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Schalbroeck R, van Hooijdonk CFM, Bos DPA, Booij J, Selten JP. Chronic social stressors and striatal dopamine functioning in humans: A systematic review of SPECT and PET studies. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02581-x. [PMID: 38760501 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02581-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia posits that elevated striatal dopamine functioning underlies the development of psychotic symptoms. Chronic exposure to social stressors increases psychosis risk, possibly by upregulating striatal dopamine functioning. Here we systematically review single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) studies that examined the relationship between chronic social stress exposure and in vivo striatal dopamine functioning in humans. We searched the scientific databases PubMed and PsycINFO from inception to August 2023. The quality of the included studies was evaluated with the ten-item Observational Study Quality Evaluation (PROSPERO: CRD42022308883). Twenty-eight studies were included, which measured different aspects of striatal dopamine functioning including dopamine synthesis capacity (DSC), vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 binding, dopamine release following a pharmacological or behavioral challenge, D2/3 receptor binding, and dopamine transporter binding. We observed preliminary evidence of an association between childhood trauma and increased striatal DSC and dopamine release. However, exposure to low socioeconomic status, stressful life events, or other social stressors was not consistently associated with altered striatal dopamine functioning. The quality of available studies was generally low. In conclusion, there is insufficient evidence that chronic social stressors upregulate striatal dopamine functioning in humans. We propose avenues for future research, in particular to improve the measurement of chronic social stressors and the methodological quality of study designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rik Schalbroeck
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Carmen F M van Hooijdonk
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniëlle P A Bos
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Booij
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Paul Selten
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Rivierduinen Institute for Mental Healthcare, Leiden, The Netherlands
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2
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D'Ambrosio E, Pergola G, Pardiñas AF, Dahoun T, Veronese M, Sportelli L, Taurisano P, Griffiths K, Jauhar S, Rogdaki M, Bloomfield MAP, Froudist-Walsh S, Bonoldi I, Walters JTR, Blasi G, Bertolino A, Howes OD. A polygenic score indexing a DRD2-related co-expression network is associated with striatal dopamine function. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12610. [PMID: 35871219 PMCID: PMC9308811 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16442-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The D2 dopamine receptor (D2R) is the primary site of the therapeutic action of antipsychotics and is involved in essential brain functions relevant to schizophrenia, such as attention, memory, motivation, and emotion processing. Moreover, the gene coding for D2R (DRD2) has been associated with schizophrenia at a genome-wide level. Recent studies have shown that a polygenic co-expression index (PCI) predicting the brain-specific expression of a network of genes co-expressed with DRD2 was associated with response to antipsychotics, brain function during working memory in patients with schizophrenia, and with the modulation of prefrontal cortex activity after pharmacological stimulation of D2 receptors. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the DRD2 gene network and in vivo striatal dopaminergic function, which is a phenotype robustly associated with psychosis and schizophrenia. To this aim, a sample of 92 healthy subjects underwent 18F-DOPA PET and was genotyped for genetic variations indexing the co-expression of the DRD2-related genetic network in order to calculate the PCI for each subject. The PCI was significantly associated with whole striatal dopamine synthesis capacity (p = 0.038). Exploratory analyses on the striatal subdivisions revealed a numerically larger effect size of the PCI on dopamine function for the associative striatum, although this was not significantly different than effects in other sub-divisions. These results are in line with a possible relationship between the DRD2-related co-expression network and schizophrenia and extend it by identifying a potential mechanism involving the regulation of dopamine synthesis. Future studies are needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms implicated in this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico D'Ambrosio
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Giulio Pergola
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.,Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Antonio F Pardiñas
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Tarik Dahoun
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mattia Veronese
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Information Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Leonardo Sportelli
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Paolo Taurisano
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Kira Griffiths
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Sameer Jauhar
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Rogdaki
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Michael A P Bloomfield
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, 6th Floor, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF, UK
| | | | - Ilaria Bonoldi
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - James T R Walters
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Giuseppe Blasi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
| | - Oliver D Howes
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK. .,Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, UK. .,H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500, Valby, Denmark.
