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Lynch MA. A case for seeking sex-specific treatments in Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1346621. [PMID: 38414633 PMCID: PMC10897030 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1346621] [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: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
There is no satisfactory explanation for the sex-related differences in the incidence of many diseases and this is also true of Alzheimer's disease (AD), where females have a higher lifetime risk of developing the disease and make up about two thirds of the AD patient population. The importance of understanding the cause(s) that account for this disproportionate distribution cannot be overestimated, and is likely to be a significant factor in the search for therapeutic strategies that will combat the disease and, furthermore, potentially point to a sex-targeted approach to treatment. This review considers the literature in the context of what is known about the impact of sex on processes targeted by drugs that are in clinical trial for AD, and existing knowledge on differing responses of males and females to these drugs. Current knowledge strongly supports the view that trials should make assessing sex-related difference in responses a priority with a focus on exploring the sex-stratified treatments.
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Zhang Z, Sun J, Li Y, Yang K, Wei G, Zhang S. Ameliorative effects of pine nut peptide-zinc chelate (Korean pine) on a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Exp Gerontol 2023; 183:112308. [PMID: 37821052 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112308] [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: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
In this study, 50 SD adult male mice were used to create an Alzheimer's disease model. The mice's learning and memory abilities were evaluated using an eight-arm radial maze experiment, and changes in body weight and food intake were noted. This helped to better validate the improvement of Alzheimer's disease caused by pine nut peptide-zinc chelate (Korean pine). For a more thorough investigation, mice's brains were dissected, Endogenous mercaptan antioxidants (enzymes), which are markers of brain tissue, were assessed, and mouse gut flora was analyzed. The findings demonstrated that pine nut peptide-zinc chelate (Korean pine) can improve learning and memory, stop brain aging and damage, and control gut flora in mice. It may exert its effects by ameliorating decreased AChE levels and increased ChAT levels in the central cholinergic system, endogenous thiol antioxidants (enzymes) in the cerebral cortex, and by controlling the bacterial flora in the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University
| | - Jiajia Sun
- College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University.
| | - Yanxia Li
- Forestry Research Institute of Heilongjiang Province.
| | - Kexin Yang
- College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University
| | - Gang Wei
- College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University
| | - Shenglong Zhang
- Heilongjiang Guohong Energy Saving and Environmental Protection Co
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3
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Yuzhalin AE, Yu D. Critical functions of extracellular matrix in brain metastasis seeding. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:297. [PMID: 37728789 PMCID: PMC10511571 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04944-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Human brain is characterized by extremely sparse extracellular matrix (ECM). Despite its low abundance, the significance of brain ECM in both physiological and pathological conditions should not be underestimated. Brain metastasis is a serious complication of cancer, and recent findings highlighted the contribution of ECM in brain metastasis development. In this review, we provide a comprehensive outlook on how ECM proteins promote brain metastasis seeding. In particular, we discuss (1) disruption of the blood-brain barrier in brain metastasis; (2) role of ECM in modulating brain metastasis dormancy; (3) regulation of brain metastasis seeding by ECM-activated integrin signaling; (4) functions of brain-specific ECM protein reelin in brain metastasis. Lastly, we consider the possibility of targeting ECM for brain metastasis management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arseniy E Yuzhalin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd, Unit 108, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Dihua Yu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd, Unit 108, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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4
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Escudero B, Moya M, López-Valencia L, Arias F, Orio L. Reelin Plasma Levels Identify Cognitive Decline in Alcohol Use Disorder Patients During Early Abstinence: The Influence of APOE4 Expression. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2023; 26:545-556. [PMID: 37350760 PMCID: PMC10464928 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apolipoprotein E (APOE)-4 isoform, reelin, and clusterin share very-low-density liporeceptor and apolipoprotein E receptor 2 receptors and are related to cognition in neuropsychiatric disorders. These proteins are expressed in plasma and brain, but studies involving plasma expression and cognition are scarce. METHODS We studied the peripheral expression (plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells) of these proteins in 24 middle-aged patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnosed at 4 to 12 weeks of abstinence (t = 0) and 34 controls. Cognition was assessed using the Test of Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Alcoholism. In a follow-up study (t = 1), we measured reelin levels and evaluated cognitive improvement at 6 months of abstinence. RESULTS APOE4 isoform was present in 37.5% and 58.8% of patients and controls, respectively, reaching similar plasma levels in ε4 carriers regardless of whether they were patients with AUD or controls. Plasma reelin and clusterin were higher in the AUD group, and reelin levels peaked in patients expressing APOE4 (P < .05, η2 = 0.09), who showed reduced very-low-density liporeceptor and apolipoprotein E receptor 2 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. APOE4 had a negative effect on memory/learning mainly in the AUD group (P < .01, η2 = 0.15). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified plasma reelin as a good indicator of AUD cognitive impairment at t = 0. At t = 1, patients with AUD showed lower reelin levels vs controls along with some cognitive improvement. CONCLUSIONS Reelin plasma levels are elevated during early abstinence in patients with AUD who express the APOE4 isoform, identifying cognitive deterioration to a great extent, and it may participate as a homeostatic signal for cognitive recovery in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Escudero
