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Mehta K, Yentsch H, Lee J, Gao TT, Zhang K. Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate mediates Arc capsids secretion through the multivesicular body pathway. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.19.572392. [PMID: 38187623 PMCID: PMC10769229 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.19.572392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc/Arg3.1) is an immediate early gene that plays a vital role in learning and memory. The recent discovery that Arc mediates the inter-neuronal RNA transfer implies its role in regulating neuronal functions across long distances. Arc protein has structural and functional properties similar to viral Group-specific antigen (Gag). By assembling into high-order, virus-like capsids, Arc mediates the intercellular RNA transfer. However, the exact secretion pathway through which Arc capsids maneuver cargos is unclear. Here, we identified that Arc capsids assemble and secrete through the endosomal-multivesicular body (MVB) pathway. Arc's endosomal entry is likely mediated by phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P). Indeed, reconstituted Arc protein preferably binds to PI3P. In mammalian cells, Arc forms puncta that colocalizes with FYVE, an endosomal PI3P marker, and competitive binding to PI3P via prolonged FYVE expression reduces the average number of Arc puncta per cell. Overexpression of MTMR1, a PI3P phosphatase, significantly reduces Arc capsid secretion. Arc capsids secrete through the endosomal-MVB axis as extracellular vesicles. Live-cell imaging shows that fluorescently labeled Arc primarily colocalizes Rab5 and CD63, early endosomal and MVB markers, respectively. Superresolution imaging resolves Arc accumulates within the intraluminal vesicles of MVB. CRISPR double knockout of RalA and RalB, crucial GTPases for MVB biogenesis and exocytosis, severely reduces Arc-mediated RNA transfer efficiency. These results suggest that, unlike the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Gag, which assembles on and bud off from the plasma membrane, Arc capsids assemble at the endocytic membranes of the endosomal-MVB pathway mediated by PI3P. Understanding Arc's secretion pathway helps gain insights into its role in intercellular cargo transfer and highlights the commonality and distinction of trafficking mechanisms between structurally resembled capsid proteins.
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2
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Chen Y, Wang X, Xiao B, Luo Z, Long H. Mechanisms and Functions of Activity-Regulated Cytoskeleton-Associated Protein in Synaptic Plasticity. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:5738-5754. [PMID: 37338805 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03442-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) is one of the most important regulators of cognitive functions in the brain regions. As a hub protein, Arc plays different roles in modulating synaptic plasticity. Arc supports the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) by regulating actin cytoskeletal dynamics, while it guides the endocytosis of AMPAR in long-term depression (LTD). Moreover, Arc can self-assemble into capsids, leading to a new way of communicating among neurons. The transcription and translation of the immediate early gene Arc are rigorous procedures guided by numerous factors, and RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is considered to regulate the precise timing dynamics of gene expression. Since astrocytes can secrete brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and L-lactate, their unique roles in Arc expression are emphasized. Here, we review the entire process of Arc expression and summarize the factors that can affect Arc expression and function, including noncoding RNAs, transcription factors, and posttranscriptional regulations. We also attempt to review the functional states and mechanisms of Arc in modulating synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, we discuss the recent progress in understanding the roles of Arc in the occurrence of major neurological disorders and provide new thoughts for future research on Arc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaohu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Epileptic Disease of Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China, 410008
| | - Zhaohui Luo
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Clinical Research Center for Epileptic Disease of Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China, 410008.
| | - Hongyu Long
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Clinical Research Center for Epileptic Disease of Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China, 410008.
