji Mizuno
- Central Hospital, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, 713-8 Kamiya, Kasugai 480-0392, Japan
| | - Koh-Ichi Nagata
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, 713-8 Kamiya, Kasugai 480-0392, Japan; Department of Neurochemistry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
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Nishikawa M, Ito H, Tabata H, Ueda H, Nagata KI. Impaired Function of PLEKHG2, a Rho-Guanine Nucleotide-Exchange Factor, Disrupts Corticogenesis in Neurodevelopmental Phenotypes. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040696. [PMID: 35203342 PMCID: PMC8870177 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Homozygosity of the p.Arg204Trp variation in the Pleckstrin homology and RhoGEF domain containing G2 (PLEKHG2) gene, which encodes a Rho family-specific guanine nucleotide-exchange factor, is responsible for microcephaly with intellectual disability. However, the role of PLEKHG2 during neurodevelopment remains unknown. In this study, we analyzed mouse Plekhg2 function during cortical development, both in vitro and in vivo. The p.Arg200Trp variant in mouse (Plekhg2-RW), which corresponds to the p.Arg204Trp variant in humans, showed decreased guanine nucleotide-exchange activity for Rac1, Rac3, and Cdc42. Acute knockdown of Plekhg2 using in utero electroporation-mediated gene transfer did not affect the migration of excitatory neurons during corticogenesis. On the other hand, silencing Plekhg2 expression delayed dendritic arbor formation at postnatal day 7 (P7), perhaps because of impaired Rac/Cdc42 and p21-activated kinase 1 signaling pathways. This phenotype was rescued by expressing an RNAi-resistant version of wildtype Plekhg2, but not of Plekhg2-RW. Axon pathfinding was also impaired in vitro and in vivo in Plekhg2-deficient cortical neurons. At P14, knockdown of Plekhg2 was observed to cause defects in dendritic spine morphology formation. Collectively, these results strongly suggest that PLEKHG2 has essential roles in the maturation of axon, dendrites, and spines. Moreover, impairment of PLEKHG2 function is most likely to cause defects in neuronal functions that lead to neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Nishikawa
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, 713-8 Kamiya, Kasugai 480-0392, Japan; (M.N.); (H.I.); (H.T.)
| | - Hidenori Ito
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, 713-8 Kamiya, Kasugai 480-0392, Japan; (M.N.); (H.I.); (H.T.)
| | - Hidenori Tabata
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, 713-8 Kamiya, Kasugai 480-0392, Japan; (M.N.); (H.I.); (H.T.)
| | - Hiroshi Ueda
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu 501-1193, Japan;
| | - Koh-ichi Nagata
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, 713-8 Kamiya, Kasugai 480-0392, Japan; (M.N.); (H.I.); (H.T.)
- Department of Neurochemistry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-568-88-0811
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Mitani T, Isikay S, Gezdirici A, Gulec EY, Punetha J, Fatih JM, Herman I, Akay G, Du H, Calame DG, Ayaz A, Tos T, Yesil G, Aydin H, Geckinli B, Elcioglu N, Candan S, Sezer O, Erdem HB, Gul D, Demiral E, Elmas M, Yesilbas O, Kilic B, Gungor S, Ceylan AC, Bozdogan S, Ozalp O, Cicek S, Aslan H, Yalcintepe S, Topcu V, Bayram Y, Grochowski CM, Jolly A, Dawood M, Duan R, Jhangiani SN, Doddapaneni H, Hu J, Muzny DM, Marafi D, Akdemir ZC, Karaca E, Carvalho CMB, Gibbs RA, Posey JE, Lupski JR, Pehlivan D. High prevalence of multilocus pathogenic variation in neurodevelopmental disorders in the Turkish population. Am J Hum Genet 2021; 108:1981-2005. [PMID: 34582790 PMCID: PMC8546040 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are clinically and genetically heterogenous; many such disorders are secondary to perturbation in brain development and/or function. The prevalence of NDDs is > 3%, resulting in significant sociocultural and economic challenges to society. With recent advances in family-based genomics, rare-variant analyses, and further exploration of the Clan Genomics hypothesis, there has been a logarithmic explosion in neurogenetic "disease-associated genes" molecular etiology and biology of NDDs; however, the majority of NDDs remain molecularly undiagnosed. We applied genome-wide screening technologies, including exome sequencing (ES) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS), to identify the molecular etiology of 234 newly enrolled subjects and 20 previously unsolved Turkish NDD families. In 176 of the 234 studied families (75.2%), a plausible and genetically parsimonious molecular etiology was identified. Out of 176 solved families, deleterious variants were identified in 218 distinct genes, further documenting the enormous genetic heterogeneity and diverse perturbations in human biology underlying NDDs. We propose 86 candidate disease-trait-associated genes for an NDD phenotype. Importantly, on the basis of objective and internally established variant prioritization criteria, we identified 51 families (51/176 = 28.9%) with multilocus pathogenic variation (MPV), mostly driven by runs of homozygosity (ROHs) - reflecting genomic segments/haplotypes that are identical-by-descent. Furthermore, with the use of additional bioinformatic tools and expansion of ES to additional family members, we established a molecular diagnosis in 5 out of 20 families (25%) who remained undiagnosed in our previously studied NDD cohort emanating from Turkey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadahiro Mitani
