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Goh KK, Kanahara N, Chiu YH, Lu ML. The impact of childhood trauma exposure on social functioning in schizophrenia: the moderated mediation role of oxytocin and oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms. Psychol Med 2024; 54:980-992. [PMID: 37721215 DOI: 10.1017/s003329172300274x] [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] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood trauma has been linked to increased risk of schizophrenia and social dysfunction, and oxytocin and its receptor gene have been implicated in regulating social behavior. This study investigated the potential role of oxytocin and oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) in mediating the effects of childhood trauma on social functioning in schizophrenia. METHODS The study consisted of 382 patients with schizophrenia and 178 healthy controls who were assessed using the Taiwanese version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), the Social Functioning Scale (SFS), and plasma oxytocin levels. DNA was extracted to genotype the OXTR and ten single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs2254298, rs237885, rs237887, rs237899, rs53576, rs9840864, rs13316193, rs7632287, rs1042778, and rs237895) were selected. RESULTS Patients with schizophrenia showed higher CTQ-SF scores (t = 12.549, p < 0.001), lower SFS scores (t = -46.951, p < 0.001), and lower plasma oxytocin levels (t = -5.448, p < 0.001) compared to healthy controls. The study also found significant differences in OXTR SNPs between both groups, with risk alleles being more prevalent in patients with schizophrenia (t = 2.734, p = 0.006). Results indicated a significant moderated mediation effect, with oxytocin and the OXTR SNPs partially mediating the relationship between childhood trauma exposure and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia (index of mediation = 0.038, 95% CI [0.033-0.044]). CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that oxytocin and its receptor gene may be promising targets for interventions aimed at improving social functioning in patients with a history of childhood trauma and schizophrenia. However, further research is needed to fully understand these effects and the potential of oxytocin-based interventions in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kah Kheng Goh
- Department of Psychiatry, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- The Innovative and Translational Research Center of Brain Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nobuhisa Kanahara
- Division of Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yi-Hang Chiu
- Department of Psychiatry, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Mong-Liang Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Camerini L, Zurchimitten G, Bock B, Xavier J, Bastos CR, Martins E, Ardais AP, Dos Santos Motta JV, Pires AJ, de Matos MB, de Ávila Quevedo L, Pinheiro RT, Ghisleni G. Genetic Variations in Elements of the Oxytocinergic Pathway are Associated with Attention/Hyperactivity Problems and Anxiety Problems in Childhood. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2024; 55:552-563. [PMID: 36087156 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-022-01419-3] [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: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Genetic alterations related to oxytocin system seem to influence the neurobiology of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety problems leading to greater functional, social and emotional impairment. Here, we analyzed the association of OXTR rs2254298 and CD38 rs6449182 variants with attention/hyperactivity problems and anxiety problems in children. The study enrolled 292 children and adjusted regression model revealed OXTR rs2254298 AA genotype as a risk factor for attention deficit/hyperactivity problems (PR: 2.37; PadjFDR = 0.006), attention problems (PR: 2.71; PadjFDR = 0.003) and anxiety problems (PR: 1.92; PadjFDR = 0.018). CD38 rs6449182 G allele showed as a risk factor for attention deficit/hyperactivity problems (PR: 1.56; PadjFDR = 0.028). Moreover, in silico approach for regulatory roles found markers that influence chromatin accessibility and transcription capacity. Together, these data provide genetic information of oxytocin in developmental and behavioral disorders opening a range of opportunities for future studies that clarify their neurobiology in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laísa Camerini
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Zurchimitten
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Bertha Bock
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Janaína Xavier
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Clarissa Ribeiro Bastos
- Department of Neurosciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Evânia Martins
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Ardais
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Andressa Jacondino Pires
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Mariana Bonati de Matos
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Luciana de Ávila Quevedo
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Tavares Pinheiro
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Gabriele Ghisleni
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
- Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Laboratory of Clinical Neuroscience, Catholic University of Pelotas - UCPel, Center of Health Science, Rua Gonçalves Chaves 373, sala 324, CEP 96010-280, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
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Delikishkina E, Cohen-Zimerman S, Kachian ZR, Krueger F, Gordon B, Grafman J. Understanding altruistic behavior: The joint role of prefrontal damage and OXTR genotype. Neuropsychologia 2023; 190:108686. [PMID: 37741549 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Altruism is a type of prosocial behavior that is carried out in the absence of personal benefit or even at an expense to self. Trait altruism varies greatly across individuals, and the reasons for this variability are still not fully understood. Growing evidence suggests that altruism may be partly determined by the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene, which regulates the emotions underlying altruistic attitudes, such as empathy and trust. Neuroimaging and lesion studies have also implied several higher-order brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, in altruistic behaviors. Yet the existing reports are contradictory and suggest that the top-down control exercised by the prefrontal cortex may promote both altruistic and self-interested behaviors and, thus, could obscure one's natural proclivity towards altruism encoded by OXTR. Here, we hypothesized that extensive prefrontal damage would result in an increased influence of the OXTR genotype on one's altruistic attitudes and actions. To test this hypothesis, we recruited 115 male combat veterans with penetrating traumatic brain injury to the prefrontal cortex and other brain regions, as well as 35 demographically matched control subjects without brain injury. Participants completed a self-report altruism questionnaire and were genotyped for four OXTR single nucleotide polymorphisms implicated in prosocial behavior, including rs53576, rs1042778, rs2254298 and rs7632287. Consistent with the previous studies, we found that individuals homozygotic for the G allele of rs53576 and rs7632287 were significantly more altruistic than carriers of at least one "vulnerable" A allele. Remarkably, in patients with prefrontal cortex damage, greater lesion extent was associated with significantly lower altruism scores in carriers of the A allele of rs7632287, but not in G-homozygotes, suggesting that significant disruption of the prefrontal cortex increased the influence of genetic polymorphisms on prosocial behavior. This study presents the first account of an interaction effect between the OXTR genotype and the location and extent of brain damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Delikishkina
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Brain Injury Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Shira Cohen-Zimerman
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Brain Injury Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Zachary R Kachian
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Brain Injury Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Frank Krueger
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, 68161, Germany
| | - Barry Gordon
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Department of Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Jordan Grafman
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Brain Injury Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA; Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer's Disease Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychology, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
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Meng H, Li Q, Wang J, Yue W, Zhang D, Sun X, Wang L, Li J. The expansion of newborn neurons in hippocampus improves social recognition deficit in a mouse model of autism. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1162179. [PMID: 37215664 PMCID: PMC10196005 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1162179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by core symptoms of impaired social interaction and communication. The pathological mechanism and treatment are not clear and need further study. Our previous study found that the deletion of high-risk gene Autism Susceptibility 2 (AUTS2) in mice led to dentate gyrus (DG) hypoplasia that highly associated with impaired social novelty recognition. Here we aim to improve the social deficit through increasing the neurogenesis in the subgranular zone (SGZ) and expanding the newborn granule neurons in DG. Methods Three approaches including repeated oxytocin administration, feeding in enriched environment and overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4)-CyclinD1 complex in DG neural stem cells (NSCs) at the post-weaning stage were conducted. Results We found that the number of EdU labeled proliferative NSCs or retrovirus labeled newborn neurons was significantly increased after manipulations. The social recognition deficit was also significantly improved. Discussion Our findings suggested a possible strategy to restore the social deficit through expansion of newborn neurons in hippocampus, which might provide a new insight into the treatment of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Meng
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Qiongwei Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Jinxin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Weihua Yue
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Dai Zhang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation (IBRR), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Sun
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Jun Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
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Neuroimaging genetics of oxytocin: A transcriptomics-informed systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 142:104912. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Polk R, Horta M, Lin T, Porges E, Ojeda M, Nazarloo HP, Carter CS, Ebner NC. Evaluating the neuropeptide-social cognition link in ageing: the mediating role of basic cognitive skills. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210048. [PMID: 35858076 PMCID: PMC9274329 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The roles of oxytocin (OT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) as crucial modulators of social cognition and related behaviours have been extensively addressed in the literature. The involvement of these neuropeptides in social cognition in ageing, however, and a potential mediating effect of basic cognitive capacities on this link, are not well understood. To fill these research gaps, this study assessed associations of plasma OT and AVP levels with dynamic emotion identification accuracy in generally healthy older men (aged 55-95 years) and probed the underlying roles of crystallized and fluid cognition in these associations. Higher plasma OT levels were associated with lower accuracy in dynamic emotion identification, with this negative relationship fully mediated by cognition. For plasma AVP levels, in contrast, there was no association with dynamic emotion identification accuracy. Integrated within existing theoretical accounts, results from this study advance understanding of the neuropeptide-social cognition link in ageing and support basic cognitive capacities as mediators in this association. This article is part of the theme issue 'Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Polk
- Department of Psychology, College of Public Health and Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Marilyn Horta
- Department of Psychology, College of Public Health and Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tian Lin
- Department of Psychology, College of Public Health and Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Eric Porges