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3
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Sibarov DA, Tsytsarev V, Volnova A, Vaganova AN, Alves J, Rojas L, Sanabria P, Ignashchenkova A, Savage ED, Inyushin M. Arc protein, a remnant of ancient retrovirus, forms virus-like particles, which are abundantly generated by neurons during epileptic seizures, and affects epileptic susceptibility in rodent models. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1201104. [PMID: 37483450 PMCID: PMC10361770 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1201104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A product of the immediate early gene Arc (Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein or Arc protein) of retroviral ancestry resides in the genome of all tetrapods for millions of years and is expressed endogenously in neurons. It is a well-known protein, very important for synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation. Activity-dependent Arc expression concentrated in glutamatergic synapses affects the long-time synaptic strength of those excitatory synapses. Because it modulates excitatory-inhibitory balance in a neuronal network, the Arc gene itself was found to be related to the pathogenesis of epilepsy. General Arc knockout rodent models develop a susceptibility to epileptic seizures. Because of activity dependence, synaptic Arc protein synthesis also is affected by seizures. Interestingly, it was found that Arc protein in synapses of active neurons self-assemble in capsids of retrovirus-like particles, which can transfer genetic information between neurons, at least across neuronal synaptic boutons. Released Arc particles can be accumulated in astrocytes after seizures. It is still not known how capsid assembling and transmission timescale is affected by seizures. This scientific field is relatively novel and is experiencing swift transformation as it grapples with difficult concepts in light of evolving experimental findings. We summarize the emergent literature on the subject and also discuss the specific rodent models for studying Arc effects in epilepsy. We summarized both to clarify the possible role of Arc-related pseudo-viral particles in epileptic disorders, which may be helpful to researchers interested in this growing area of investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry A. Sibarov
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vassiliy Tsytsarev
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Anna Volnova
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anastasia N. Vaganova
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Janaina Alves
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, PR, United States
| | - Legier Rojas
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, PR, United States
| | - Priscila Sanabria
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, PR, United States
| | | | | | - Mikhail Inyushin
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, PR, United States
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4
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Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis of CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated ARC-Knockout HEK293 Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094498. [PMID: 35562887 PMCID: PMC9101110 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Arc/Arg3.1 (activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (ARC)) is a critical regulator of long-term synaptic plasticity and is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The functions and mechanisms of human ARC action are poorly understood and worthy of further investigation. To investigate the function of the ARC gene in vitro, we generated an ARC-knockout (KO) HEK293 cell line via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing and conducted RNA sequencing and label-free LC-MS/MS analysis to identify the differentially expressed genes and proteins in isogenic ARC-KO HEK293 cells. Furthermore, we used bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assays to detect interactions between the ARC protein and differentially expressed proteins. Genetic deletion of ARC disturbed multiple genes involved in the extracellular matrix and synaptic membrane. Seven proteins (HSPA1A, ENO1, VCP, HMGCS1, ALDH1B1, FSCN1, and HINT2) were found to be differentially expressed between ARC-KO cells and ARC wild-type cells. BRET assay results showed that ARC interacted with PSD95 and HSPA1A. Overall, we found that ARC regulates the differential expression of genes involved in the extracellular matrix, synaptic membrane, and heat shock protein family. The transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of ARC-KO HEK293 cells presented here provide new evidence for the mechanisms underlying the effects of ARC and molecular pathways involved in schizophrenia pathophysiology.
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5
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Wang YY, Hsu SH, Tsai HY, Cheng MC. Genetic analysis of the NR2E1 gene as a candidate gene of schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2020; 293:113386. [PMID: 32805587 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
NR2E1 is implicated in the regulation of neurogenesis and considered as a candidate gene for schizophrenia. We resequenced all the exons of NR2E1 in 547 patients with schizophrenia and 567 controls from Taiwan. We identified five common SNPs with no association with patients with schizophrenia. Further haplotype-based association analysis showed that two haplotypes within NR2E1 were correlated with the schizophrenia risk. Four rare mutations located at untranslated regions were identified in patients with schizophrenia but not in our control sample. The present study suggests that NR2E1 is likely to play a significant role in conferring susceptibility to schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Yuan Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien County, 981, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hsin Hsu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien County, 981, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yao Tsai
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien County, 981, Taiwan
| | - Min-Chih Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien County, 981, Taiwan.