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Moya
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Leticia López-Valencia
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Arias
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- RIAPAd: Research Network in Primary Care in Addictions (“Red de investigación en atención primaria en adicciones”), Spain
| | - Laura Orio
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- RIAPAd: Research Network in Primary Care in Addictions (“Red de investigación en atención primaria en adicciones”), Spain
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5
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Bourquard T, Lee K, Al-Ramahi I, Pham M, Shapiro D, Lagisetty Y, Soleimani S, Mota S, Wilhelm K, Samieinasab M, Kim YW, Huh E, Asmussen J, Katsonis P, Botas J, Lichtarge O. Functional variants identify sex-specific genes and pathways in Alzheimer's Disease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2765. [PMID: 37179358 PMCID: PMC10183026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38374-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of Alzheimer's Disease in females is almost double that of males. To search for sex-specific gene associations, we build a machine learning approach focused on functionally impactful coding variants. This method can detect differences between sequenced cases and controls in small cohorts. In the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project with mixed sexes, this approach identified genes enriched for immune response pathways. After sex-separation, genes become specifically enriched for stress-response pathways in male and cell-cycle pathways in female. These genes improve disease risk prediction in silico and modulate Drosophila neurodegeneration in vivo. Thus, a general approach for machine learning on functionally impactful variants can uncover sex-specific candidates towards diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bourquard
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kwanghyuk Lee
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ismael Al-Ramahi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Minh Pham
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Dillon Shapiro
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yashwanth Lagisetty
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Biology and Pharmacology, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Shirin Soleimani
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Samantha Mota
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kevin Wilhelm
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Maryam Samieinasab
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Young Won Kim
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Eunna Huh
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jennifer Asmussen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Panagiotis Katsonis
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Juan Botas
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Olivier Lichtarge
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Computational and Integrative Biomedical Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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6
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Lopera F, Marino C, Chandrahas AS, O'Hare M, Villalba-Moreno ND, Aguillon D, Baena A, Sanchez JS, Vila-Castelar C, Ramirez Gomez L, Chmielewska N, Oliveira GM, Littau JL, Hartmann K, Park K, Krasemann S, Glatzel M, Schoemaker D, Gonzalez-Buendia L, Delgado-Tirado S, Arevalo-Alquichire S, Saez-Torres KL, Amarnani D, Kim LA, Mazzarino RC, Gordon H, Bocanegra Y, Villegas A, Gai X, Bootwalla M, Ji J, Shen L, Kosik KS, Su Y, Chen Y, Schultz A, Sperling RA, Johnson K, Reiman EM, Sepulveda-Falla D, Arboleda-Velasquez JF, Quiroz YT. Resilience to autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease in a Reelin-COLBOS heterozygous man. Nat Med 2023; 29:1243-1252. [PMID: 37188781 PMCID: PMC10202812 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02318-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
We characterized the world's second case with ascertained extreme resilience to autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD). Side-by-side comparisons of this male case and the previously reported female case with ADAD homozygote for the APOE3 Christchurch (APOECh) variant allowed us to discern common features. The male remained cognitively intact until 67 years of age despite carrying a PSEN1-E280A mutation. Like the APOECh carrier, he had extremely elevated amyloid plaque burden and limited entorhinal Tau tangle burden. He did not carry the APOECh variant but was heterozygous for a rare variant in RELN (H3447R, termed COLBOS after the Colombia-Boston biomarker research study), a ligand that like apolipoprotein E binds to the VLDLr and APOEr2 receptors. RELN-COLBOS is a gain-of-function variant showing stronger ability to activate its canonical protein target Dab1 and reduce human Tau phosphorylation in a knockin mouse. A genetic variant in a case protected from ADAD suggests a role for RELN signaling in resilience to dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Lopera
- Neuroscience Group of Antioquia, Medicine School, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Medicine School, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Claudia Marino
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anita S Chandrahas
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael O'Hare
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - David Aguillon
- Neuroscience Group of Antioquia, Medicine School, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Medicine School, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Ana Baena
- Neuroscience Group of Antioquia, Medicine School, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Justin S Sanchez
- Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clara Vila-Castelar
- Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liliana Ramirez Gomez
- Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Natalia Chmielewska
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gabriel M Oliveira
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jessica Lisa Littau
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kristin Hartmann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kyungeun Park
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Krasemann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dorothee Schoemaker
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lucia Gonzalez-Buendia
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Santiago Delgado-Tirado
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Said Arevalo-Alquichire
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kahira L Saez-Torres
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dhanesh Amarnani
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Leo A Kim
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Randall C Mazzarino
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harper Gordon
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yamile Bocanegra
- Neuroscience Group of Antioquia, Medicine School, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Andres Villegas
- Neuroscience Group of Antioquia, Medicine School, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Medicine School, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Xiaowu Gai
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Moiz Bootwalla
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jianling Ji
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lishuang Shen
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth S Kosik
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Department of Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Yi Su
- The Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Yinghua Chen
- The Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Aaron Schultz
- Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Reisa A Sperling
- Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Keith Johnson
- Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric M Reiman
- The Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Arizona State University, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Diego Sepulveda-Falla
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Joseph F Arboleda-Velasquez
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Yakeel T Quiroz
- Neuroscience Group of Antioquia, Medicine School, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
- Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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7
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Di Donato N, Guerrini R, Billington CJ, Barkovich AJ, Dinkel P, Freri E, Heide M, Gershon ES, Gertler TS, Hopkin RJ, Jacob S, Keedy SK, Kooshavar D, Lockhart PJ, Lohmann DR, Mahmoud IG, Parrini E, Schrock E, Severi G, Timms AE, Webster RI, Willis MJH, Zaki MS, Gleeson JG, Leventer RJ, Dobyns WB. Monoallelic and biallelic mutations in RELN underlie a graded series of neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain 2022; 145:3274-3287. [PMID: 35769015 PMCID: PMC9989350 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Reelin, a large extracellular protein, plays several critical roles in brain development and function. It is encoded by RELN, first identified as the gene disrupted in the reeler mouse, a classic neurological mutant exhibiting ataxia, tremors and a 'reeling' gait. In humans, biallelic variants in RELN have been associated with a recessive lissencephaly variant with cerebellar hypoplasia, which matches well with the homozygous mouse mutant that has abnormal cortical structure, small hippocampi and severe cerebellar hypoplasia. Despite the large size of the gene, only 11 individuals with RELN-related lissencephaly with cerebellar hypoplasia from six families have previously been reported. Heterozygous carriers in these families were briefly reported as unaffected, although putative loss-of-function variants are practically absent in the population (probability of loss of function intolerance = 1). Here we present data on seven individuals from four families with biallelic and 13 individuals from seven families with monoallelic (heterozygous) variants of RELN and frontotemporal or temporal-predominant lissencephaly variant. Some individuals with monoallelic variants have moderate frontotemporal lissencephaly, but with normal cerebellar structure and intellectual disability with severe behavioural dysfunction. However, one adult had abnormal MRI with normal intelligence and neurological profile. Thorough literature analysis supports a causal role for monoallelic RELN variants in four seemingly distinct phenotypes including frontotemporal lissencephaly, epilepsy, autism and probably schizophrenia. Notably, we observed a significantly higher proportion of loss-of-function variants in the biallelic compared to the monoallelic cohort, where the variant spectrum included missense and splice-site variants. We assessed the impact of two canonical splice-site variants observed as biallelic or monoallelic variants in individuals with moderately affected or normal cerebellum and demonstrated exon skipping causing in-frame loss of 46 or 52 amino acids in the central RELN domain. Previously reported functional studies demonstrated severe reduction in overall RELN secretion caused by heterozygous missense variants p.Cys539Arg and p.Arg3207Cys associated with lissencephaly suggesting a dominant-negative effect. We conclude that biallelic variants resulting in complete absence of RELN expression are associated with a consistent and severe phenotype that includes cerebellar hypoplasia. However, reduced expression of RELN remains sufficient to maintain nearly normal cerebellar structure. Monoallelic variants are associated with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity even within the same family and may have dominant-negative effects. Reduced RELN secretion in heterozygous individuals affects only cortical structure whereas the cerebellum remains intact. Our data expand the spectrum of RELN-related neurodevelopmental disorders ranging from lethal brain malformations to adult phenotypes with normal brain imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliya Di Donato