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Marite Ojeda
- Department of Psychology, College of Public Health and Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hans P. Nazarloo
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - C. Sue Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Natalie C. Ebner
- Department of Psychology, College of Public Health and Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, College of Public Health and Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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7
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Ji L, Chen C, Hou B, Ren D, Yuan F, Liu L, Bi Y, Guo Z, Yang F, Wu X, Chen F, Li X, Liu C, Zuo Z, Zhang R, Yi Z, Xu Y, He L, Shi Y, Yu T, He G. Impact of OXTR Polymorphisms on Subjective Well-Being: The Intermediary Role of Attributional Style. Front Genet 2022; 12:763628. [PMID: 35222513 PMCID: PMC8864163 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.763628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene are related to individual differences in negative emotions, such as depressive symptoms and anxiety. However, it remains unclear what the potential roles of OXTR polymorphisms are in subjective well-being (SWB), which is negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. We examined attributional styles as mediator between SWB and five polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR rs53576, rs2254298, rs1042778, rs2268494, and rs2268490) among 627 full-time college freshmen (Mage = 20.90, SD = 0.82 for male; Mage = 20.81, SD = 0.92 for female) using structural equation modeling. The results showed that individuals with the OXTR rs2254298 AA genotype and rs53576 AA/GA genotype reported higher scores on SWB, which suggested that individuals with this genotype experienced more happiness. Moreover, external attributional style partially mediated the association between OXTR rs2254298 polymorphism and SWB (β = 0.019, 95%CI [0.001, 0.036], p = 0.035). In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that the genetic variations of OXTR played a role in the individual differences of SWB, and external attribution style could mediate the association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Ji
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Binyin Hou
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Decheng Ren
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Yuan
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Liangjie Liu
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Bi
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenming Guo
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengping Yang
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Wu
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Fujun Chen
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingwang Li
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Zhen Zuo
- Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Shanghai Center for Women and Children’s Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenghui Yi
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifeng Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin He
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yi Shi, ; Tao Yu, ; Guang He,
| | - Tao Yu
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Center for Women and Children’s Health, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yi Shi, ; Tao Yu, ; Guang He,
| | - Guang He
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yi Shi, ; Tao Yu, ; Guang He,
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Erkoreka L, Zumarraga M, Arrue A, Zamalloa MI, Arnaiz A, Olivas O, Moreno-Calle T, Saez E, Garcia J, Marin E, Varela N, Gonzalez-Pinto A, Basterreche N. Genetics of adult attachment: An updated review of the literature. World J Psychiatry 2021; 11:530-542. [PMID: 34631458 PMCID: PMC8474999 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i9.530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Attachment style, which has been theorized to be rooted in childhood bonding experiences, influences adult cognitive, emotional and interpersonal functioning. Despite its relationship with early experiences, research indicates that the continuity of attachment style across childhood and adulthood is only partial, being a malleable tendency that is shaped throughout development, with an increasing influence of genetics, as it occurs in other cognitive and behavioral phenotypes. Genetic research indicates that up to 45% of the variability in anxious and 39% in avoidant adult attachment style could be explained by genetic causes, but the precise mechanisms remain unclear. A narrative review is conducted analyzing the existing literature regarding the implication of candidate genes related to oxytocin, dopaminergic pathways, serotonergic pathways and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in adult attachment, with both vulnerability and differential susceptibility approaches, yielding mixed results. We highlight the lack of genome-wide studies and the scarcity of epigenetic investigation. Based on the existing data, we conclude that the genetics of adult attachment is an area that requires further research to clarify its etiological role and that it should be preferably approached as an interaction between nature and nurture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leire Erkoreka
- Department of Psychiatry, Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Galdakao 48960, Spain
- Department of Neurosciences, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa 48940, Spain
- Grupo Red de Salud Mental, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
| | - Mercedes Zumarraga
- Grupo Red de Salud Mental, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
- Department of Neurochemical Research, Bizkaia Mental Health Network, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
| | - Aurora Arrue
- Grupo Red de Salud Mental, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
- Department of Neurochemical Research, Bizkaia Mental Health Network, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
| | - M Isabel Zamalloa
- Grupo Red de Salud Mental, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
- Department of Neurochemical Research, Bizkaia Mental Health Network, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
| | - Ainara Arnaiz
- Grupo Red de Salud Mental, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
- Erandio Mental Health Center, Bizkaia Mental Health Network, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Erandio 48950, Spain
| | - Olga Olivas
- Grupo Red de Salud Mental, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
- Zaldibar Hospital, Bizkaia Mental Health Network, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Zaldibar 48250, Spain
| | - Teresa Moreno-Calle
- Department of Psychiatry, Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Galdakao 48960, Spain
- Grupo Red de Salud Mental, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
| | - Estela Saez
- Department of Psychiatry, Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Galdakao 48960, Spain
| | - Jon Garcia
- Department of Neurosciences, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa 48940, Spain
- Grupo Red de Salud Mental, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
- Zamudio Hospital, Bizkaia Mental Health Network, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Zamudio 48170, Spain
| | - Elena Marin
- Grupo Red de Salud Mental, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
- Bermeo Hospital, Bizkaia Mental Health Network, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Bermeo 48370, Spain
| | - Noemi Varela
- Grupo Red de Salud Mental, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
- Zamudio Hospital, Bizkaia Mental Health Network, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Zamudio 48170, Spain
| | - Ana Gonzalez-Pinto
- Department of Psychiatry, BioAraba Research Institute, Araba University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), CIBERSAM, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01004, Spain
| | - Nieves Basterreche
- Zamudio Hospital, Bizkaia Mental Health Network, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Zamudio 48170, Spain
- Grupo de investigación integradora en Salud Mental, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
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Dobewall H, Keltikangas-Järvinen L, Saarinen A, Lyytikäinen LP, Zwir I, Cloninger R, Raitakari OT, Lehtimäki T, Hintsanen M. Genetic differential susceptibility to the parent-child relationship quality and the life span development of compassion. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:e22184. [PMID: 34423428 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22184] [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: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The development of compassion for others might be influenced by the social experiences made during childhood and has a genetic component. No research has yet investigated whether the parent-child relationship quality interacts with genetic variation in the oxytocin and dopamine systems in predicting compassion over the life span. In the prospective Young Finns Study (N = 2099, 43.9% men), we examined the interaction between mother-reported emotional warmth and intolerance toward their child assessed in 1980 (age of participants, 3-18 years) and two established genetic risk scores for oxytocin levels and dopamine signaling activity. Dispositional compassion for others was measured with the Temperament and Character Inventory 1997, 2001, and 2012 (age of participants, 20-50 years). We found a gene-environment interaction (p = .031) that remained marginally significant after adjustment for multiple testing. In line with the differential susceptibility hypothesis, only participants who carry alleles associated with low dopamine signaling activity had higher levels of compassion when growing up with emotionally warm parents, whereas they had lower levels of compassion when their parents were emotionally cold. Children's genetic variability in the dopamine system might result in plasticity to early environmental influences that have a long-lasting effect on the development of compassion. However, our findings need replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Dobewall
- Division of Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center - Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | | | - Aino Saarinen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Leo-Pekka Lyytikäinen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center - Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Igor Zwir
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.,Department of Computer Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Robert Cloninger
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| | - Olli T Raitakari
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Terho Lehtimäki
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center - Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Mirka Hintsanen
- Division of Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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10
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Kazantseva A, Davydova Y, Enikeeva R, Lobaskova M, Mustafin R, Malykh S, Takhirova Z, Khusnutdinova E. AVPR1A main effect and OXTR-by-environment interplay in individual differences in depression level. Heliyon 2020; 6:e05240. [PMID: 33088973 PMCID: PMC7567928 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Multiple studies of depression indicated a significant role of gene-by-environment interactions; however, they are mainly limited to the examination of modulating effect of recent stressful life events. Other environmental factors occurring at different stages of ante- and postnatal development may affect the association between multiple genes and depression. The study aimed to analyze the main and haplotype-based effect of serotonergic system and HPA-axis gene polymorphisms on depression and to detect gene-by-environment interaction models explaining individual variance in depression in mentally healthy young adults from Russia. Methods Depression score was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in 623 healthy individuals (81% women; 17-25 years) of Caucasian origin (Russians, Tatars, Udmurts) from Russia. The main- and gene-based effects of 12 SNPs in SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR, rs1042173), HTR2A (rs7322347), OXTR (rs7632287, rs2254298, rs13316193, rs53576, rs2228485, rs237911), AVPR1A (rs3803107, rs1042615), and AVPR1B (rs33911258) genes, and gene-by-environment interactions were tested with linear regression models (PLINK v.1.9) adjusted for multiple comparisons. Results We observed ethnicity-specific main effect of the AVPR1A rs3803107 (P = 0.003; PFDR = 0.047) and gene-based effect of the OXTR gene (Р = 0.005; Pperm = 0.034) on BDI-measured depression, and modifying effect of paternal care on OXTR rs53576 (P = 0.004; PFDR = 0.012) and birth order on OXTR rs237911 (P = 0.006; PFDR = 0.018) association with depression level. Limitations A hypothesis driven candidate gene approach, which examined a limited number of genetic variants in a moderately large sample, was used. Conclusions Our preliminary findings indicate that familial environment may play a permissive role modulating the manifestation of OXTR-based depression variance in mentally healthy subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kazantseva