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Smigielski L, Jagannath V, Rössler W, Walitza S, Grünblatt E. Epigenetic mechanisms in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders: a systematic review of empirical human findings. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:1718-1748. [PMID: 31907379 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0601-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are highly debilitating psychiatric conditions that lack a clear etiology and exhibit polygenic inheritance underlain by pleiotropic genes. The prevailing explanation points to the interplay between predisposing genes and environmental exposure. Accumulated evidence suggests that epigenetic regulation of the genome may mediate dynamic gene-environment interactions at the molecular level by modulating the expression of psychiatric phenotypes through transcription factors. This systematic review summarizes the current knowledge linking schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders to epigenetics, based on PubMed and Web of Science database searches conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Three groups of mechanisms in case-control studies of human tissue (i.e., postmortem brain and bio-fluids) were considered: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding miRNAs. From the initial pool of 3,204 records, 152 studies met our inclusion criteria (11,815/11,528, 233/219, and 2,091/1,827 cases/controls for each group, respectively). Many of the findings revealed associations with epigenetic modulations of genes regulating neurotransmission, neurodevelopment, and immune function, as well as differential miRNA expression (e.g., upregulated miR-34a, miR-7, and miR-181b). Overall, actual evidence moderately supports an association between epigenetics and schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. However, heterogeneous results and cross-tissue extrapolations call for future work. Integrating epigenetics into systems biology may critically enhance research on psychosis and thus our understanding of the disorder. This may have implications for psychiatry in risk stratification, early recognition, diagnostics, precision medicine, and other interventional approaches targeting epigenetic fingerprints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Smigielski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Vinita Jagannath
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) R&D Innovation Centre, London, UK
| | - Wulf Rössler
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,Laboratory of Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Susanne Walitza
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Edna Grünblatt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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7
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Latusz J, Maćkowiak M. Early-life blockade of NMDA receptors induces epigenetic abnormalities in the adult medial prefrontal cortex: possible involvement in memory impairment in trace fear conditioning. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:231-248. [PMID: 31654083 PMCID: PMC6952333 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05362-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Several findings indicate that early-life dysfunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors might cause schizophrenia-like abnormalities in adulthood that might be induced by impairments in epigenetic regulation. OBJECTIVES In the present study, we investigated whether postnatal blockade of NMDA receptors (within the first 3 weeks of life) by the competitive antagonist CGP 37849 (CGP) might affect some epigenetic markers in the adult medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). METHODS Histone H3 phosphorylation at serine 10 (H3S10ph), histone H3 acetylation at lysine 9 or 14 (H3K9ac or H3K14ac, respectively), or expression of histone deacetylase (HDAC) 2, HDAC5, myocyte enhancer factor (MEF) 2D and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) were analysed. Moreover, we also evaluated whether the deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate (SB; 1.2 mg/kg, ip) could prevent behavioural and neurochemical changes in the mPFC induced by CGP during memory retrieval in the trace fear conditioning paradigm. RESULTS The results showed that CGP administration increased the number of H3S10ph nuclei but did not affect H3K9ac and H3K14ac or HDAC2 protein levels. However, CGP administration altered the HDAC5 mRNA and protein levels and increased the mRNA and protein levels of MEF2D. CGP also increased Arc mRNA, which was correlated with an increase in the amount of Arc DNA bound to MEF2D. SB given 2 h after training prevented impairment of the freezing response and disruption of epigenetic markers (H3S10ph, HDAC5, MEF2D) and Arc expression during memory retrieval induced by CGP administration. CONCLUSIONS The early-life blockade of NMDA receptors impairs some epigenetic regulatory processes in the mPFC that are involved in fear memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Latusz
- grid.413454.30000 0001 1958 0162Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Smętna Str. 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Marzena Maćkowiak
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Smętna Str. 12, 31-343, Kraków, Poland.