- Institute for Clinical Genetics, University Hospital, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Renzo Guerrini
- Pediatric Neurology, Neurogenetics and Neurobiology Unit and Laboratories, Meyer Children's Hospital, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Charles J Billington
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - A James Barkovich
- Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Neurology, Pediatrics, and Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Philine Dinkel
- Institute for Clinical Genetics, University Hospital, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Elena Freri
- Department of Pediatric Neuroscience, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Michael Heide
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Elliot S Gershon
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Tracy S Gertler
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Robert J Hopkin
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Suma Jacob
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Sarah K Keedy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Daniz Kooshavar
- Bruce Lefory Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and University of Melbourne Department of Pediatrics, Melbourne 3052, Australia
| | - Paul J Lockhart
- Bruce Lefory Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and University of Melbourne Department of Pediatrics, Melbourne 3052, Australia
| | - Dietmar R Lohmann
- Institut fur Humangenetik, Universitatsklinikum Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Iman G Mahmoud
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Cairo University Children's Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Elena Parrini
- Pediatric Neurology, Neurogenetics and Neurobiology Unit and Laboratories, Meyer Children's Hospital, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Evelin Schrock
- Institute for Clinical Genetics, University Hospital, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Giulia Severi
- Medical Genetics Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrew E Timms
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Richard I Webster
- T. Y. Nelson Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney 2145, Australia
| | - Mary J H Willis
- Uniformed Services University School of Medicine and Naval Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, San Diego, CA 92134, USA
| | - Maha S Zaki
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Cairo University Children's Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
- Clinical Genetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo Governorate 12622, Egypt
| | - Joseph G Gleeson
- Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Richard J Leventer
- Department of Neurology, Royal Children's Hospital, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and University of Melbourne Department of Pediatrics, Melbourne 3052, Australia
| | - William B Dobyns
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
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8
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Lynch MA. Exploring Sex-Related Differences in Microglia May Be a Game-Changer in Precision Medicine. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:868448. [PMID: 35431903 PMCID: PMC9009390 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.868448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One area of microglial biology that has been relatively neglected until recently is sex differences and this is in spite of the fact that sex is a risk factor in several diseases that are characterized by neuroinflammation and, by extension, microglial activation. Why these sex differences exist is not known but the panoply of differences extend to microglial number, genotype and phenotype. Significantly, several of these sex-related differences are also evident in health and change during life emphasizing the dynamic and plastic nature of microglia. This review will consider how age impacts on sex-related differences in microglia and ask whether the advancement of personalized medicine demands that a greater focus is placed on studying sex-related differences in microglia in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and models of inflammatory stress and trauma in order to make true progress in dealing with these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina A. Lynch
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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9
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Nadeem MS, Hosawi S, Alshehri S, Ghoneim MM, Imam SS, Murtaza BN, Kazmi I. Symptomatic, Genetic, and Mechanistic Overlaps between Autism and Alzheimer's Disease. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1635. [PMID: 34827633 PMCID: PMC8615882 DOI: 10.3390/biom11111635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders affecting two opposite ends of life span, i.e., childhood and old age. Both disorders pose a cumulative threat to human health, with the rate of incidences increasing considerably worldwide. In the context of recent developments, we aimed to review correlated symptoms and genetics, and overlapping aspects in the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of ASD and AD. Dementia, insomnia, and weak neuromuscular interaction, as well as communicative and cognitive impairments, are shared symptoms. A number of genes and proteins linked with both disorders have been tabulated, including MECP2, ADNP, SCN2A, NLGN, SHANK, PTEN, RELN, and FMR1. Theories about the role of neuron development, processing, connectivity, and levels of neurotransmitters in both disorders have been discussed. Based on the recent literature, the roles of FMRP (Fragile X mental retardation protein), hnRNPC (heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein-C), IRP (Iron regulatory proteins), miRNAs (MicroRNAs), and α-, β0, and γ-secretases in the posttranscriptional regulation of cellular synthesis and processing of APP (amyloid-β precursor protein) have been elaborated to describe the parallel and overlapping routes and mechanisms of ASD and AD pathogenesis. However, the interactive role of genetic and environmental factors, oxidative and metal ion stress, mutations in the associated genes, and alterations in the related cellular pathways in the development of ASD and AD needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shahid Nadeem
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.N.); (S.H.)