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics, Subdivision of the Ufa Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 71, Prospekt Oktyabrya, Ufa, 450054, Russia
| | - Yu Davydova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics, Subdivision of the Ufa Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 71, Prospekt Oktyabrya, Ufa, 450054, Russia
| | - R Enikeeva
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics, Subdivision of the Ufa Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 71, Prospekt Oktyabrya, Ufa, 450054, Russia
| | - M Lobaskova
- Psychological Institute, Russian Academy of Education, 9/4, Mohovaya Street, Moscow, 125009, Russia
| | - R Mustafin
- Bashkir State Medical University, 3, Lenin Street, Ufa, 450008, Russia
| | - S Malykh
- Psychological Institute, Russian Academy of Education, 9/4, Mohovaya Street, Moscow, 125009, Russia
| | - Z Takhirova
- Russian Academy of Education, 8, Pogodinskaya Street, Moscow, 119121, Russia
| | - E Khusnutdinova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics, Subdivision of the Ufa Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 71, Prospekt Oktyabrya, Ufa, 450054, Russia
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11
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Womersley JS, Hemmings SMJ, Ziegler C, Gutridge A, Ahmed-Leitao F, Rosenstein D, Domschke K, Seedat S. Childhood emotional neglect and oxytocin receptor variants: Association with limbic brain volumes. World J Biol Psychiatry 2020; 21:513-528. [PMID: 30806136 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2019.1584331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Childhood emotional neglect (EN) is a predictor for the development of affective disorders. Oxytocin (OXT) may mediate the interplay between EN and changes in stress biological systems, brain development, and mental health outcomes. We investigated, in a cross-sectional study, the associations between EN, (epi)genetic variation in the OXT receptor (OXTR) gene, and amygdalar and hippocampal volumes, two brain regions implicated in emotional processing.Methods: We recruited 63 Caucasian South African adults (35 women) with and without social anxiety disorder. Childhood EN was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. rs53576 and rs2254298 genotypes, as well as methylation status, was determined using DNA purified from whole blood. Bilateral amygdalar and hippocampal volumes were determined by structural magnetic resonance imaging. The relationships between these variables were investigated using linear regression.Results: The interaction of the rs2254298 A risk allele and EN was nominally associated with reduced left hippocampal volume. The rs2254298 A risk allele was independently associated with reduced bilateral amygdalar volumes. We found no association between EN, OXTR methylation and amygdalar or hippocampal volumes. The rs53576 GG risk genotype was, however, associated with decreased OXTR methylation.Conclusions: The rs2254298 A allele may increase susceptibility to the structural brain effects of EN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Samantha Womersley
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - Sian Megan Joanna Hemmings
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - Christiane Ziegler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 70104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ashley Gutridge
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - Fatima Ahmed-Leitao
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - David Rosenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 70104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
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12
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Wang J, Zhang P, Li W, Wen Q, Liu F, Xu J, Xu Q, Zhu D, Ye Z, Yu C. Right Posterior Insula and Putamen Volume Mediate the Effect of Oxytocin Receptor Polygenic Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders on Reward Dependence in Healthy Adults. Cereb Cortex 2020; 31:746-756. [PMID: 32710107 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Much evidence indicates the influence of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene on autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), a set of disorders characterized by a range of deficits in prosocial behaviors, which are closely related to the personality trait of reward dependence (RD). However, we do not know the effect of the OXTR polygenic risk score for ASDs (OXTR-PRSASDs) on RD and its underlying neuroanatomical substrate. Here, we aimed to investigate associations among the OXTR-PRSASDs, gray matter volume (GMV), and RD in two independent datasets of healthy young adults (n = 450 and 540). We found that the individuals with higher OXTR-PRSASDs had lower RD and significantly smaller GMV in the right posterior insula and putamen. The GMV of this region showed a positive correlation with RD and a mediation effect on the association between OXTR-PRSASDs and RD. Moreover, the correlation map between OXTR-PRSASDs and GMV showed spatial correlation with OXTR gene expression. All results were highly consistent between the two datasets. These findings highlight a possible neural pathway by which the common variants in the OXTR gene associated with ASDs may jointly impact the GMV of the right posterior insula and putamen and further affect the personality trait of RD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junping Wang
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Qin Wen
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Jiayuan Xu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Qiang Xu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Zhaoxiang Ye
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Chunshui Yu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
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13
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Hashem S, Nisar S, Bhat AA, Yadav SK, Azeem MW, Bagga P, Fakhro K, Reddy R, Frenneaux MP, Haris M. Genetics of structural and functional brain changes in autism spectrum disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:229. [PMID: 32661244 PMCID: PMC7359361 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-00921-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder characterized by social impairment and restricted interactive and communicative behaviors. It may occur as an isolated disorder or in the context of other neurological, psychiatric, developmental, and genetic disorders. Due to rapid developments in genomics and imaging technologies, imaging genetics studies of ASD have evolved in the last few years. Increased risk for ASD diagnosis is found to be related to many specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and the study of genetic mechanisms and noninvasive imaging has opened various approaches that can help diagnose ASD at the nascent level. Identifying risk genes related to structural and functional changes in the brain of ASD patients provide a better understanding of the disease's neuropsychiatry and can help identify targets for therapeutic intervention that could be useful for the clinical management of ASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheema Hashem
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabah Nisar
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Puneet Bagga
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Optical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Khalid Fakhro
- Department of Human Genetics, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ravinder Reddy
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Optical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | | | - Mohammad Haris
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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14
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Morphofunctional Alterations of the Hypothalamus and Social Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10070435. [PMID: 32650534 PMCID: PMC7408098 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10070435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
An accumulating body of evidence indicates a tight relationship between the endocrine system and abnormal social behavior. Two evolutionarily conserved hypothalamic peptides, oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin, because of their extensively documented function in supporting and regulating affiliative and socio-emotional responses, have attracted great interest for their critical implications for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A large number of controlled trials demonstrated that exogenous oxytocin or arginine-vasopressin administration can mitigate social behavior impairment in ASD. Furthermore, there exists long-standing evidence of severe socioemotional dysfunctions after hypothalamic lesions in animals and humans. However, despite the major role of the hypothalamus for the synthesis and release of oxytocin and vasopressin, and the evident hypothalamic implication in affiliative behavior in animals and humans, a rather small number of neuroimaging studies showed an association between this region and socioemotional responses in ASD. This review aims to provide a critical synthesis of evidences linking alterations of the hypothalamus with impaired social cognition and behavior in ASD by integrating results of both anatomical and functional studies in individuals with ASD as well as in healthy carriers of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) genetic risk variant for ASD. Current findings, although limited, indicate that morphofunctional anomalies are implicated in the pathophysiology of ASD and call for further investigations aiming to elucidate anatomical and functional properties of hypothalamic nuclei underlying atypical socioemotional behavior in ASD.
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15
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Tolomeo S, Chiao B, Lei Z, Chew SH, Ebstein RP. A Novel Role of CD38 and Oxytocin as Tandem Molecular Moderators of Human Social Behavior. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 115:251-272. [PMID: 32360414 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin is an important modulator of human affiliative behaviors, including social skills, human pair bonding, and friendship. CD38 will be discussed as an immune marker and then in more detail the mechanisms of CD38 on releasing brain oxytocin. Mention is made of the paralogue of oxytocin, vasopressin, that has often overlapping and complementary functions with oxytocin on social behavior. Curiously, vasopressin does not require CD38 to be released from the brain. This review discusses the social salience hypothesis of oxytocin action, a novel view of how this molecule influences much of human social behaviors often in contradictory ways. The oxytocinergic-vasopressinergic systems are crucial modulators of broad aspects of human personality. Of special interest are studies of these two hormones in trust related behavior observed using behavioral economic games. This review also covers the role of oxytocin in parenting and parental attachment. In conclusion, the effects of oxytocin on human behavior depend on the individual's social context and importantly as well, the individual's cultural milieu, viz. East and West. ACRONYMS: ACC = Anterior Cingulate ADP = Adenosine diphosphate AQ = Autism Quotient cADPR = Cyclic ADP-ribose CNS = Central nervous system DA = Dopamine eQTLC = Expression Quantitative Trait Loci LC-NE = Locus Coeruleus-Norepinephrine MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging OFC = Orbitofrontal cortices OXT = Oxytocin RAGE = Receptor for advanced glycation end-products SARM1 = Sterile Alpha and toll/interleukin-1 receptor motif-containing 1 TRPM2= Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel Subfamily M Member 2 AVP = Vasopressin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serenella Tolomeo
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Benjamin Chiao
- CCBEF (China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance) & SOE (School of Economics), Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China; PSB Paris School of Business, Paris, France
| | - Zhen Lei
- CCBEF (China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance) & SOE (School of Economics), Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China
| | - Soo Hong Chew
- CCBEF (China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance) & SOE (School of Economics), Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China.
| | - Richard P Ebstein
- CCBEF (China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance) & SOE (School of Economics), Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China.