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8
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Penrod RD, Thomsen M, Taniguchi M, Guo Y, Cowan CW, Smith LN. The activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein, Arc/Arg3.1, influences mouse cocaine self-administration. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2019; 188:172818. [PMID: 31682894 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.172818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc, also known as Arg3.1), an immediate early gene and synaptic regulator, is upregulated following a single cocaine exposure. However, there is not much known regarding Arc/Arg3.1's potential contribution to addiction-relevant behaviors. Despite known learning and memory deficits in contextual fear and water-maze reversal learning tasks, we find that mice lacking Arc/Arg3.1 perform conditioned place preference and operant conditioning involving positive reinforcers (food and cocaine) with little-to-no impairment. However, following normal saline-extinction, wild type (WT) mice show a classic inverted-U dose-response function, while Arc/Arg3.1 knockout (KO) mice fail to adjust their intake across multiple doses. Importantly, Arc/Arg3.1 KO and WT mice behave comparably on an increasing cost task (FR1-FR3; acquisition dose), providing evidence that both groups find cocaine reinforcing. Differences in individuals that drive variations in use patterns and particularly, drug intake levels, are critical as they influence the likelihood of developing dependence. Our data suggest that Arc/Arg3.1 may contribute to addiction as a regulator of drug-taking vulnerability under different drug availability conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel D Penrod
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America
| | - Morgane Thomsen
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America
| | - Makoto Taniguchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America
| | - Yuhong Guo
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America
| | - Christopher W Cowan
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America
| | - Laura N Smith
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States of America.
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9
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Hunter P. Ancient foes and helpers: Research sheds new light on the role that retroviruses play in disease, innate immunity and neural plasticity. EMBO Rep 2019; 20:e48911. [PMID: 31393048 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201948911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ancient retrovirus infections played a role in human evolution and are still involved in innate immunity and neural plasticity.
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10
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Hu TM, Chen SJ, Hsu SH, Cheng MC. Functional analyses and effect of DNA methylation on the EGR1 gene in patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2019; 275:276-282. [PMID: 30952071 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.03.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
EGR1, involved in the regulation of synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory, is considered a candidate gene for schizophrenia. We resequenced the exonic regions of EGR1 in 516 patients with schizophrenia and conducted a reporter gene assay. We found two mutations including a rare mutation (c.-8C>T, rs561524195) and one common SNP (c.308-42C>T, rs11743810). The reporter gene assay showed c.-8C>T mutant did not affect promoter activity. Gene expression analyses showed that the average EGR1 mRNA and protein levels in lymphoblastoid cell lines of schizophrenia in male, but not female, were significantly higher than those in controls. We conducted in vitro DNA methylation reaction, luciferase activity assay, and pyrosequencing to assess DNA methylation of EGR1 expression underlying the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. DNA methylation of the EGR1 promoter region attenuated reporter activity, suggesting that DNA methylation regulates EGR1 expression. There were no statistically significant differences in DNA methylation levels of 17 CpG sites at the EGR1 promoter region between 64 patients with schizophrenia compared with 64 controls. These results suggest that the exonic mutations in EGR1 and DNA methylation regulating EGR1 expression might not be associated with schizophrenia. However, the gender-specific association of elevated EGR1 expression might be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Ming Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien County, Taiwan; Department of Long-Term Care, University of Kang Ning, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Shaw-Ji Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung Branch, Taitung County, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hsin Hsu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien County, Taiwan
| | - Min-Chih Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien County, Taiwan.