| | - Salman Hosawi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.N.); (S.H.)
| | - Sultan Alshehri
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (S.A.); (S.S.I.)
| | - Mohammed M. Ghoneim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Ad Diriyah 13713, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Syed Sarim Imam
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (S.A.); (S.S.I.)
| | - Bibi Nazia Murtaza
- Department of Zoology, Abbottabad University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abbottabad 22310, Pakistan;
| | - Imran Kazmi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.N.); (S.H.)
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10
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Gamache J, Yun Y, Chiba-Falek O. Sex-dependent effect of APOE on Alzheimer's disease and other age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:dmm045211. [PMID: 32859588 PMCID: PMC7473656 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.045211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of apolipoprotein E (APOE) in late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) has been firmly established, but the mechanisms through which it exerts its pathogenic effects remain elusive. In addition, the sex-dependent effects of APOE on LOAD risk and endophenotypes have yet to be explained. In this Review, we revisit the different aspects of APOE involvement in neurodegeneration and neurological diseases, with particular attention to sex differences in the contribution of APOE to LOAD susceptibility. We discuss the role of APOE in a broader range of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, and summarize the biological factors linking APOE to sex hormones, drawing on supportive findings from rodent models to identify major mechanistic themes underlying the exacerbation of LOAD-associated neurodegeneration and pathology in the female brain. Additionally, we list sex-by-genotype interactions identified across neurodegenerative diseases, proposing APOE variants as a shared etiology for sex differences in the manifestation of these diseases. Finally, we present recent advancements in 'omics' technologies, which provide a new platform for more in-depth investigations of how dysregulation of this gene affects the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Collectively, the evidence summarized in this Review highlights the interplay between APOE and sex as a key factor in the etiology of LOAD and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases. We emphasize the importance of careful examination of sex as a contributing factor in studying the underpinning genetics of neurodegenerative diseases in general, but particularly for LOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Gamache
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Young Yun
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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11
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Costa LG, Cole TB, Dao K, Chang YC, Coburn J, Garrick JM. Effects of air pollution on the nervous system and its possible role in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 210:107523. [PMID: 32165138 PMCID: PMC7245732 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent extensive evidence indicates that air pollution, in addition to causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, may also negatively affect the brain and contribute to central nervous system diseases. Air pollution is comprised of ambient particulate matter (PM) of different sizes, gases, organic compounds, and metals. An important contributor to PM is represented by traffic-related air pollution, mostly ascribed to diesel exhaust (DE). Epidemiological and animal studies have shown that exposure to air pollution may be associated with multiple adverse effects on the central nervous system. In addition to a variety of behavioral abnormalities, the most prominent effects caused by air pollution are oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation, which are seen in both humans and animals, and are supported by in vitro studies. Among factors which can affect neurotoxic outcomes, age is considered most relevant. Human and animal studies suggest that air pollution may cause developmental neurotoxicity, and may contribute to the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. In addition, air pollution exposure has been associated with increased expression of markers of neurodegenerative disease pathologies, such as alpha-synuclein or beta-amyloid, and may thus contribute to the etiopathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucio G Costa
- Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Dept. of Medicine & Surgery, University of Parma, Italy.