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16
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Zeev-Wolf M, Levy J, Ebstein RP, Feldman R. Cumulative Risk on Oxytocin-Pathway Genes Impairs Default Mode Network Connectivity in Trauma-Exposed Youth. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:335. [PMID: 32528417 PMCID: PMC7256187 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Although the default mode network (DMN) is a core network essential for brain functioning, little is known about its developmental trajectory, particularly on factors associated with its coherence into a functional network. In light of adult studies indicating DMN's susceptibility to stress-related conditions, we examined links between variability on oxytocin-pathway genes and DMN connectivity in youth exposed to chronic war-related trauma Methods: Following a cohort of war-exposed children from early childhood, we imaged the brains of 74 preadolescents (age 11-13 years; 39 war-exposed) during rest using magnetoencephalography (MEG). A cumulative risk index on oxytocin-pathway genes was constructed by combining single nucleotide polymorphisms on five genes previously linked with social deficits and psychopathology; OXTR rs1042778, OXTR rs2254298, OXTRrs53576, CD38 rs3796863, and AVPR1A RS3. Avoidant response to trauma reminders in early childhood and anxiety disorders in late childhood were assessed as predictors of disruptions to DMN theta connectivity. Results: Higher vulnerability on oxytocin-pathway genes predicted greater disruptions to DMN theta connectivity. Avoidant symptoms in early childhood and generalized anxiety disorder in later childhood were related to impaired DMN connectivity. In combination, stress exposure, oxytocin-pathway genes, and stress-related symptoms explained 24.6% of the variance in DMN connectivity, highlighting the significant effect of stress on the maturing brain. Conclusions: Findings are the first to link the oxytocin system and maturation of the DMN, a core system sustaining autobiographical memories, alteration of intrinsic and extrinsic attention, mentalization, and sense of self. Results suggest that oxytocin may buffer the effects of chronic early stress on the DMN, particularly theta rhythms that typify the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maor Zeev-Wolf
- Department of Education, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Jonathan Levy
- Interdiscilinary Center Herzliya, Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Herzliya, Israel
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Richard P. Ebstein
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ruth Feldman
- Interdiscilinary Center Herzliya, Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Herzliya, Israel
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- *Correspondence: Ruth Feldman
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17
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Lussier D, Cruz-Almeida Y, Ebner NC. Musculoskeletal Pain and Brain Morphology: Oxytocin's Potential as a Treatment for Chronic Pain in Aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:338. [PMID: 31920621 PMCID: PMC6923678 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain disproportionately affects older adults, severely impacting quality of life and independent living, with musculoskeletal pain most prevalent. Chronic musculoskeletal pain is associated with specific structural alterations in the brain and interindividual variability in brain structure is likely an important contributor to susceptibility for the development of chronic pain. However, understanding of age-related structural changes in the brain and their associations with chronic musculoskeletal pain is currently limited. Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide present in the periphery and central nervous system, has been implicated in pain attenuation. Variation of the endogenous OT system (e.g., OT receptor genotype, blood, saliva, and cerebrospinal fluid OT levels) is associated with morphology in brain regions involved in pain processing and modulation. Intranasal OT administration has been shown to attenuate pain. Yet, studies investigating the efficacy of OT for management of chronic musculoskeletal pain are lacking, including among older individuals who are particularly susceptible to the development of chronic musculoskeletal pain. The goal of this focused narrative review was to synthesize previously parallel lines of work on the relationships between chronic pain, brain morphology, and OT in the context of aging. Based on the existing evidence, we propose that research on the use of intranasal OT administration as an intervention for chronic pain in older adults is needed and constitutes a promising future direction for this field. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research in the emerging field, guided by our proposed Model of Oxytocin’s Anagelsic and Brain Structural Effects in Aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Désirée Lussier
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Yenisel Cruz-Almeida
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Claude D. Pepper Older American Independence Center, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Community Dentistry & Behavioral Science, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Departments of Aging & Geriatric Research, Epidemiology and Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Claude D. Pepper Older American Independence Center, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Community Dentistry & Behavioral Science, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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18
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Kucharska K, Kot E, Biernacka K, Zimowski J, Rogoza R, Rybakowski F, Kostecka B, Bednarska-Makaruk M. Interaction between polymorphisms of the oxytocinergic system genes and emotion perception in inpatients with anorexia nervosa. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2019; 27:481-494. [PMID: 31385420 DOI: 10.1002/erv.2698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The empirical literature describes the role of the oxytocinergic system in emotion perception (EP). Variants in the oxytocin (OXT) and oxytocin receptor genes have been associated with mental disorders, including anorexia nervosa (AN), that are characterized by difficulties in socioemotional functioning. Our study aimed to examine whether variability within the genes related to OXT pathways may play a role in facial EP in inpatients with AN. METHOD Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the following genes: oxytocin receptor (rs2254298, rs53576), OXT (rs6133010), OXT-arginine-vasopressin (rs2740204), CD38 (rs6449197, rs3796863), and human leucyl/cystinylaminopeptidase (rs4869317) were genotyped in 60 AN female inpatients and 60 healthy control females (HCs). Associations between genetic polymorphisms and EP as well as clinical symptoms were examined. RESULTS The AN group showed decreased EP abilities compared with HCs. SNPs of rs2740204, rs6133010, and rs53576 were associated with differences in EP in women with AN and in HCs. The SNP of rs4869317 was associated with the level of eating disorders symptoms in HCs. CONCLUSIONS The OXT system may be involved in EP difficulties in AN. SNPs within genes related to OXT pathways may influence EP abilities. The leucyl/cystinylaminopeptidase rs4869317 SNP may be involved in the development of eating disorders psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emilia Kot
- The Department of Neuroses, Personality Disorders and Eating Disorders, The Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Biernacka
- The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Poland
| | - Janusz Zimowski
- The Department of Genetics, The Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Poland
| | - Radosław Rogoza
- Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Poland
| | - Filip Rybakowski
- The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Poland.,The Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
| | - Barbara Kostecka
- The Department of Neuroses, Personality Disorders and Eating Disorders, The Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Poland
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19
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Friedlander E, Yirmiya N, Laiba E, Harel-Gadassi A, Yaari M, Feldstein O, Mankuta D, Israel S. Cumulative Risk of the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Interacts with Prenatal Exposure to Oxytocin Receptor Antagonist to Predict Children's Social Communication Development. Autism Res 2019; 12:1087-1100. [PMID: 31025834 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Compelling evidence for the far-reaching role of oxytocin (OT) in social cognition and affiliative behaviors set the basis for examining the association between genetic variation in the OT receptor (OXTR) gene and risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the current study, gene-environment interaction between OXTR and prenatal exposure to either OT or OXTR antagonist (OXTRA) in predicting early social communication development was examined. One hundred and fifty-three children (age: M = 4.32, SD = 1.07) were assigned to four groups based on prenatal history: children whose mothers prenatally received OXTRA and Nifedipine to delay preterm labor (n = 27); children whose mothers received Nifedipine only to delay preterm labor (n = 35); children whose mothers received OT for labor augmentation (n = 56), and a no intervention group (n = 35). Participants completed a developmental assessment of intelligence quotient (IQ), adaptive behavior, and social communication abilities. DNA was extracted via buccal swab. A genetic risk score was calculated based on four OXTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs53576, rs237887, rs1042778, and rs2254298) previously reported to be associated with ASD symptomatology. OXTRrisk-allele dosage was associated with more severe autism diagnostics observation schedule (ADOS) scores only in the OXTRA group. In contrast, in the Nifedipine, OT, and no intervention groups, OXTRrisk-allele dosage was not associated with children's ADOS scores. These findings highlight the importance of both genetic and environmental pathways of OT in signaling early social development and raise the need for further research in this field. Autism Res 2019, 12: 1087-1100. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: In the current study, we examined if the association between prenatal exposure to an oxytocin receptor antagonist (OXTRA) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) related impairments are dependent on an individual's genetic background for the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). Children who carried a greater number of risk alleles for the OXTR gene and whose mothers received OXTRA to delay preterm labor showed more ASD-related impairments. The results highlight the importance of both genetic and environmental pathways of oxytocin in shaping early social development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwa Friedlander
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nurit Yirmiya
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Efrat Laiba
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Maya Yaari
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ohad Feldstein
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Ein-Kerem University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - David Mankuta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Ein-Kerem University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Salomon Israel
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,Scheinfeld Center of Human Genetics for the Social Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
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20
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The oxytocin receptor gene predicts brain activity during an emotion recognition task in autism. Mol Autism 2019; 10:12. [PMID: 30918622 PMCID: PMC6419364 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0258-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Autism is a highly varied and heritable neurodevelopmental condition, and common variants explain approximately 50% of the genetic variance of autism. One of the genes implicated in autism is the oxytocin receptor (OXTR). The current study combined genetic and brain imaging (fMRI) data to examine the moderating effect of genotype on the association between diagnosis and brain activity in response to a test of cognitive empathy. Methods Participants were adolescents (mean age = 14.7 ± 1.7) who were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the OXTR and underwent functional brain imaging while completing the adolescent version of the ‘Reading the Mind in the Eyes’ Test (Eyes Test). Results Two (rs2254298, rs53576) of the five OXTR SNPs examined were significantly associated with brain activity during the Eyes Test, and three of the SNPs (rs2254298, rs53576, rs2268491) interacted with diagnostic status to predict brain activity. All of the effects localized to the right supramarginal gyrus (rSMG) and an overlap analysis revealed a large overlap of the effects. An exploratory analysis showed that activity within an anatomically defined rSMG and genotype can predict diagnostic status with reasonable accuracy. Conclusions This is one of the first studies to investigate OXTR and brain function in autism. The findings suggest a neurogenetic mechanism by which OXTR-dependent activity within the rSMG is related to the aetiology of autism. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13229-019-0258-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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21
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Nomi JS, Molnar-Szakacs I, Uddin LQ. Insular function in autism: Update and future directions in neuroimaging and interventions. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 89:412-426. [PMID: 30381235 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The insular cortex, hidden within the lateral sulcus of the human brain, participates in a range of cognitive, affective, and sensory functions. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition affecting all of these functional domains, has increasingly been linked with atypical activation and connectivity of the insular cortices. Here we review the latest research linking atypical insular function to a range of behaviors characteristic of ASD, with an emphasis on neuroimaging findings in the domains of social cognition and executive function. We summarize some of the recent work linking the insula to interventions in autism, including oxytocin-based pharmacological treatments and music therapy. We suggest that future directions likely to yield significant insights into insular pathology in ASD include the analysis of the dynamics of this brain region. We also conclude that more basic research is necessary on the use of oxytocin pharmacotherapy, and larger studies addressing participant heterogeneity are needed on the use of music therapy in ASD. Long-term studies are needed to ascertain sustained effects of these interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Nomi
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
| | | | - Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA; Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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22
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Structural neuroimaging correlates of social deficits are similar in autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: analysis from the POND Network. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:72. [PMID: 30718456 PMCID: PMC6361977 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0382-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have been associated with difficulties recognizing and responding to social cues. Neuroimaging studies have begun to map the social brain; however, the specific neural substrates contributing to social deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders remain unclear. Three hundred and twelve children underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging of the brain (controls = 32, OCD = 44, ADHD = 77, ASD = 159; mean age = 11). Their social deficits were quantified on the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). Multivariable regression models were used to examine the structural neuroimaging correlates of social deficits, with both a region of interest and a whole-brain vertex-wise approach. For the region of interest analysis, social brain regions were grouped into three networks: (1) lateral mentalization (e.g., temporal-parietal junction), (2) frontal cognitive (e.g., orbitofrontal cortex), and (3) subcortical affective (e.g., limbic system) regions. Overall, social communication deficits on the SCQ were associated with thinner cortices in the left lateral regions and the right insula, and decreased volume in the ventral striatum, across diagnostic groups (p = 0.006 to <0.0001). Smaller subcortical volumes were associated with more severe social deficits on the SCQ in ASD and ADHD, and less severe deficits in OCD. On the RMET, larger amygdala/hippocampal volumes were associated with fewer deficits across groups. Overall, patterns of associations were similar in ASD and ADHD, supporting a common underlying biology and the blurring of the diagnostic boundaries between these disorders.