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sedat Isikay
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep 27310, Turkey
| | - Alper Gezdirici
- Department of Medical Genetics, Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul 34480, Turkey
| | - Elif Yilmaz Gulec
- Department of Medical Genetics, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, 34303 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Jaya Punetha
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jawid M Fatih
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Isabella Herman
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gulsen Akay
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Haowei Du
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Daniel G Calame
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Akif Ayaz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana 01170, Turkey; Departments of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul 34810, Turkey
| | - Tulay Tos
- University of Health Sciences Zubeyde Hanim Research and Training Hospital of Women's Health and Diseases, Department of Medical Genetics, Ankara 06080, Turkey
| | - Gozde Yesil
- Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, Istanbul University, Istanbul 34093, Turkey
| | - Hatip Aydin
- Centre of Genetics Diagnosis, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; Private Reyap Istanbul Hospital, Istanbul 34515, Turkey
| | - Bilgen Geckinli
- Centre of Genetics Diagnosis, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul 34722, Turkey
| | - Nursel Elcioglu
- Department of Pediatric Genetics, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul 34722, Turkey; Eastern Mediterranean University Medical School, Magosa, Mersin 10, Turkey
| | - Sukru Candan
- Medical Genetics Section, Balikesir Ataturk Public Hospital, Balikesir 10100, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Sezer
- Department of Medical Genetics, Samsun Education and Research Hospital, Samsun 55100, Turkey
| | - Haktan Bagis Erdem
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Health Sciences, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara 06110, Turkey
| | - Davut Gul
- Department of Medical Genetics, Gulhane Military Medical School, Ankara 06010, Turkey
| | - Emine Demiral
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Inonu, Malatya 44280, Turkey
| | - Muhsin Elmas
- Department of Medical Genetics, Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Afyon 03218, Turkey
| | - Osman Yesilbas
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Bezmialem Foundation University, Istanbul 34093, Turkey; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Betul Kilic
- Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya 34218, Turkey
| | - Serdal Gungor
- Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya 34218, Turkey
| | - Ahmet C Ceylan
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara 06110, Turkey
| | - Sevcan Bozdogan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana 01330, Turkey
| | - Ozge Ozalp
- Department of Medical Genetics, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana 01170, Turkey
| | - Salih Cicek
- Department of Medical Genetics, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya 42250, Turkey
| | - Huseyin Aslan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana 01170, Turkey
| | - Sinem Yalcintepe
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne 22130, Turkey
| | - Vehap Topcu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Yavuz Bayram
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Angad Jolly
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Moez Dawood
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ruizhi Duan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shalini N Jhangiani
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Harsha Doddapaneni
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jianhong Hu
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Donna M Muzny
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dana Marafi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zeynep Coban Akdemir
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ender Karaca
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Claudia M B Carvalho
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Richard A Gibbs
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jennifer E Posey
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - James R Lupski
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Davut Pehlivan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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