| | - Toby B Cole
- Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Khoi Dao
- Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yu-Chi Chang
- Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jacki Coburn
- Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jacqueline M Garrick
- Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Prokopenko D, Hecker J, Kirchner R, Chapman BA, Hoffman O, Mullin K, Hide W, Bertram L, Laird N, DeMeo DL, Lange C, Tanzi RE. Identification of Novel Alzheimer's Disease Loci Using Sex-Specific Family-Based Association Analysis of Whole-Genome Sequence Data. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5029. [PMID: 32193444 PMCID: PMC7081222 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61883-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
With the advent of whole genome-sequencing (WGS) studies, family-based designs enable sex-specific analysis approaches that can be applied to only affected individuals; tests using family-based designs are attractive because they are completely robust against the effects of population substructure. These advantages make family-based association tests (FBATs) that use siblings as well as parents especially suited for the analysis of late-onset diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, the application of FBATs to assess sex-specific effects can require additional filtering steps, as sensitivity to sequencing errors is amplified in this type of analysis. Here, we illustrate the implementation of robust analysis approaches and additional filtering steps that can minimize the chances of false positive-findings due to sex-specific sequencing errors. We apply this approach to two family-based AD datasets and identify four novel loci (GRID1, RIOK3, MCPH1, ZBTB7C) showing sex-specific association with AD risk. Following stringent quality control filtering, the strongest candidate is ZBTB7C (Pinter = 1.83 × 10-7), in which the minor allele of rs1944572 confers increased risk for AD in females and protection in males. ZBTB7C encodes the Zinc Finger and BTB Domain Containing 7C, a transcriptional repressor of membrane metalloproteases (MMP). Members of this MMP family were implicated in AD neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Prokopenko
- Genetics and Aging Unit and McCance Center for Brain Health, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julian Hecker
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rory Kirchner
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brad A Chapman
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Oliver Hoffman
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kristina Mullin
- Genetics and Aging Unit and McCance Center for Brain Health, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Winston Hide
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neurosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, US
| | - Lars Bertram
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics, Institutes of Neurogenetics and Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nan Laird
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dawn L DeMeo
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christoph Lange
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Unit and McCance Center for Brain Health, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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13
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Female gender specific association of the Reelin (RELN) gene rs7341475 variant with schizophrenia. Mol Biol Rep 2019; 46:3411-3416. [PMID: 30980267 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-04803-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
RELN gene encodes a large extracellular matrix protein which is critical for neuronal migration, cell positioning and cell-cell interactions. It also controls the synaptic plasticity of neurons for initiation and maintenance of long term potentiation. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of RELN rs7341475 variant with schizophrenia. Genomic DNA isolation was performed from 105 schizophrenic patients and 137 healthy controls to determine RELN rs7341475 genotypes. Genotype and allele frequencies were determined by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method developed in our laboratory. Statistical analysis was performed using χ2 test. The frequencies for G allele were 79.5% in cases and 81.0% in controls, for A allele 20.5% in cases and 19.0% in controls in the overall population. The genotype frequencies of the RELN gene rs7341475 variant were GG; 63.8%, GA; 31.4% and AA; 4.8% in cases, GG; 63.5%, GA; 35.0% and AA; 1.5% in controls in the overall population. There was no statistically significant association between the rs7341475 variant of RELN gene and schizophrenia in the overall population (χ2 = 2.473, p = 0.290). In the gender specific analysis, female gender specific association was only found. The RELN rs7341475 variant GG genotype was significantly associated with schizophrenia (p = 0.034, OR 2.760, 95% CI 1.058-7.197) and A allele was protective against schizophrenia (p = 0.034, OR 0.362, 95% CI 0.139-0.945). All cases and controls were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05). Population size can be increased to improve the statistical power. Moreover, other RELN gene variants which are especially involved in neuronal migration and epigenetic regulation may be analyzed for revealing the complex genetic architecture of schizophrenia. In conclusion, there was only association between the RELN rs7341475 variant and schizophrenia in the female gender in a Turkish population.
