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Sex-Related Changes in the Clinical, Genetic, Electrophysiological, Connectivity, and Molecular Presentations of ASD: A Comparison between Human and Animal Models of ASD with Reference to Our Data. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043287. [PMID: 36834699 PMCID: PMC9965966 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is genetic, environmental, and epigenetic. In addition to sex differences in the prevalence of ASD, which is 3-4 times more common in males, there are also distinct clinical, molecular, electrophysiological, and pathophysiological differences between sexes. In human, males with ASD have more externalizing problems (i.e., attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), more severe communication and social problems, as well as repetitive movements. Females with ASD generally exhibit fewer severe communication problems, less repetitive and stereotyped behavior, but more internalizing problems, such as depression and anxiety. Females need a higher load of genetic changes related to ASD compared to males. There are also sex differences in brain structure, connectivity, and electrophysiology. Genetic or non-genetic experimental animal models of ASD-like behavior, when studied for sex differences, showed some neurobehavioral and electrophysiological differences between male and female animals depending on the specific model. We previously carried out studies on behavioral and molecular differences between male and female mice treated with valproic acid, either prenatally or early postnatally, that exhibited ASD-like behavior and found distinct differences between the sexes, the female mice performing better on tests measuring social interaction and undergoing changes in the expression of more genes in the brain compared to males. Interestingly, co-administration of S-adenosylmethionine alleviated the ASD-like behavioral symptoms and the gene-expression changes to the same extent in both sexes. The mechanisms underlying the sex differences are not yet fully understood.
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Ding H, Zhong Y, Liu N, Wu H, Xu H, Wu Y, Liu G, Yuan S, Zhou Q, Wang C. Panic disorder aging characteristics: The role of telomerase reverse transcriptase gene and brain function. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:835963. [PMID: 35992589 PMCID: PMC9389410 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.835963] [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: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Panic disorder (PD) causes serious functional damage and disability and accelerates the process of individual aging. The pathological basis of PD is the same as that of age-related diseases, which is proposed as a new viewpoint in recent years. Memory decline and social functional impairment are common manifestations of accelerated aging in PD. The function of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomere length (TL) is abnormal in patients with aging and PD. However, the molecular mechanism behind remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between TERT gene expression (including DNA methylation) and the changes in PD aging characteristics (memory and social function). By TERT gene knockout mice, we found that loss of TERT attenuated the acquisition of recent fear memory during contextual fear conditioning. This study reported that a significantly lower methylation level of human TERT (hTERT) gene was detected in PD patients compared with healthy control and particularly decreased CpG methylation in the promoter region of hTERT was associated with the clinical characteristics in PD. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis showed that the methylation of hTERT (cg1295648) influenced social function of PD patients through moderating the function of the left postcentral gyrus (PCG). This indicates that the hTERT gene may play an important role in the pathological basis of PD aging and may become a biological marker for evaluating PD aging. These findings provide multidimensional evidence for the underlying genetic and pathological mechanisms of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huachen Ding
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan Zhong
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Na Liu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huiqin Wu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huazhen Xu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Wu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shiting Yuan
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qigang Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Qigang Zhou,
| | - Chun Wang
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Chun Wang,
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Macek P, Wieckiewicz M, Poreba R, Gac P, Bogunia-Kubik K, Dratwa M, Wojakowska A, Mazur G, Martynowicz H. Assessment of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Sleep Bruxism. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11030525. [PMID: 35159976 PMCID: PMC8836512 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11030525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Sleep bruxism (SB) is a widespread masticatory muscle activity during sleep and affects approximately 13.2% of the general population. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) plays a role in preventing the shortening of the telomere. This prospective, observational study aimed to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of TERT and the severity of SB and to identify the independent risk factors for SB. Methods: A total of 112 patients were diagnosed by performing one-night polysomnography based on the guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. TERT SNP was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: Statistical analysis showed the lack of relationship between the rs2853669 polymorphism of TERT and severity of SB (p > 0.05). However, the study showed that patients with allele T in the 2736100 polymorphism of TERT had a lower score on the phasic bruxism episode index (BEI). Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the value of phasic BEI was 0.8 for the differential prediction for the presence of allele T in the locus. The sensitivity and specificity were 0.328 and 0.893, respectively. The regression analysis showed that lack of TERT rs2736100 T allele, male gender, and arterial hypertension are the risk factors for the higher value of phasic BEI. Conclusion: The SNP of the TERT gene affects phasic SB intensity. The absence of TERT rs2736100 T allele, male sex, and arterial hypertension are independent risk factors for phasic SB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Macek
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.M.); (R.P.); (A.W.); (G.M.); (H.M.)