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23
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Tops S, Habel U, Radke S. Genetic and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and the (clinical) implications for social behavior. Horm Behav 2019; 108:84-93. [PMID: 29505762 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin and the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) play an important role in a large variety of social behaviors. The oxytocinergic system interacts with environmental cues and is highly dependent on interindividual factors. Deficits in this system have been linked to mental disorders associated with social impairments, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This review focuses on the modulation of social behavior by alterations in two domains of the oxytocinergic system. We discuss genetic and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms and alterations in these mechanisms that were found to have clinical implications for ASD. We propose possible explanations how these alterations affect the biological pathways underlying the aberrant social behavior and point out avenues for future research. We advocate the need for integration studies that combine multiple measures covering a broad range of social behaviors and link these to genetic and epigenetic profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Tops
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Germany.
| | - Ute Habel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Germany; Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA) - BRAIN Institute I, Jülich/Aachen, Germany
| | - Sina Radke
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Germany; Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA) - BRAIN Institute I, Jülich/Aachen, Germany
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24
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Kraaijenvanger EJ, He Y, Spencer H, Smith AK, Bos PA, Boks MP. Epigenetic variability in the human oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene: A possible pathway from early life experiences to psychopathologies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 96:127-142. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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25
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Intranasal oxytocin and OXTR genotype effects on resting state functional connectivity: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 95:17-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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26
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Sala M, Han K, Acevedo S, Krawczyk DC, McAdams CJ. Oxytocin Receptor Polymorphism Decreases Midline Neural Activations to Social Stimuli in Anorexia Nervosa. Front Psychol 2018; 9:2183. [PMID: 30542304 PMCID: PMC6277875 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter related to both feeding and social behavior; anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric illness defined by reduced food intake, weight loss, and problems in social perceptions. Oxytocin receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms rs2254298 or rs53576 and neural responses to social stimuli were evaluated in adult women with or recovered from anorexia nervosa using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Carriers of the A allele for OXTR rs2254298 (2 AA and 10 AG) showed significantly reduced activation of portions of the posterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex for social stimuli as well as greater negative connectivity between the posterior cingulate and the occipital lobe relative to the GG subjects for rs2254298. Differences in the other OXTR SNP, rs53576, did not result in detectable neural differences in either whole brain or region of interest analyses. Development of a mechanistic, biological model of how social behavior is impacted by mental illness requires linking genes to functional brain activations in disease. This pilot study suggests that in anorexia nervosa, differences related to OXTR SNP rs2254298 may alter neural responses to social stimuli and disrupt the engagement and disengagement of the default mode network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Sala
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Kihwan Han
- Center for Brain Health, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Summer Acevedo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas at Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Daniel C Krawczyk
- Center for Brain Health, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas at Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Carrie J McAdams
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas at Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, United States
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27
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Cataldo I, Azhari A, Lepri B, Esposito G. Oxytocin receptors (OXTR) and early parental care: An interaction that modulates psychiatric disorders. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2018; 82:27-38. [PMID: 29033100 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin plays an important role in the modulation of social behavior in both typical and atypical contexts. Also, the quality of early parental care sets the foundation for long-term psychosocial development. Here, we review studies that investigated how oxytocin receptor (OXTR) interacts with early parental care experiences to influence the development of psychiatric disorders. Using Pubmed, Scopus and PsycInfo databases, we utilized the keyword "OXTR" before subsequently searching for specific OXTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), generating a list of 598 studies in total. The papers were catalogued in a database and filtered for gene-environment interaction, psychiatric disorders and involvement of parental care. In particular, rs53576 and rs2254298 were found to be significantly involved in gene-environment interactions that modulated risk for psychopathology and the following psychiatric disorders: disruptive behavior, depression, anxiety, eating disorder and borderline personality disorder. These results illustrate the importance of OXTR in mediating the impact of parental care on the emergence of psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Cataldo
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Italy; Mobile and Social Computing Lab, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy
| | - Atiqah Azhari
- Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Bruno Lepri
- Mobile and Social Computing Lab, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Italy; Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
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28
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Kim HW, Kang JI, An SK, Kim SJ. Oxytocin receptor gene variants are associated with emotion recognition and resilience, but not with false-belief reasoning performance in healthy young Korean volunteers. CNS Neurosci Ther 2018; 25:519-526. [PMID: 30311451 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS A growing body of literature has indicated that oxytocin is associated with several domains of social cognition and behavior. Nevertheless, the effects of oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) polymorphisms on social phenotypes remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the genetic influence of OXTR variants on social cognition (social perception and theory of mind) and resilience in healthy individuals. METHODS We examined the influence of 10 common OXTR variants on social cognitive abilities, including facial emotion recognition and theory of mind, and trait resilience in 264 unrelated, healthy participants. RESULTS We found a significant association between the A-C haplotype at rs237887-rs2268490 and facial affect recognition. In addition, the single marker rs2254298 was significantly associated with participants' scores on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. In contrast, variations in OXTR did not affect participants' performance on the false-belief reasoning task. CONCLUSIONS Single makers or haplotypes at OXTR may contribute to individual differences in facial emotion recognition and psychological resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae Won Kim
- Department of Medical Education, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jee In Kang
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Suk Kyoon An
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Se Joo Kim
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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29
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Dobewall H, Hakulinen C, Keltikangas-Järvinen L, Pulkki-Råback L, Seppälä I, Lehtimäki T, Raitakari OT, Hintsanen M. Oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) variant rs1042778 moderates the influence of family environment on changes in perceived social support over time. J Affect Disord 2018; 235:480-488. [PMID: 29680729 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lack of social support is an established risk factor across health outcomes, making it important to examine its family environmental and genetic determinants. METHODS In a 27-year follow-up of the Young Finns Study (N = 2341), we examined with a latent growth curve model whether genes involved in the oxytocin signaling pathway-namely, oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) variants rs1042778, rs2254298, and rs53576-moderate the effect of early-life social experiences on perceived social support across the life span. Mothers reported the emotional warmth and acceptance towards their children at baseline when the participants were from 3 to 18 years old (1980). Perceived family support and support from friends and peripheral sources were assessed in five follow-ups 18 years apart (1989-2007). RESULTS Maternal emotional warmth and acceptance predicted the initial level of perceived social support across subscales, while the rate of change in family support was affected by the family environment only if participants carried the T-allele of OXTR rs1042778. This gene-environment interaction was not found for the rate of change in support from friends and peripheral sources and we also did not find associations between latent growth in perceived social support and OXTR variants rs53576 and rs2254298. LIMITATIONS Selective attrition in perceived social support, maternal emotional warmth and acceptance, gender, and SES. Family environment was assessed by a non-standardized measure. CONCLUSIONS OXTR rs1042778 polymorphism seems to contribute to changes in perceived family support in that way that some individuals (T-allele carriers) 'recover', to some extent, from the effects of early-life social experiences, whereas others (G/G genotype carriers) do not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Dobewall
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Faculty of Social Sciences, Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Christian Hakulinen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Laura Pulkki-Råback
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilkka Seppälä
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center-Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland
| | - Terho Lehtimäki
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center-Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland
| | - Olli T Raitakari
- Research Collegium for Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Mirka Hintsanen
- Research Unit of Psychology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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30
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Cataldo I, Azhari A, Esposito G. A Review of Oxytocin and Arginine-Vasopressin Receptors and Their Modulation of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:27. [PMID: 29487501 PMCID: PMC5816822 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) play a key regulatory part in social and affiliative behaviors; two aspects highly compromised in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Furthermore, variants in the adjacent oxytocin-vasopressin gene regions have been found to be associated with ASD diagnosis and endophenotypes. This review focuses mainly on common OXTr single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), AVPR1a microsatellites and AVPR1b polymorphisms in relation to the development of autism. Although these genes did not surface in genome-wide association studies, evidence supports the hypothesis that these receptors and their polymorphisms are widely involved in the regulation of social behavior, and in modulating neural and physiological pathways contributing to the etiology of ASD. With a specific focus on variants considered to be among the most prevalent in the development of ASD, these issues will be discussed in-depth and suggestions to approach inconsistencies in the present literature will be provided. Translational implications and future directions are deliberated from a short-term and a forward-looking perspective. While the scientific community has made significant progress in enhancing our understanding of ASD, more research is required for the ontology of this disorder to be fully elucidated. By supplementing information related to genetics, highlighting the differences across male and female sexes, this review provides a wider view of the current state of knowledge of OXTr and AVPr mechanisms of functioning, eventually addressing future research in the identification of further risk factors, to build new strategies for early interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Cataldo
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.,Mobile and Social Computing Lab, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy
| | - Atiqah Azhari
- Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.,Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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31