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3
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Washer SJ, Flynn R, Oguro‐Ando A, Hannon E, Burrage J, Jeffries A, Mill J, Dempster EL. Functional characterization of the schizophrenia associated gene AS3MT identifies a role in neuronal development. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2022; 189:151-162. [PMID: 35719055 PMCID: PMC9546433 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple genomic regions associated with schizophrenia, although many variants reside in noncoding regions characterized by high linkage disequilibrium (LD) making the elucidation of molecular mechanisms challenging. A genomic region on chromosome 10q24 has been consistently associated with schizophrenia with risk attributed to the AS3MT gene. Although AS3MT is hypothesized to play a role in neuronal development and differentiation, work to fully understand the function of this gene has been limited. In this study we explored the function of AS3MT using a neuronal cell line (SH-SY5Y). We confirm previous findings of isoform specific expression of AS3MT during SH-SY5Y differentiation toward neuronal fates. Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing we generated AS3MT knockout SH-SY5Y cell lines and used RNA-seq to identify significant changes in gene expression in pathways associated with neuronal development, inflammation, extracellular matrix formation, and RNA processing, including dysregulation of other genes strongly implicated in schizophrenia. We did not observe any morphological changes in cell size and neurite length following neuronal differentiation and MAP2 immunocytochemistry. These results provide novel insights into the potential role of AS3MT in brain development and identify pathways through which genetic variation in this region may confer risk for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam J. Washer
- University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health, University of ExeterExeterUK,Cellular Operations, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUK
| | - Robert Flynn
- University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health, University of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Asami Oguro‐Ando
- University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health, University of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Eilis Hannon
- University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health, University of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Joe Burrage
- University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health, University of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Aaron Jeffries
- University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health, University of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health, University of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Emma L. Dempster
- University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health, University of ExeterExeterUK
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4
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Wijesena HR, Nonneman DJ, Keel BN, Lents CA. Gene expression in the amygdala and hippocampus of cyclic and acyclic gilts. J Anim Sci 2022; 100:6497483. [PMID: 34984470 PMCID: PMC8801052 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skab372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Age at first estrus is the earliest phenotypic indicator of future reproductive success of gilts. Prebreeding anestrus is a major reason for reproductive failure leading to culling of replacement gilts. The two types of prebreeding anestrus are delay in attaining puberty (prepubertal anestrus, PPA) and silent ovulation (behavioral anestrus, BA). Neural tissues such as amygdala and hippocampus play a major role in regulating sexual behavior, social interactions, and receptivity to males. Differences in gene expression in the amygdala and hippocampus of gilts were analyzed in three comparisons: 1) PPA cases and cyclic controls at follicular phase of estrous cycle, 2) BA cases and cyclic controls at luteal phase of estrous cycle, and 3) gilts at different stages of the ovarian cycle (cyclic gilts at follicular phase and luteal phase of estrous cycle) to gain functional understanding of how these rarely studied tissues may differ between pubertal phenotypes and different stages of the estrous cycle of gilts. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) between PPA and BA cases and their respective cyclic controls were involved in neurological and behavioral disorders as well as nervous system functions that could directly or indirectly involved in development of behaviors related to estrus. The comparison between cyclic follicular and luteal phase control gilts identified the greatest number of DEG in the hippocampus and amygdala. These DEG were involved in adult neurogenesis and neural synapse (e.g., GABAergic, dopamine, cholinergic), suggesting that these tissues undergo structural changes and synaptic plasticity in gilts. This is the first report to demonstrate that the stage of estrous cycle is associated with dynamic changes in gene expression within porcine hippocampus and amygdala and indicates a role of gonadal steroids in regulating their biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiruni R Wijesena
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA
| | - Dan J Nonneman
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA
| | - Brittney N Keel
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA
| | - Clay A Lents
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA,Corresponding author:
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5
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Xiao X, Zhang CY, Zhang Z, Hu Z, Li M, Li T. Revisiting tandem repeats in psychiatric disorders from perspectives of genetics, physiology, and brain evolution. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:466-475. [PMID: 34650204 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01329-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have revealed substantial genetic components comprised of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the heritable risk of psychiatric disorders. However, genetic risk factors not covered by GWAS also play pivotal roles in these illnesses. Tandem repeats, which are likely functional but frequently overlooked by GWAS, may account for an important proportion in the "missing heritability" of psychiatric disorders. Despite difficulties in characterizing and quantifying tandem repeats in the genome, studies have been carried out in an attempt to describe impact of tandem repeats on gene regulation and human phenotypes. In this review, we have introduced recent research progress regarding the genomic distribution and regulatory mechanisms of tandem repeats. We have also summarized the current knowledge of the genetic architecture and biological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders brought by studies of tandem repeats. These findings suggest that tandem repeats, in candidate psychiatric risk genes or in different levels of linkage disequilibrium (LD) with psychiatric GWAS SNPs and haplotypes, may modulate biological phenotypes related to psychiatric disorders (e.g., cognitive function and brain physiology) through regulating alternative splicing, promoter activity, enhancer activity and so on. In addition, many tandem repeats undergo tight natural selection in the human lineage, and likely exert crucial roles in human brain evolution. Taken together, the putative roles of tandem repeats in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders is strongly implicated, and using examples from previous literatures, we wish to call for further attention to tandem repeats in the post-GWAS era of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chu-Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhuohua Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhonghua Hu
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Department of Critical Care Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital and Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China. .,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China. .,KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
| | - Tao Li
- Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. .,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, China.