| | - Mieszko Wieckiewicz
- Department of Experimental Dentistry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-425 Wroclaw, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Rafal Poreba
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.M.); (R.P.); (A.W.); (G.M.); (H.M.)
| | - Pawel Gac
- Department of Population Health, Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.B.-K.); (M.D.)
| | - Marta Dratwa
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.B.-K.); (M.D.)
| | - Anna Wojakowska
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.M.); (R.P.); (A.W.); (G.M.); (H.M.)
| | - Grzegorz Mazur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.M.); (R.P.); (A.W.); (G.M.); (H.M.)
| | - Helena Martynowicz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.M.); (R.P.); (A.W.); (G.M.); (H.M.)
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Shim HS, Horner JW, Wu CJ, Li J, Lan ZD, Jiang S, Xu X, Hsu WH, Zal T, Flores II, Deng P, Lin YT, Tsai LH, Wang YA, DePinho RA. Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Preserves Neuron Survival and Cognition in Alzheimer's Disease Models. NATURE AGING 2021; 1:1162-1174. [PMID: 35036927 PMCID: PMC8759755 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-021-00146-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-induced neurodegeneration plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Here, we show that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) haploinsufficiency decreases BDNF and increases amyloid-β (Aβ) precursor in murine brain. Moreover, prior to disease onset, the TERT locus sustains accumulation of repressive epigenetic marks in murine and human AD neurons, implicating TERT repression in amyloid-induced neurodegeneration. To test the impact of sustained TERT expression on AD pathobiology, AD mouse models were engineered to maintain physiological levels of TERT in adult neurons, resulting in reduced Aβ accumulation, improved spine morphology, and preserved cognitive function. Mechanistically, integrated profiling revealed that TERT interacts with β-catenin and RNA polymerase II at gene promoters and upregulates gene networks governing synaptic signaling and learning processes. These TERT-directed transcriptional activities do not require its catalytic activity nor telomerase RNA. These findings provide genetic proof-of-concept for somatic TERT gene activation therapy in attenuating AD progression including cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Seok Shim
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - James W. Horner
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Chang-Jiun Wu
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jiexi Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Zheng D. Lan
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Shan Jiang
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Xueping Xu
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Wen-Hao Hsu
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Tomasz Zal
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Ivonne I. Flores
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Pingna Deng
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yuan-Ta Lin
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Y. Alan Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Ronald A. DePinho
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Wang X, Gao C, Zhang Y, Hu S, Qiao Y, Zhao Z, Gou L, Song J, Wang Q. Overexpression of mGluR7 in the Prefrontal Cortex Attenuates Autistic Behaviors in Mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:689611. [PMID: 34335187 PMCID: PMC8319395 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.689611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with a range of abnormalities pertaining to socialization, communication, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Owing to its complexity, the etiology of ASD remains incompletely understood. The presynaptic G protein-coupled glutamate receptor metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7) is known to be essential for synaptic transmission and is also tightly linked with ASD incidence. Herein, we report that prefrontal cortex (PFC) mGluR7 protein levels were decreased in C57BL/6J mice exposed to valproic acid (VPA) and BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mice. The overexpression of mGluR7 in the PFC of these mice using a lentiviral vector was sufficient to reduce the severity of ASD-like behavioral patterns such that animals exhibited decreases in abnormal social interactions and communication, anxiety-like, and stereotyped/repetitive behaviors. Intriguingly, patch-clamp recordings revealed that the overexpression of mGluR7 suppressed neuronal excitability by inhibiting action potential discharge frequencies, together with enhanced action potential threshold and increased rheobase. These data offer a scientific basis for the additional study of mGluR7 as a promising therapeutic target in ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaona Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Chao Gao
- Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaodong Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Shunan Hu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yidan Qiao
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhengqin Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Lingshan Gou