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Hovey D, Henningsson S, Cortes DS, Bänziger T, Zettergren A, Melke J, Fischer H, Laukka P, Westberg L. Emotion recognition associated with polymorphism in oxytocinergic pathway gene ARNT2. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2018; 13:173-181. [PMID: 29194499 PMCID: PMC5827350 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsx141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to correctly understand the emotional expression of another person is essential for social relationships and appears to be a partly inherited trait. The neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin have been shown to influence this ability as well as face processing in humans. Here, recognition of the emotional content of faces and voices, separately and combined, was investigated in 492 subjects, genotyped for 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in eight genes encoding proteins important for oxytocin and vasopressin neurotransmission. The SNP rs4778599 in the gene encoding aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2 (ARNT2), a transcription factor that participates in the development of hypothalamic oxytocin and vasopressin neurons, showed an association that survived correction for multiple testing with emotion recognition of audio-visual stimuli in women (n = 309). This study demonstrates evidence for an association that further expands previous findings of oxytocin and vasopressin involvement in emotion recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hovey
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Susanne Henningsson
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Diana S Cortes
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tanja Bänziger
- Department of Psychology, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
| | - Anna Zettergren
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jonas Melke
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Håkan Fischer
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Petri Laukka
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Westberg
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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32
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Fakhoury M. Imaging genetics in autism spectrum disorders: Linking genetics and brain imaging in the pursuit of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 80:101-114. [PMID: 28322981 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) include a wide range of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions that affect an individual in several aspects of social communication and behavior. Recent advances in molecular genetic technologies have dramatically increased our understanding of ASD etiology through the identification of several autism risk genes, most of which serve important functions in synaptic plasticity and protein synthesis. However, despite significant progress in this field of research, the characterization of the neurobiological mechanisms by which common genetic risk variants might operate to give rise to ASD symptomatology has proven to be far more difficult than expected. The imaging genetics approach holds great promise for advancing our understanding of ASD etiology by bridging the gap between genetic variations and their resultant biological effects on the brain. This paper provides a conceptual overview of the contribution of genetics in ASD and discusses key findings from the emerging field of imaging genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Fakhoury
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada.
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Watanabe T, Otowa T, Abe O, Kuwabara H, Aoki Y, Natsubori T, Takao H, Kakiuchi C, Kondo K, Ikeda M, Iwata N, Kasai K, Sasaki T, Yamasue H. Oxytocin receptor gene variations predict neural and behavioral response to oxytocin in autism. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2017; 12:496-506. [PMID: 27798253 PMCID: PMC5390696 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsw150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin appears beneficial for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and more than 20 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in oxytocin receptor (OXTR) are relevant to ASD. However, neither biological functions of OXTR SNPs in ASD nor critical OXTR SNPs that determine oxytocin’s effects on ASD remains known. Here, using a machine-learning algorithm that was designed to evaluate collective effects of multiple SNPs and automatically identify most informative SNPs, we examined relationships between 27 representative OXTR SNPs and six types of behavioral/neural response to oxytocin in ASD individuals. The oxytocin effects were extracted from our previous placebo-controlled within-participant clinical trial administering single-dose intranasal oxytocin to 38 high-functioning adult Japanese ASD males. Consequently, we identified six different SNP sets that could accurately predict the six different oxytocin efficacies, and confirmed the robustness of these SNP selections against variations of the datasets and analysis parameters. Moreover, major alleles of several prominent OXTR SNPs—including rs53576 and rs2254298—were found to have dissociable effects on the oxytocin efficacies. These findings suggest biological functions of the OXTR SNP variants on autistic oxytocin responses, and implied that clinical oxytocin efficacy may be genetically predicted before its actual administration, which would contribute to establishment of future precision medicines for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takamitsu Watanabe
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AZ, UK
| | - Takeshi Otowa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Osamu Abe
- Department of Radiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchikami-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | | | - Yuta Aoki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Tatsunobu Natsubori
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Hidemasa Takao
- Department of Radiology Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Chihiro Kakiuchi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Kenji Kondo
- Department of Psychiatry Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Masashi Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Nakao Iwata
- Department of Psychiatry Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Kasai
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Sasaki
- Department of Physical and Health Education Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Hidenori Yamasue
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu City 431-3192, Japan
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Chen FS, Heinrichs M, Johnson SC. Oxytocin and the emergence of individual differences in the social regulation of stress. SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY COMPASS 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/spc3.12332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frances S. Chen
- Department of Psychology; University of British Columbia; Canada
| | - Markus Heinrichs
- Department of Psychology; University of Freiburg; Germany
- Freiburg Brain Imaging Center; University Medical Center, University of Freiburg; Germany
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Crespi BJ, Procyshyn TL. Williams syndrome deletions and duplications: Genetic windows to understanding anxiety, sociality, autism, and schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 79:14-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Holmqvist Jämsen S, Johansson A, Westberg L, Santtila P, von der Pahlen B, Simberg S. Associations Between Vocal Symptoms and Genetic Variants in the Oxytocin Receptor and Arginine Vasopressin 1A Receptor Gene. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2017; 60:1843-1854. [PMID: 28687839 DOI: 10.1044/2016_jslhr-s-16-0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Oxytocin and arginine vasopressin are associated with different aspects of the stress response. As stress is regarded as a risk factor for vocal symptoms, we wanted to explore the association between the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and arginine vasopressin 1A receptor gene (AVPR1A) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and vocal symptoms. We also wanted to explore whether such effects might be mediated by cortisol because oxytocin and vasopressin are associated with cortisol levels. METHOD A population-based sample (N = 657) of Finnish twins (born 1961-1989) completed a web questionnaire on the occurrence of vocal symptoms. A total of 170 participants submitted saliva samples for hormone analysis. A total of 20 OXTR and AVPR1A SNPs were analyzed. RESULTS Three OXTR polymorphisms (rs2270465, rs2268493, rs7632287) and 2 AVPR1A polymorphisms (rs1587097, rs1042615) showed nominal effects (p < .05) on vocal symptoms, of which 1 (rs1587097) remained significant after correcting for multiple testing (p = .003). We found potential mediation of the effect of the OXTR rs2268493 polymorphism on vocal symptoms through levels of cortisol. CONCLUSIONS The associations between variants of OXTR and AVPR1A and vocal symptoms indicate that oxytocin and vasopressin might influence vocal symptoms. The effect of oxytocin seems to be partly mediated through cortisol actions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ada Johansson
- Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, FinlandDepartment of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, FinlandDepartment of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lars Westberg
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pekka Santtila
- Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Susanna Simberg
- Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, FinlandDepartment of Special Needs Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway
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Klein M, van Donkelaar M, Verhoef E, Franke B. Imaging genetics in neurodevelopmental psychopathology. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2017; 174:485-537. [PMID: 29984470 PMCID: PMC7170264 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are defined by highly heritable problems during development and brain growth. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and intellectual disability (ID) are frequent neurodevelopmental disorders, with common comorbidity among them. Imaging genetics studies on the role of disease-linked genetic variants on brain structure and function have been performed to unravel the etiology of these disorders. Here, we reviewed imaging genetics literature on these disorders attempting to understand the mechanisms of individual disorders and their clinical overlap. For ADHD and ASD, we selected replicated candidate genes implicated through common genetic variants. For ID, which is mainly caused by rare variants, we included genes for relatively frequent forms of ID occurring comorbid with ADHD or ASD. We reviewed case-control studies and studies of risk variants in healthy individuals. Imaging genetics studies for ADHD were retrieved for SLC6A3/DAT1, DRD2, DRD4, NOS1, and SLC6A4/5HTT. For ASD, studies on CNTNAP2, MET, OXTR, and SLC6A4/5HTT were found. For ID, we reviewed the genes FMR1, TSC1 and TSC2, NF1, and MECP2. Alterations in brain volume, activity, and connectivity were observed. Several findings were consistent across studies, implicating, for example, SLC6A4/5HTT in brain activation and functional connectivity related to emotion regulation. However, many studies had small sample sizes, and hypothesis-based, brain region-specific studies were common. Results from available studies confirm that imaging genetics can provide insight into the link between genes, disease-related behavior, and the brain. However, the field is still in its early stages, and conclusions about shared mechanisms cannot yet be drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke Klein
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein van Donkelaar
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ellen Verhoef
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara Franke
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Birth weight interacts with a functional variant of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) to predict executive functioning in children. Dev Psychopathol 2017; 30:203-211. [PMID: 28511728 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579417000578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Genetic variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is associated with several psychiatric conditions characterized by deficits in executive functioning (EF). A specific OXTR variant, rs2254298, has previously been associated with brain functioning in regions implicated in EF. Moreover, birth weight variation across the entire range is associated with individual differences in cortical structure and function that underlie EF. This is the first study to examine the main and interactive effect between rs2254298 and birth weight on EF in children. The sample consisted of 310 children from an ongoing longitudinal study. EF was measured at age 4.5 using observational tasks indexing working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. A family-based design that controlled for population admixture, stratification, and nongenomic confounds was employed. A significant genetic association between rs2254298 and EF was observed, with more copies of the major allele (G) associated with higher EF. There was also a significant interaction between rs2254298 and birth weight, such that more copies of the major allele in combination with higher birth weight predicted better EF. Findings suggest that OXTR may be associated with discrete neurocognitive abilities in childhood, and these effects may be modulated by intrauterine conditions related to fetal growth and development.