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6
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Zhang F, Cao H, Baranova A. Shared Genetic Liability and Causal Associations Between Major Depressive Disorder and Cardiovascular Diseases. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:735136. [PMID: 34859065 PMCID: PMC8631916 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.735136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is phenotypically associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We aim to investigate mechanisms underlying relationships between MDD and CVD in the context of shared genetic variations. Polygenic overlap analysis was used to test genetic correlation and to analyze shared genetic variations between MDD and seven cardiovascular outcomes (coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure measurement). Mendelian randomization analysis was used to uncover causal relationships between MDD and cardiovascular traits. By cross-trait meta-analysis, we identified a set of genomic loci shared between the traits of MDD and stroke. Putative causal genes for MDD and stroke were prioritized by fine-mapping of transcriptome-wide associations. Polygenic overlap analysis pointed toward substantial genetic variation overlap between MDD and CVD. Mendelian randomization analysis indicated that genetic liability to MDD has a causal effect on CAD and stroke. Comparison of genome-wide genes shared by MDD and CVD suggests 20q12 as a pleiotropic region conferring risk for both MDD and CVD. Cross-trait meta-analyses and fine-mapping of transcriptome-wide association signals identified novel risk genes for MDD and stroke, including RPL31P12, BORSC7, PNPT11, and PGF. Many genetic variations associated with MDD and CVD outcomes are shared, thus, pointing that genetic liability to MDD may also confer risk for stroke and CAD. Presented results shed light on mechanistic connections between MDD and CVD phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuquan Zhang
- Wuxi Mental Health Center of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China.,Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Institute of Neuropsychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongbao Cao
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Ancha Baranova
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States.,Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia
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Fan X, Chen Y, Lu J, Li W, Li X, Guo H, Chen Q, Yang Y, Xia H. AS3MT Polymorphism: A Risk Factor for Epilepsy Susceptibility and Adverse Drug Reactions to Valproic Acid and Oxcarbazepine Treatment in Children From South China. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:705297. [PMID: 34899152 PMCID: PMC8661122 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.705297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a common neurologic disorder characterized by intractable seizures, involving genetic factors. There is a need to develop reliable genetic markers to predict the risk of epilepsy and design effective therapies. Arsenite methyltransferase (AS3MT) catalyzes the biomethylation of arsenic and hence regulates arsenic metabolism. AS3MT variation has been linked to the progression of various diseases including schizophrenia and attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder. Whether genetic polymorphism of AS3MT contributes to epilepsy remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the association of AS3MT gene polymorphism with susceptibility to epilepsy in children from south China. We also explored the effect of AS3MT variation on the safety of antiepileptic drugs. Genotypic analysis for AS3MT rs7085104 was performed using samples from a Chinese cohort of 200 epileptic children and 244 healthy individuals. The results revealed a genetic association of AS3MT rs7085104 with susceptibility to pediatric epilepsy. Mutant homozygous GG genotype exhibited a lower susceptibility to childhood epilepsy than AA genotype. Carriers of AS3MT rs7085104 AA genotype exhibited a higher risk of digestive adverse drug reactions (dADRs) in children when treated with valproic acid (VPA) or oxcarbazepine (OXC). Additionally, bioinformatics analysis identified eight AS3MT target genes related to epilepsy and three AS3MT-associated genes in VPA-related dADRs. The effects of AS3MT on epilepsy might involve multiple targets including CNNM2, CACNB2, TRIM26, MTHFR, GSTM1, CYP17A1, NT5C2, and YBX3. This study reveals that AS3MT may be a new gene contributing to epileptogenesis. Hence, analysis of AS3MT polymorphisms will help to evaluate susceptibility to pediatric epilepsy and drug safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Fan
- Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuna Chen
- Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jieluan Lu
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenzhou Li
- Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xi Li
- Shenzhen Nanshan District Shekou People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huijuan Guo
- Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qing Chen
- Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanxia Yang
- Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hanbing Xia
- Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
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8