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jijun Song
- Henan Infectious Disease Hospital, The Sixth People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou, China
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Khodaverdi M, Rahdar M, Davoudi S, Hajisoltani R, Tavassoli Z, Ghasemi Z, Amini AE, Hosseinmardi N, Behzadi G, Janahmadi M. 5-HT7 receptor activation rescues impaired synaptic plasticity in an autistic-like rat model induced by prenatal VPA exposure. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 183:107462. [PMID: 34015444 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a severe life-long neuropsychiatric disorder. Alterations and imbalance of several neurochemical systems may be involved in ASD pathophysiology, of them, serotonergic neurotransmission dysfunction and deficiency may underlie behavioral abnormalities associated with ASD. However, the functional importance of serotonergic receptors, particularly 5HT7 receptors in ASD pathology remains poorly defined. Serotonin receptor subtype 7 (5-HT7R) plays a direct regulatory role in the development and also for the mature function of the brain, therefore, further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of these receptors in the etiology of autism. To address this issue, we combined here behavioral, electrophysiological methods to further characterize the contribution of 5-HT7Rs in the prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure-induced impairment in synaptic plasticity and their impact on the associated behavioral changes. This may help to unravel the underlying cellular mechanisms involved in ASD and can lead to new treatment and/or prevention therapies based on the role of the serotonergic system for autism. Findings revealed that compared to control, autistic-like offspring showed increased anxiety-like behavior, reduced social interaction, decreased locomotor activity, and impaired identification of the novel object. However, administration of 5-HT7Rs agonist, LP-211, for 7 consecutive days before testing from postnatal day 21 to 27 reversed all behavioral deficits induced by prenatal exposure to VPA in offspring. Also, both short-term depression and long-term potentiation were impaired in the autistic-like pups, but activation of 5-HT7Rs rescued the LTP impairment in the autistic-like group so that there was no significant difference between the two groups. Blockade of 5-HT7Rs caused LTP impairment following HFS in the autistic-like group. Besides, there was a significant difference in LTD induction following SB-269970 application between the control and the autistic-like groups measured at first 10 min following TPS. Moreover, both the number and the size of retrograde fast blue-labelled neurons in the raphe nuclei were reduced. Overall, these results provide for the first time, as far as we know, functional evidence for the restorative role of 5-HT7Rs activation against prenatal VPA exposure induced behavioral deficits and hippocampal synaptic plasticity impairment. Therefore, these receptors could be a potential and promising pharmacotherapy target for the treatment of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Khodaverdi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mona Rahdar
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shima Davoudi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Razieh Hajisoltani
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Tavassoli
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Ghasemi
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Aeen Ebrahim Amini
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Narges Hosseinmardi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gila Behzadi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahyar Janahmadi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Evidence supporting the role of telomerase, MMP-9, and SIRT1 in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2020; 127:1409-1418. [PMID: 32691156 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-020-02231-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that telomeres, telomerase, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and SIRT1 (sirtuin1) are involved in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, whether these molecules are contributors to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been little explored and poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the potential role of telomerase, MMP-9, and SIRT1 in children with ADHD. The study was performed on 46 children with ADHD aged between 8 and 14 and 43 healthy children matching in age and gender. Children were evaluated by Kiddie-Sads-Present and Lifetime Version, Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised Short Form (CPRS-RS) and Stroop test. Serum telomerase, MMP-9, and SIRT1 levels were measured by a quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MMP-9 and telomerase levels were significantly higher and SIRT1 levels were significantly lower in patients with ADHD than those of controls. All three molecules were significantly associated with both the severity of ADHD symptoms and cognitive functions. This is the first attempt to indicate that the important role of telomerase, MMP-9, and SIRT1 in ADHD, and the association of all these molecules with the severity of ADHD and cognitive functions, but future studies are required to verify these results.