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A Volumetric and Functional Connectivity MRI Study of Brain Arginine-Vasopressin Pathways in Autistic Children. Neurosci Bull 2017; 33:130-142. [PMID: 28258508 PMCID: PMC5360858 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-017-0109-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of brain-derived arginine-vasopressin (AVP) systems may be involved in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Certain regions such as the hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus are known to contain either AVP neurons or terminals and may play an important role in regulating complex social behaviors. The present study was designed to investigate the concomitant changes in autistic behaviors, circulating AVP levels, and the structure and functional connectivity (FC) of specific brain regions in autistic children compared with typically developing children (TDC) aged from 3 to 5 years. The results showed: (1) children with ASD had a significantly increased volume in the left amygdala and left hippocampus, and a significantly decreased volume in the bilateral hypothalamus compared to TDC, and these were positively correlated with plasma AVP level. (2) Autistic children had a negative FC between the left amygdala and the bilateral supramarginal gyri compared to TDC. The degree of the negative FC between amygdala and supramarginal gyrus was associated with a higher score on the clinical autism behavior checklist. (3) The degree of negative FC between left amygdala and left supramarginal gyrus was associated with a lowering of the circulating AVP concentration in boys with ASD. (4) Autistic children showed a higher FC between left hippocampus and right subcortical area compared to TDC. (5) The circulating AVP was negatively correlated with the visual and listening response score of the childhood autism rating scale. These results strongly suggest that changes in structure and FC in brain regions containing AVP may be involved in the etiology of autism.
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose core symptoms include deficits in social interaction and communication besides restricted and repetitive behaviors. Although ASD is highly prevalent, affecting 1/100 in the general population, no medication for the core symptoms has been established. Therefore, the disorder is considered a huge unmet medical need and a heavy burden on individuals with ASD, their families, and entire society. Oxytocin is expected to be a potential therapeutic resource for the social core symptoms of ASD, since this neuropeptide can modulate human social behavior and cognition. This review article provides an overview of both experimental and clinical studies on effects of oxytocin administration on behavior, neural underpinnings, and symptomatology of ASD. Although the number of studies is increasing, several issues remain for further development of clinical application of the neuropeptide. The issues include optimization of administration route, doses, treatment duration, interval of administrations, and timing of starting treatment. Additional issues involve investigating neurobiological mechanisms of treatment and developing a reliable tool to accurately and objectively assess longitudinal changes in the core symptoms of ASD. Some of these issues are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Yamasue
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, 431-3192, Japan.
| | - Gregor Domes
- Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Am Johanniterufer 15, 54290, Trier, Germany.
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Leerkes EM, Gedaly LR, Zhou N, Calkins S, Henrich VC, Smolen A. Further evidence of the limited role of candidate genes in relation to infant-mother attachment outcomes. Attach Hum Dev 2016; 19:76-105. [PMID: 27852134 DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2016.1253759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we examine the associations between specific candidate genes (DRD2, DRD4, COMT, biallelic and tri-allelic 5HTTLPR, and OXTR) and infant attachment outcomes as main effects and in conjunction with maternal sensitivity. The sample included 200 infants (97 European American, 94 African-American, and 9 biracial) and their mothers. Maternal sensitivity and overtly negative maternal behavior were observed when infants were 6 months and 1 year old in distress-eliciting contexts, attachment was assessed via the Strange Situation at age 1, and DNA samples were collected when children were 2 years old. Consistent with recent research in large samples, there was little evidence that these genes are associated with attachment security, disorganization, or distress as main effects (in additive, dominant, and homozygous models) or in conjunction with maternal sensitivity or overtly negative behavior (primarily dominance models). Furthermore, there was little evidence that associations vary as a function of race.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther M Leerkes
- a Human Development and Family Studies , The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , Greensboro , NC , USA
| | - Lindsey R Gedaly
- a Human Development and Family Studies , The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , Greensboro , NC , USA
| | - Nan Zhou
- a Human Development and Family Studies , The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , Greensboro , NC , USA
| | - Susan Calkins
- a Human Development and Family Studies , The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , Greensboro , NC , USA
| | - Vincent C Henrich
- b Center for Biotechnology, Genomics, and Health Research , The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , Greensboro , NC , USA
| | - Andrew Smolen
- c Institute for Behavioral Genetics , University of Colorado Boulder , Boulder , CO , USA
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Association between oxytocin and receptor genetic polymorphisms and aggression in a northern Chinese Han population with alcohol dependence. Neurosci Lett 2016; 636:140-144. [PMID: 27818356 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.10.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alcohol dependence (AD) is a common chronic brain disorder precipitated by complex interactions between biological, genetic, and environmental risk factors. Aggression often occurs in the context of AD. Previous studies have shown that Oxytocin (OXT) and OXT receptor (OXTR) are involved in the regulation of aggression. The present study investigated whether variations and interactions of OXT and OXTR genes were associated with AD-related aggression in a genetically homogeneous northern Chinese Han population. METHODS Three hundred and twenty-four male AD patients and 510 male healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. A Chinese version of the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire was used as a subjective measurement of aggressive behavior. Three variations, rs2254298, rs53576, and rs6133010 were genotyped using TaqMan and ligase detection reaction for all subjects. Generalized Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction was used to detect interactions between genetic attributes and environmental attributes. RESULTS The frequencies of alleles and genotypes of rs6133010 were significantly different between AD patients and HCs (p<0.001). In HCs, the effect of genotype GG of rs53576 on hostility aggression was significantly stronger than that of genotype AA and AG (p=0.001 and p=0.004, respectively), and the subjects with the interaction combination of rs6133010AA×rs2254298GG×rs53576AG exhibited significant effect on physical aggression (p=0.0107). CONCLUSION The present study found that rs6133010 in the OXT gene is associated with AD in the northern Chinese Han population. The polymorphisms of OXT/R may play a key role in the susceptibility of AD-related aggression.
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Isgett SF, Algoe SB, Boulton AJ, Way BM, Fredrickson BL. Common variant in OXTR predicts growth in positive emotions from loving-kindness training. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2016; 73:244-251. [PMID: 27543885 PMCID: PMC5359600 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2016] [Revised: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ample research suggests that social connection reliably generates positive emotions. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide implicated in social cognition and behavior, is one biological mechanism that may influence an individual's capacity to extract positive emotions from social contexts. Because variation in certain genes may indicate underlying neurobiological differences, we tested whether several SNPs in two genes related to oxytocin signaling would show effects on positive emotions that were context-specific, depending on sociality. For six weeks, a sample of mid-life adults (N=122) participated in either socially-focused loving-kindness training or mindfulness training. During this timespan they reported their positive emotions daily. Five SNPs within OXTR and CD38 were assayed, and each was tested for its individual effect on daily emotions. The hypothesized three-way interaction between time, training type, and genetic variability emerged: Individuals homozygous for the G allele of OXTR rs1042778 experienced gains in daily positive emotions from loving-kindness training, whereas individuals with the T allele did not experience gains in positive emotions with either training. These findings are among the first to show how genetic differences in oxytocin signaling may influence an individual's capacity to experience positive emotions as a result of a socially-focused intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzannah F Isgett
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #3270, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sara B Algoe
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #3270, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Aaron J Boulton
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #3270, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Baldwin M Way
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, 100G Lazenby Hall, 1827 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Barbara L Fredrickson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #3270, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Westberg L, Henningsson S, Zettergren A, Svärd J, Hovey D, Lin T, Ebner NC, Fischer H. Variation in the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Is Associated with Face Recognition and its Neural Correlates. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:178. [PMID: 27713694 PMCID: PMC5031602 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to recognize faces is crucial for daily social interactions. Recent studies suggest that intranasal oxytocin administration improves social recognition in humans. Oxytocin signaling in the amygdala plays an essential role for social recognition in mice, and oxytocin administration has been shown to influence amygdala activity in humans. It is therefore possible that the effects of oxytocin on human social recognition depend on mechanisms that take place in the amygdala-a central region for memory processing also in humans. Variation in the gene encoding the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) has been associated with several aspects of social behavior. The present study examined the potential associations between nine OXTR polymorphisms, distributed across the gene, and the ability to recognize faces, as well as face-elicited amygdala activity measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during incidental encoding of faces. The OXTR 3' polymorphism rs7632287, previously related to social bonding behavior and autism risk, was associated with participants' ability to recognize faces. Carriers of the GA genotype, associated with enhanced memory, displayed higher amygdala activity during face encoding compared to carriers of the GG genotype. In line with work in rodents, these findings suggest that, in humans, naturally occurring endogenous modulation of OXTR function affects social recognition through an amygdala-dependent mechanism. These findings contribute to the understanding of how oxytocin regulates human social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Westberg
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Susanne Henningsson
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna Zettergren
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgGothenburg, Sweden; Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgGothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joakim Svärd
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniel Hovey
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tian Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, USA; Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, USA
| | - Håkan Fischer
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska InstitutetStockholm, Sweden; Department of Psychology, Stockholm UniversityStockholm, Sweden
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Buttner AP. Neurobiological underpinnings of dogs' human-like social competence: How interactions between stress response systems and oxytocin mediate dogs' social skills. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 71:198-214. [PMID: 27593441 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) have been suggested as a natural model for human social cognition, possessing social skills that are in many ways functionally analogous to those of young humans. Researchers have debated the origins of dogs' human-like social competence and the underlying cognitive mechanisms, but only recently have researchers begun to explore their neurobiological underpinnings. In this review, findings from behavioral studies are integrated with what is known about the biological basis of dogs' human-directed social competence, with an emphasis on how stress-mediating systems, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, interact with oxytocin and underlying neural systems to facilitate dogs' interspecific social-cognitive abilities. The working model presented in this paper offers a biological explanation for many of the inconsistent findings from past work on social cognition in dogs and generates questions for future research in the field of canine social competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Phillips Buttner
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Allwine Hall, Room 419, 6001 Dodge St., Omaha, NE, 68182, USA.