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Han S, Miller JE, Byun S, Kim D, Risacher SL, Saykin AJ, Lee Y, Nho K. Identification of exon skipping events associated with Alzheimer's disease in the human hippocampus. BMC Med Genomics 2019; 12:13. [PMID: 30704480 PMCID: PMC6357347 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-018-0453-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND At least 90% of human genes are alternatively spliced. Alternative splicing has an important function regulating gene expression and miss-splicing can contribute to risk for human diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS We developed a splicing decision model as a molecular mechanism to identify functional exon skipping events and genetic variation affecting alternative splicing on a genome-wide scale by integrating genomics, transcriptomics, and neuroimaging data in a systems biology approach. In this study, we analyzed RNA-Seq data of hippocampus brain tissue from Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 24) and cognitively normal elderly controls (CN; n = 50) and identified three exon skipping events in two genes (RELN and NOS1) as significantly associated with AD (corrected p-value < 0.05 and fold change > 1.5). Next, we identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affecting exon skipping events using the splicing decision model and then performed an association analysis of SNPs potentially affecting three exon skipping events with a global cortical measure of amyloid-β deposition measured by [18F] Florbetapir position emission tomography (PET) scan as an AD-related quantitative phenotype. A whole-brain voxel-based analysis was also performed. RESULTS Two exons in RELN and one exon in NOS1 showed significantly lower expression levels in the AD participants compared to CN participants, suggesting that the exons tend to be skipped more in AD. We also showed the loss of the core protein structure due to the skipped exons using the protein 3D structure analysis. The targeted SNP-based association analysis identified one intronic SNP (rs362771) adjacent to the skipped exon 24 in RELN as significantly associated with cortical amyloid-β levels (corrected p-value < 0.05). This SNP is within the splicing regulatory element, i.e., intronic splicing enhancer. The minor allele of rs362771 conferred decreases in cortical amyloid-β levels in the right temporal and bilateral parietal lobes. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that exon skipping events and splicing-affecting SNPs in the human hippocampus may contribute to AD pathogenesis. Integration of multiple omics and neuroimaging data provides insights into possible mechanisms underlying AD pathophysiology through exon skipping and may help identify novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seonggyun Han
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| | - Jason E. Miller
- Biomedical and Translational Informatics Institute, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA USA
| | - Seyoun Byun
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| | - Dokyoon Kim
- Biomedical and Translational Informatics Institute, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA
| | - Shannon L. Risacher
- Center for Neuroimaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Center for Neuroimaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Younghee Lee
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| | - Kwangsik Nho
- Center for Neuroimaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - for Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT USA
- Biomedical and Translational Informatics Institute, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA
- Center for Neuroimaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
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Alfimova MV, Kondratyev NV, Golov AK, Golubev SA, Galaktionova DY, Nasedkina TV, Golimbet VE. [Relationships of rs7341475 polymorphism and DNA methylation in the reelin gene with schizophrenia symptoms]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2018; 118:71-76. [PMID: 30335076 DOI: 10.17116/jnevro201811809171] [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] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
AIM To study the role of polymorphism rs7341475 and methylation of the reelin gene in symptoms of schizophrenia and semantic verbal fluency. MATERIAL AND METHODS Genotypes at the locus rs7341475 were identified in 556 patients with schizophrenic disorders. PANSS scores were obtained for 549 patients and 221 patients performed a test for semantic verbal fluency. The association of the reelin promoter methylation with the PANSS and verbal fluency measures was evaluated in 35 patients. A five-factor model of the PANSS was used. RESULTS The interaction effect of sex with genotype on the PANSS scores was found (F=2.70, p=0.020). Schizophrenic men homozygous for a common allele G had the lowest scores of the positive syndrome. Verbal fluency was related to the reelin promoter methylation. CONCLUSION The results suggest that polymorphism rs7341475 may be associated with the variability of positive symptomatology in schizophrenic men. At the same time, the reelin gene methylation pattern, which consists of a higher methylation level in the region of the transcription start site and a lower one in the distal region of the promoter, may be beneficial for verbal fluency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - A K Golov
- Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia
| | - S A Golubev
- Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia
| | - D Yu Galaktionova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - T V Nasedkina