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Bayat M, Tanny RE, Wang Y, Herden C, Daniel J, Andersen EC, Liebau E, Waschk DE. Effects of telomerase overexpression in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Gene X 2020; 732:144367. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.144367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Anitha A, Thanseem I, Vasu MM, Viswambharan V, Poovathinal SA. Telomeres in neurological disorders. Adv Clin Chem 2019; 90:81-132. [PMID: 31122612 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ever since their discovery, the telomeres and the telomerase have been topics of intensive research, first as a mechanism of cellular aging and later as an indicator of health and diseases in humans. By protecting the chromosome ends, the telomeres play a vital role in preserving the information in our genome. Telomeres shorten with age and the rate of telomere erosion provides insight into the proliferation history of cells. The pace of telomere attrition is known to increase at the onset of several pathological conditions. Telomere shortening has been emerging as a potential contributor in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and depression. The rate of telomere attrition in the brain is slower than that of other tissues owing to the low rate of cell proliferation in brain. Telomere maintenance is crucial for the functioning of stem cells in brain. Taking together the studies on telomere attrition in various neurological disorders, an association between telomere shortening and disease status has been demonstrated in schizophrenia, AD and depression, in spite of a few negative reports. But, studies in ASD and PD have failed to produce conclusive results. The cause-effect relationship between TL and neurological disorders is yet to be elucidated. The factors responsible for telomere erosion, which have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders, need to be explored in detail. Telomerase activation is now being considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayyappan Anitha
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India.
| | - Ismail Thanseem
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
| | - Mahesh Mundalil Vasu
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
| | - Vijitha Viswambharan
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
| | - Suresh A Poovathinal
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
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Rhee J, Park K, Kim KC, Shin CY, Chung C. Impaired Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Enhanced Excitatory Transmission in a Novel Animal Model of Autism Spectrum Disorders with Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Overexpression. Mol Cells 2018; 41:486-494. [PMID: 29696935 PMCID: PMC5974625 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2018.0145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, we have reported that animals with telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) overexpression exhibit reduced social interaction, decreased preference for novel social interaction and poor nest-building behaviors symptoms that mirror those observed in human autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Overexpression of TERT also alters the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) ratio in the medial prefrontal cortex. However, the effects of TERT overexpression on hippocampal-dependent learning and synaptic efficacy have not been investigated. In the present study, we employed electrophysiological approaches in combination with behavioral analysis to examine hippocampal function of TERT transgenic (TERT-tg) mice and FVB controls. We found that TERT overexpression results in enhanced hippocampal excitation with no changes in inhibition and significantly impairs long-term synaptic plasticity. Interestingly, the expression levels of phosphorylated CREB and phosphory-lated CaMKIIα were significantly decreased while the expression level of CaMKIIα was slightly increased in the hippocampus of TERT-overexpressing mice. Our observations highlight the importance of TERT in normal synaptic function and behavior and provide additional information on a novel animal model of ASD associated with TERT overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeehae Rhee
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
| | - Kwanghoon Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
| | - Ki Chan Kim
- Department of Neuroscience and Department of Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
| | - Chan Young Shin
- Department of Neuroscience and Department of Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
| | - ChiHye Chung
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
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Tao H, Zhou X, Xie Q, Ma Z, Sun F, Cui L, Cai Y, Ma G, Fu J, Liu Z, Li Y, Zhou H, Zhao J, Chen Y, Mai H, Chen Y, Chen J, Qi W, Sun C, Zhao B, Li K. SRR intronic variation inhibits expression of its neighbouring SMG6 gene and protects against temporal lobe epilepsy. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 22:1883-1893. [PMID: 29363864 PMCID: PMC5824374 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
D‐serine is a predominant N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor co‐agonist with glutamate, and excessive activation of the receptor plays a substantial role in epileptic seizures. Serine racemase (SRR) is responsible for transforming L‐serine to D‐serine. In this study, we aimed to investigate the genetic roles of SRR and a neighbouring gene, nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay factor (SMG6), in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Here, a total of 496 TLE patients and 528 healthy individuals were successfully genotyped for three SRR tag single nucleotide polymorphisms. The frequencies of the GG genotype at rs4523957 T > G were reduced in the TLE cases in the initial cohort (cohort 1) and were confirmed in the independent cohort (cohort 2). An analysis of all TLE cases in cohort 1 + 2 revealed that the seizure frequency and drug‐resistant incidence were significantly decreased in carriers of the GG genotype at rs4523957. Intriguingly, the activity of the SMG6 promoter with the mutant allele at rs4523957 decreased by 22% in the dual‐luciferase assay, and up‐regulated expression of SMG6 was observed in an epilepsy rat model. This study provides the first demonstration that the GG genotype is a protective marker against TLE. In particular, variation at rs4523957 likely inhibits SMG6 transcription and plays a key role against susceptibility to and severity of TLE. The significance of SMG6 hyperfunction in epileptic seizures deserves to be investigated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Tao