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46
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Bernhard RM, Chaponis J, Siburian R, Gallagher P, Ransohoff K, Wikler D, Perlis RH, Greene JD. Variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is associated with differences in moral judgment. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2016; 11:1872-1881. [PMID: 27497314 PMCID: PMC5141955 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsw103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 07/02/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Moral judgments are produced through the coordinated interaction of multiple neural systems, each of which relies on a characteristic set of neurotransmitters. Genes that produce or regulate these neurotransmitters may have distinctive influences on moral judgment. Two studies examined potential genetic influences on moral judgment using dilemmas that reliably elicit competing automatic and controlled responses, generated by dissociable neural systems. Study 1 (N = 228) examined 49 common variants (SNPs) within 10 candidate genes and identified a nominal association between a polymorphism (rs237889) of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and variation in deontological vs utilitarian moral judgment (that is, judgments favoring individual rights vs the greater good). An association was likewise observed for rs1042615 of the arginine vasopressin receptor gene (AVPR1A). Study 2 (N = 322) aimed to replicate these findings using the aforementioned dilemmas as well as a new set of structurally similar medical dilemmas. Study 2 failed to replicate the association with AVPR1A, but replicated the OXTR finding using both the original and new dilemmas. Together, these findings suggest that moral judgment is influenced by variation in the oxytocin receptor gene and, more generally, that single genetic polymorphisms can have a detectable effect on complex decision processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regan M Bernhard
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan Chaponis
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Human Genetics Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, 02114, Boston MA, USA
| | - Richie Siburian
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Human Genetics Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, 02114, Boston MA, USA
| | - Patience Gallagher
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Human Genetics Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, 02114, Boston MA, USA
| | | | - Daniel Wikler
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, 02115, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roy H Perlis
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Human Genetics Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, 02114, Boston MA, USA.,Center for Experimental Drugs and Diagnostics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 02114, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joshua D Greene
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA
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King LB, Walum H, Inoue K, Eyrich NW, Young LJ. Variation in the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Predicts Brain Region-Specific Expression and Social Attachment. Biol Psychiatry 2016; 80:160-169. [PMID: 26893121 PMCID: PMC4909578 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin (OXT) modulates several aspects of social behavior. Intranasal OXT is a leading candidate for treating social deficits in patients with autism spectrum disorder, and common genetic variants in the human OXTR gene are associated with emotion recognition, relationship quality, and autism spectrum disorder. Animal models have revealed that individual differences in Oxtr expression in the brain drive social behavior variation. Our understanding of how genetic variation contributes to brain OXTR expression is very limited. METHODS We investigated Oxtr expression in monogamous prairie voles, which have a well-characterized OXT system. We quantified brain region-specific levels of Oxtr messenger RNA and oxytocin receptor protein with established neuroanatomic methods. We used pyrosequencing to investigate allelic imbalance of Oxtr mRNA, a molecular signature of polymorphic genetic regulatory elements. We performed next-generation sequencing to discover variants in and near the Oxtr gene. We investigated social attachment using the partner preference test. RESULTS Our allelic imbalance data demonstrate that genetic variants contribute to individual differences in Oxtr expression, but only in particular brain regions, including the nucleus accumbens, where oxytocin receptor signaling facilitates social attachment. Next-generation sequencing identified one polymorphism in the Oxtr intron, near a putative cis-regulatory element, explaining 74% of the variance in striatal Oxtr expression specifically. Males homozygous for the high expressing allele display enhanced social attachment. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these findings provide convincing evidence for robust genetic influence on Oxtr expression and provide novel insights into how noncoding polymorphisms in OXTR might influence individual differences in human social cognition and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Larry J. Young
- Address Correspondence to: Larry J. Young, 954
Gatewood Rd., Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University,
Atlanta, GA 30329, USA, Phone: 404 727-8272, Fax: 404 727-8070,
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Antisocial behavior and polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor gene: findings in two independent samples. Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:983-8. [PMID: 26390829 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The quantitative genetic contribution to antisocial behavior is well established, but few, if any, genetic variants are established as risk factors. Emerging evidence suggests that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) may modulate interpersonal aggression. We here investigated whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the OXT receptor gene (OXTR) are associated with the expression of antisocial behavior. A discovery sample, including both sexes, was drawn from the Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS; n=2372), and a sample from the Twin Study of Child and Adolescent Development (TCHAD; n=1232) was used for replication. Eight SNPs in OXTR, selected on previous associations with social and antisocial behavior, were genotyped in the participants of CATSS. Significant polymorphisms were subsequently genotyped in TCHAD for replication. Participants completed self-assessment questionnaires-Life History of Aggression (LHA; available only in CATSS), and Self-Reported Delinquency (SRD; available in both samples)-designed to capture antisocial behavior as continuous traits. In the discovery sample, the rs7632287 AA genotype was associated with higher frequency of antisocial behavior in boys, and this was then replicated in the second sample. In particular, overt aggression (directly targeting another individual) was strongly associated with this genotype in boys (P=6.2 × 10(-7) in the discovery sample). Meta-analysis of the results for antisocial behavior from both samples yielded P=2.5 × 10(-5). Furthermore, an association between rs4564970 and LHA (P=0.00013) survived correction in the discovery sample, but there was no association with the SRD in the replication sample. We conclude that the rs7632287 and rs4564970 polymorphisms in OXTR may independently influence antisocial behavior in adolescent boys. Further replication of our results will be crucial to understanding how aberrant social behavior arises, and would support the OXT receptor as one potential target in the treatment of aggressive antisocial behavior.
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Abstract
Across many mammalian species there exist genetic and biological systems that facilitate the tendency to be social. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide involved in social-approach behaviors in humans and others mammals. Although there exists a large, mounting body of evidence showing that oxytocin signaling genes are associated with human sociability, very little is currently known regarding the way the structural gene for oxytocin (OXT) confers individual differences in human sociability. In this study, we undertook a comprehensive approach to investigate the association between epigenetic modification of OXT via DNA methylation, and overt measures of social processing, including self-report, behavior, and brain function and structure. Genetic data were collected via saliva samples and analyzed to target and quantify DNA methylation across the promoter region of OXT We observed a consistent pattern of results across sociability measures. People that exhibit lower OXT DNA methylation (presumably linked to higher OXT expression) display more secure attachment styles, improved ability to recognize emotional facial expressions, greater superior temporal sulcus activity during two social-cognitive functional MRI tasks, and larger fusiform gyrus gray matter volume than people that exhibit higher OXT DNA methylation. These findings provide empirical evidence that epigenetic modification of OXT is linked to several overt measures of sociability in humans and serve to advance progress in translational social neuroscience research toward a better understanding of the evolutionary and genetic basis of normal and abnormal human sociability.
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Patak J, Zhang-James Y, Faraone SV. Endosomal system genetics and autism spectrum disorders: A literature review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 65:95-112. [PMID: 27048963 PMCID: PMC4866511 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of debilitating neurodevelopmental disorders thought to have genetic etiology, due to their high heritability. The endosomal system has become increasingly implicated in ASD pathophysiology. In an attempt to summarize the association between endosomal system genes and ASDs we performed a systematic review of the literature. We searched PubMed for relevant articles. Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) gene database was used to exclude articles regarding genes with less than minimal evidence for association with ASDs. Our search retained 55 articles reviewed in two categories: genes that regulate and genes that are regulated by the endosomal system. Our review shows that the endosomal system is a novel pathway implicated in ASDs as well as other neuropsychiatric disorders. It plays a central role in aspects of cellular physiology on which neurons and glial cells are particularly reliant, due to their unique metabolic and functional demands. The system shows potential for biomarkers and pharmacological intervention and thus more research into this pathway is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jameson Patak
- Dept. of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States.
| | - Yanli Zhang-James
- Dept of Psychiatry, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States.
| | - Stephen V Faraone
- Dept. of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States; Dept of Psychiatry, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States; K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
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