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Chernoff M, Tong L, Demanelis K, Vander Griend D, Ahsan H, Pierce BL. Genetic Determinants of Reduced Arsenic Metabolism Efficiency in the 10q24.32 Region Are Associated With Reduced AS3MT Expression in Multiple Human Tissue Types. Toxicol Sci 2021; 176:382-395. [PMID: 32433756 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 140 million people worldwide are exposed to inorganic arsenic through contaminated drinking water. Chronic exposure increases risk for cancers as well as cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurologic diseases. Arsenic metabolism involves the AS3MT (arsenic methyltransferase) gene, and arsenic metabolism efficiency (AME, measured as relative concentrations of arsenic metabolites in urine) varies among individuals. Inherited genetic variation in the 10q24.32 region, containing AS3MT, influences AME, but the mechanisms remain unclear. To better understand these mechanisms, we use tissue-specific expression data from GTEx (Genotype-tissue Expression project) to identify cis-eQTLs (expression quantitative trait loci) for AS3MT and other nearby genes. We combined these data with results from a genome-wide association study of AME using "colocalization analysis," to determine if 10q24.32 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) that affect AME also affect expression of AS3MT or nearby genes. These analyses identified cis-eQTLs for AS3MT in 38 tissue types. Colocalization results suggest that the casual variant represented by AME lead SNP rs4919690 impacts expression of AS3MT in 13 tissue types (> 80% probability). Our results suggest this causal SNP also regulates/coregulates expression of nearby genes: BORCS7 (43 tissues), NT5C2 (2 tissues), CYP17A1-AS1 (1 tissue), and RP11-724N1.1 (1 tissue). The rs4919690 allele associated with decreased AME is associated with decreased expression of AS3MT (and other coregulated genes). Our study provides a potential biological mechanism for the association between 10q24.32 variation and AME and suggests that the causal variant, represented by rs4919690, may impact AME (as measured in urine) through its effects on arsenic metabolism occurring in multiple tissue types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meytal Chernoff
- The Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 - 1447.,The Interdisciplinary Scientist Training Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637
| | - Lin Tong
- The Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 - 1447
| | - Kathryn Demanelis
- The Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 - 1447
| | - Donald Vander Griend
- The Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612
| | - Habib Ahsan
- The Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 - 1447
| | - Brandon L Pierce
- The Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 - 1447.,The Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637
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9
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Takahashi Y, Maynard KR, Tippani M, Jaffe AE, Martinowich K, Kleinman JE, Weinberger DR, Hyde TM. Single molecule in situ hybridization reveals distinct localizations of schizophrenia risk-related transcripts SNX19 and AS3MT in human brain. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3536-3547. [PMID: 33649454 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01046-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with schizophrenia risk. Integration of RNA-sequencing data from postmortem human brains with these risk SNPs identified transcripts associated with increased schizophrenia susceptibility, including a class of exon 9-spliced isoforms of Sorting nexin-19 (SNX19d9) and an isoform of Arsenic methyltransferase (AS3MT) splicing out exons 2 and 3 (AS3MTd2d3). However, the biological function of these transcript variants is unclear. Defining the cell types where these risk transcripts are dominantly expressed is an important step to understand function, in prioritizing specific cell types and/or neural pathways in subsequent studies. To identify the cell type-specific localization of SNX19 and AS3MT in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), we used single-molecule in situ hybridization techniques combined with automated quantification and machine learning approaches to analyze 10 postmortem brains of neurotypical individuals. These analyses revealed that both pan-SNX19 and pan-AS3MT were more highly expressed in neurons than non-neurons in layers II/III and VI of DLPFC. Furthermore, pan-SNX19 was preferentially expressed in glutamatergic neurons, while pan-AS3MT was preferentially expressed in GABAergic neurons. Finally, we utilized duplex BaseScope technology, to delineate the localization of SNX19d9 and AS3MTd2d3 splice variants, revealing consistent trends in spatial gene expression among pan-transcripts and schizophrenia risk-related transcript variants. These findings demonstrate that schizophrenia risk transcripts have distinct localization patterns in the healthy human brains, and suggest that SNX19 transcripts might disrupt the normal function of glutamatergic neurons, while AS3MT may lead to disturbances in the GABAergic system in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoichiro Takahashi
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Legal Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kristen R Maynard
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Madhavi Tippani
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew E Jaffe
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joel E Kleinman
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daniel R Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas M Hyde
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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10
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Carrier M, Guilbert J, Lévesque JP, Tremblay MÈ, Desjardins M. Structural and Functional Features of Developing Brain Capillaries, and Their Alteration in Schizophrenia. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 14:595002. [PMID: 33519380 PMCID: PMC7843388 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.595002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia affects more than 1% of the world's population and shows very high heterogeneity in the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms experienced by patients. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying this neurodevelopmental disorder are largely unknown, although it is proposed to emerge from multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. In this work, we explore the potential alterations in the developing blood vessel network which could contribute to the development of schizophrenia. Specifically, we discuss how the vascular network evolves during early postnatal life and how genetic and environmental risk factors can lead to detrimental changes. Blood vessels, capillaries in particular, constitute a dynamic and complex infrastructure distributing oxygen and nutrients to the brain. During postnatal development, capillaries undergo many structural and anatomical changes in order to form a fully functional, mature vascular network. Advanced technologies like magnetic resonance imaging and near infrared spectroscopy are now enabling to study how the brain vasculature and its supporting features are established in humans from birth until adulthood. Furthermore, the contribution of the different neurovascular unit elements, including pericytes, endothelial cells, astrocytes and microglia, to proper brain function and behavior, can be dissected. This investigation conducted among different brain regions altered in schizophrenia, such as the prefrontal cortex, may provide further evidence that schizophrenia can be considered a neurovascular disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaël Carrier