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Xu Zhou
- Clinical Research Center, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Qian Xie
- Emergency Department, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fuhai Sun
- Department of Neurology, the First People's Hospital of Pingdingshan, Pingdingshan, Hebei, China
| | - Lili Cui
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Yujie Cai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Guoda Ma
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiawu Fu
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhou Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - You Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Haihong Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianghao Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui Mai
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Neurology, Central People's Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Qi
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Chaowen Sun
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Keshen Li
- Institute of Neurology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China.,Stroke Center, Neurology& Neurosurgery Division, Clinical Medicine Research Institute & the First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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12
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Kim KC, Choi CS, Gonzales ELT, Mabunga DFN, Lee SH, Jeon SJ, Hwangbo R, Hong M, Ryu JH, Han SH, Bahn GH, Shin CY. Valproic Acid Induces Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Expression during Cortical Development. Exp Neurobiol 2017; 26:252-265. [PMID: 29093634 PMCID: PMC5661058 DOI: 10.5607/en.2017.26.5.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The valproic acid (VPA)-induced animal model is one of the most widely utilized environmental risk factor models of autism. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains an insurmountable challenge among neurodevelopmental disorders due to its heterogeneity, unresolved pathological pathways and lack of treatment. We previously reported that VPA-exposed rats and cultured rat primary neurons have increased Pax6 expression during post-midterm embryonic development which led to the sequential upregulation of glutamatergic neuronal markers. In this study, we provide experimental evidence that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), a protein component of ribonucleoproteins complex of telomerase, is involved in the abnormal components caused by VPA in addition to Pax6 and its downstream signals. In embryonic rat brains and cultured rat primary neural progenitor cells (NPCs), VPA induced the increased expression of TERT as revealed by Western blot, RT-PCR, and immunostainings. The HDAC inhibitor property of VPA is responsible for the TERT upregulation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that VPA increased the histone acetylation but blocked the HDAC1 binding to both Pax6 and Tert genes. Interestingly, the VPA-induced TERT overexpression resulted to sequential upregulations of glutamatergic markers such as Ngn2 and NeuroD1, and inter-synaptic markers such as PSD-95, α-CaMKII, vGluT1 and synaptophysin. Transfection of Tert siRNA reversed the effects of VPA in cultured NPCs confirming the direct involvement of TERT in the expression of those markers. This study suggests the involvement of TERT in the VPA-induced autistic phenotypes and has important implications for the role of TERT as a modulator of balanced neuronal development and transmission in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Chan Kim
- School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Chang Soon Choi
- School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Edson Luck T Gonzales
- School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Darine Froy N Mabunga
- School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Sung Hoon Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang Univeristy, Seoul 06974, Korea
| | - Se Jin Jeon
- Center for Neuroscience, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea
| | - Ram Hwangbo
- Department of Psychiatry, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Minha Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, Seonam University, College of Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Goyang 10475, Korea
| | - Jong Hoon Ryu
- Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Seol-Heui Han
- School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Geon Ho Bahn
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Chan Young Shin
- School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
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13
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Thanseem I, Viswambharan V, Poovathinal SA, Anitha A. Is telomere length a biomarker of neurological disorders? Biomark Med 2017; 11:799-810. [PMID: 30669856 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2017-0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that form protective caps at the termini of chromosomes, maintaining genomic stability. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview on the usefulness of telomere length (TL) as biomarkers of neurological disorders. The implications of TL in relation to cognitive ability, cognitive aging and cognitive decline in neurodegenerative disorders are also briefly discussed. Our review suggests that at present it is difficult to draw a reliable conclusion regarding the contribution of TL to neurological disorders. Further, it needs to be examined whether leukocyte TL, which is generally considered as a surrogate marker of TL in other tissues, serves as an indicator of central nervous system TL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Thanseem
- Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative & Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Palakkad 679 523, Kerala, India
| | - Vijitha Viswambharan
- Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative & Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Palakkad 679 523, Kerala, India
| | - Suresh A Poovathinal
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Communicative & Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Palakkad 679 523, Kerala, India
| | - Ayyappan Anitha
- Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative & Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Palakkad 679 523, Kerala, India
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14
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Kim KC, Cho KS, Yang SM, Gonzales EL, Valencia S, Eun PH, Choi CS, Mabunga DF, Kim JW, Noh JK, Kim HJ, Jeon SJ, Han SH, Bahn GH, Shin CY. Sex Differences in Autism-Like Behavioral Phenotypes and Postsynaptic Receptors Expression in the Prefrontal Cortex of TERT Transgenic Mice. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2017; 25:374-382. [PMID: 28208013 PMCID: PMC5499615 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2016.242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains unexplained and untreated despite the high attention of research in recent years. Aside from its various characteristics is the baffling male preponderance over the female population. Using a validated animal model of ASD which is the telomerase reverse transcriptase overexpressing mice (TERT-tg), we conducted ASD-related behavioral assessments and protein expression experiments to mark the difference between male and females of this animal model. After statistically analyzing the results, we found significant effects of TERT overexpression in sociability, social novelty preference, anxiety, nest building, and electroseizure threshold in the males but not their female littermates. Along these differences are the male-specific increased expressions of postsynaptic proteins which are the NMDA and AMPA receptors in the prefrontal cortex. The vGluT1 presynaptic proteins, but not GAD, were upregulated in both sexes of TERT-tg mice, although it is more significantly pronounced in the male group. Here, we confirmed that the behavioral effect of TERT overexpression in mice was male-specific, suggesting that the aberration of this gene and its downstream pathways preferentially affect the functional development of the male brain, consistent with the male preponderance in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Chan Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu Suk Cho
- Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Min Yang
- Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Edson Luck Gonzales
- Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Schley Valencia
- Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Pyeong Hwa Eun
- Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Soon Choi
- Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Darine Froy Mabunga
- Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Woon Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Judy Kyoungju Noh
- College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States of America
| | - Hee Jin Kim
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, School of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Jin Jeon
- Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Seol-Heui Han
- Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Geon Ho Bahn
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Young Shin
- Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
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15
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Bozzi Y, Provenzano G, Casarosa S. Neurobiological bases of autism-epilepsy comorbidity: a focus on excitation/inhibition imbalance. Eur J Neurosci 2017; 47:534-548. [PMID: 28452083 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and epilepsy are common neurological diseases of childhood, with an estimated incidence of approximately 0.5-1% of the worldwide population. Several genetic, neuroimaging and neuropathological studies clearly showed that both ASD and epilepsy have developmental origins and a substantial degree of heritability. Most importantly, ASD and epilepsy frequently coexist in the same individual, suggesting a common neurodevelopmental basis for these disorders. Genome-wide association studies recently allowed for the identification of a substantial number of genes involved in ASD and epilepsy, some of which are mutated in syndromes presenting both ASD and epilepsy clinical features. At the cellular level, both preclinical and clinical studies indicate that the different genetic causes of ASD and epilepsy may converge to perturb the excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance, due to the dysfunction of excitatory and inhibitory circuits in various brain regions. Metabolic and immune dysfunctions, as well as environmental causes also contribute to ASD pathogenesis. Thus, an E/I imbalance resulting from neurodevelopmental deficits of multiple origins might represent a common pathogenic mechanism for both diseases. Here, we will review the most significant studies supporting these hypotheses. A deeper understanding of the molecular and cellular determinants of autism-epilepsy comorbidity will pave the way to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Bozzi
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Group, Centre for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123, Povo, Trento, Italy.,CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Provenzano
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Simona Casarosa
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy.,Laboratory of Neural Development and Regeneration, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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