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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Han ZJ, Xue WW, Tao L, Zhu F. Identification of novel immune-relevant drug target genes for Alzheimer's Disease by combining ontology inference with network analysis. CNS Neurosci Ther 2018; 24:1253-1263. [PMID: 30106219 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of death in elderly people. Its pathogenesis is greatly associated with the abnormality of immune system. However, only a few immune-relevant AD drug target genes have been discovered up to now, and it is speculated that there are still many potential drug target genes of AD (at least immune-relevant genes) to be discovered. Thus, this study was designed to identify novel AD drug target genes and explore their biological properties. METHODS A combinatorial approach was adopted for the first time to discover AD drug targets by collectively considering ontology inference and network analysis. Moreover, a novel strategy limiting the distance of reasoning and in turn reducing noise interference was further proposed to improve inference performance. Potential AD drug target genes were discovered by integrating information of multiple popular databases (TTD, DrugBank, PharmGKB, AlzGene, and BioGRID). Then, the enrichment analyses of the identified drug targets genes based on nine well-known pathway-related databases were conducted to explore the function of the identified potential drug target genes. RESULTS Eighteen potential drug target genes were finally identified, and 13 of them had been reported to be closely associated with AD. Enrichment analyses of these identified drug target genes, based on nine pathway-related databases, revealed that the enriched terms were primarily focus on immune-relevant biological processes. Four of those identified drug target genes are involved in the classical complement pathway and process of antigen presenting. CONCLUSION The well-reproducible results showed the good performance of the combinatorial approach, and the remaining five new targets could be a good starting point for our understanding of the pathogenesis and drug discovery of AD. Moreover, this study supported validity of the combinatorial approach integrating ontology inference with network analysis in the discovery of novel drug target for neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Jie Han
- Innovative Drug Research and Bioinformatics Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.,Innovative Drug Research and Bioinformatics Group, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Wei Xue
- Innovative Drug Research and Bioinformatics Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lin Tao
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-cancer Chinese Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Innovative Drug Research and Bioinformatics Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.,Innovative Drug Research and Bioinformatics Group, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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17
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Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Epidemiological and Experimental Evidence, and Potential Underlying Mechanisms. ADVANCES IN NEUROTOXICOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.ant.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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18
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Sexually Dimorphic Expression of Reelin in the Brain of a Mouse Model of Alzheimer Disease. J Mol Neurosci 2016; 61:359-367. [PMID: 27866325 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-016-0865-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence highlights the protective role of reelin against amyloid β (Aβ)-induced synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer disease (AD). In this study, exploiting TgCRND8 mice that overexpress a mutant form of amyloid β precursor protein (AβPP) and display an early onset of AD neuropathological signs, we addressed the question whether changes of reelin expression eventually precede the appearance of Aβ-plaques in a sex-dependent manner. We show that sex-associated and brain region-specific differences in reelin expression appear long before Aβ-plaque formation. However, in spite of a downregulation of reelin expression compared to males, TgCRND8 females display fewer Aβ-plaques, suggesting that additional factors, other than sex and reelin level, influence amyloidosis in this mouse model.
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Ishii K, Kubo KI, Nakajima K. Reelin and Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:229. [PMID: 27803648 PMCID: PMC5067484 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper neuronal migration and laminar formation during corticogenesis is essential for normal brain function. Disruption of these developmental processes is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of some neuropsychiatric conditions. Especially, Reelin, a glycoprotein mainly secreted by the Cajal-Retzius cells and a subpopulation of GABAergic interneurons, has been shown to play a critical role, both during embryonic and postnatal periods. Indeed, animal studies have clearly revealed that Reelin is an essential molecule for proper migration of cortical neurons and finally regulates the cell positioning in the cortex during embryonic and early postnatal stages; by contrast, Reelin signaling is closely involved in synaptic function in adulthood. In humans, genetic studies have shown that the reelin gene (RELN) is associated with a number of psychiatric diseases, including Schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BP) and autistic spectrum disorder. Indeed, Reln haploinsufficiency has been shown to cause cognitive impairment in rodents, suggesting the expression level of the Reelin protein is closely related to the higher brain functions. However, the molecular abnormalities in the Reelin pathway involved in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders are not yet fully understood. In this article, we review the current progress in the understanding of the Reelin functions that could be related to the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, we discuss the basis for selecting Reelin and molecules in its downstream signaling pathway as potential therapeutic targets for psychiatric illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Ishii
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichiro Kubo
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunori Nakajima
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine Tokyo, Japan
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20
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Cuchillo-Ibañez I, Balmaceda V, Mata-Balaguer T, Lopez-Font I, Sáez-Valero J. Reelin in Alzheimer’s Disease, Increased Levels but Impaired Signaling: When More is Less. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 52:403-16. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-151193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Cuchillo-Ibañez
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Valeria Balmaceda
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Trinidad Mata-Balaguer
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Inmaculada Lopez-Font
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Javier Sáez-Valero
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
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