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jérémie Guilbert
- Axe Oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Physics, Physical Engineering and Optics, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Lévesque
- Axe Oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Physics, Physical Engineering and Optics, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Michèle Desjardins
- Axe Oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Physics, Physical Engineering and Optics, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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11
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Cai X, Yang ZH, Li HJ, Xiao X, Li M, Chang H. A Human-Specific Schizophrenia Risk Tandem Repeat Affects Alternative Splicing of a Human-Unique Isoform AS3MTd2d3 and Mushroom Dendritic Spine Density. Schizophr Bull 2020; 47:219-227. [PMID: 32662510 PMCID: PMC7825093 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in functional genomics have facilitated the identification of multiple genes and isoforms associated with the genetic risk of schizophrenia, yet the causal variations remain largely unclear. A previous study reported that the schizophrenia risk single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7085104 at 10q24.32 was in high linkage disequilibrium (LD) with a human-specific variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR), and both were significantly associated with the brain mRNA expression of a human-unique AS3MTd2d3 isoform in Europeans and African Americans. In this study, we have shown the direct regulation of the AS3MTd2d3 mRNA expression by this VNTR through an in vitro minigene splicing assay, suggesting that it is likely a causative functional variation. Intriguingly, we have further confirmed that the VNTR and rs7085104 are significantly associated with AS3MTd2d3 mRNA expression in brains of Han Chinese donors, and rs7085104 is also associated with risk of schizophrenia in East Asians. Finally, the overexpression of AS3MTd2d3 in cultured primary hippocampal neurons results in significantly reduced densities of mushroom dendritic spines, implicating its potential functional impact. Considering the crucial roles of dendritic spines in neuroplasticity, these results reveal the potential regulatory impact of the schizophrenia risk VNTR on AS3MTd2d3 and provide insights into the underlying biological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Cai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hui-Juan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,KIZ/CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, NO 32 Jiao-Chang Donglu, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China; tel: +86-871-65190612, fax: +86-871-65190612, e-mail:
| | - Hong Chang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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12
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McCutcheon RA, Krystal JH, Howes OD. Dopamine and glutamate in schizophrenia: biology, symptoms and treatment. World Psychiatry 2020; 19:15-33. [PMID: 31922684 PMCID: PMC6953551 DOI: 10.1002/wps.20693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 252] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate and dopamine systems play distinct roles in terms of neuronal signalling, yet both have been proposed to contribute significantly to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In this paper we assess research that has implicated both systems in the aetiology of this disorder. We examine evidence from post-mortem, preclinical, pharmacological and in vivo neuroimaging studies. Pharmacological and preclinical studies implicate both systems, and in vivo imaging of the dopamine system has consistently identified elevated striatal dopamine synthesis and release capacity in schizophrenia. Imaging of the glutamate system and other aspects of research on the dopamine system have produced less consistent findings, potentially due to methodological limitations and the heterogeneity of the disorder. Converging evidence indicates that genetic and environmental risk factors for schizophrenia underlie disruption of glutamatergic and dopaminergic function. However, while genetic influences may directly underlie glutamatergic dysfunction, few genetic risk variants directly implicate the dopamine system, indicating that aberrant dopamine signalling is likely to be predominantly due to other factors. We discuss the neural circuits through which the two systems interact, and how their disruption may cause psychotic symptoms. We also discuss mechanisms through which existing treatments operate, and how recent research has highlighted opportunities for the development of novel pharmacological therapies. Finally, we consider outstanding questions for the field, including what remains unknown regarding the nature of glutamate and dopamine function in schizophrenia, and what needs to be achieved to make progress in developing new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A McCutcheon
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley Foundation NHS Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, UK
| | - John H Krystal
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- VA National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Oliver D Howes
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley Foundation NHS Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, UK
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