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11
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Paolantoni C, Ricciardi S, De Paolis V, Okenwa C, Catalanotto C, Ciotti MT, Cattaneo A, Cogoni C, Giorgi C. Arc 3' UTR Splicing Leads to Dual and Antagonistic Effects in Fine-Tuning Arc Expression Upon BDNF Signaling. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:145. [PMID: 29755318 PMCID: PMC5934489 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Activity-regulated cytoskeletal associated protein (Arc) is an immediate-early gene critically involved in synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation. Arc mRNA is rapidly induced by synaptic activation and a portion is locally translated in dendrites where it modulates synaptic strength. Being an activity-dependent effector of homeostatic balance, regulation of Arc is uniquely tuned to result in short-lived bursts of expression. Cis-Acting elements that control its transitory expression post-transcriptionally reside primarily in Arc mRNA 3′ UTR. These include two conserved introns which distinctively modulate Arc mRNA stability by targeting it for destruction via the nonsense mediated decay pathway. Here, we further investigated how splicing of the Arc mRNA 3′ UTR region contributes to modulate Arc expression in cultured neurons. Unexpectedly, upon induction with brain derived neurotrophic factor, translational efficiency of a luciferase reporter construct harboring Arc 3′ UTR is significantly upregulated and this effect is dependent on splicing of Arc introns. We find that, eIF2α dephosphorylation, mTOR, ERK, PKC, and PKA activity are key to this process. Additionally, CREB-dependent transcription is required to couple Arc 3′ UTR-splicing to its translational upregulation, suggesting the involvement of de novo transcribed trans-acting factors. Overall, splicing of Arc 3′ UTR exerts a dual and unique effect in fine-tuning Arc expression upon synaptic signaling: while inducing mRNA decay to limit the time window of Arc expression, it also elicits translation of the decaying mRNA. This antagonistic effect likely contributes to the achievement of a confined yet efficient burst of Arc protein expression, facilitating its role as an effector of synapse-specific plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Paolantoni
- European Brain Research Institute Rita Levi-Montalcini Rome, Rome, Italy.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Ricciardi
- European Brain Research Institute Rita Levi-Montalcini Rome, Rome, Italy.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica De Paolis
- European Brain Research Institute Rita Levi-Montalcini Rome, Rome, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Chinenye Okenwa
- European Brain Research Institute Rita Levi-Montalcini Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Catalanotto
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria T Ciotti
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- European Brain Research Institute Rita Levi-Montalcini Rome, Rome, Italy.,Bio@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Carlo Cogoni
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Corinna Giorgi
- European Brain Research Institute Rita Levi-Montalcini Rome, Rome, Italy
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12
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Marballi KK, Gallitano AL. Immediate Early Genes Anchor a Biological Pathway of Proteins Required for Memory Formation, Long-Term Depression and Risk for Schizophrenia. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:23. [PMID: 29520222 PMCID: PMC5827560 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
While the causes of myriad medical and infectious illnesses have been identified, the etiologies of neuropsychiatric illnesses remain elusive. This is due to two major obstacles. First, the risk for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, is determined by both genetic and environmental factors. Second, numerous genes influence susceptibility for these illnesses. Genome-wide association studies have identified at least 108 genomic loci for schizophrenia, and more are expected to be published shortly. In addition, numerous biological processes contribute to the neuropathology underlying schizophrenia. These include immune dysfunction, synaptic and myelination deficits, vascular abnormalities, growth factor disruption, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction. However, the field of psychiatric genetics lacks a unifying model to explain how environment may interact with numerous genes to influence these various biological processes and cause schizophrenia. Here we describe a biological cascade of proteins that are activated in response to environmental stimuli such as stress, a schizophrenia risk factor. The central proteins in this pathway are critical mediators of memory formation and a particular form of hippocampal synaptic plasticity, long-term depression (LTD). Each of these proteins is also implicated in schizophrenia risk. In fact, the pathway includes four genes that map to the 108 loci associated with schizophrenia: GRIN2A, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATc3), early growth response 1 (EGR1) and NGFI-A Binding Protein 2 (NAB2); each of which contains the "Index single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)" (most SNP) at its respective locus. Environmental stimuli activate this biological pathway in neurons, resulting in induction of EGR immediate early genes: EGR1, EGR3 and NAB2. We hypothesize that dysfunction in any of the genes in this pathway disrupts the normal activation of Egrs in response to stress. This may result in insufficient electrophysiologic, immunologic, and neuroprotective, processes that these genes normally mediate. Continued adverse environmental experiences, over time, may thereby result in neuropathology that gives rise to the symptoms of schizophrenia. By combining multiple genes associated with schizophrenia susceptibility, in a functional cascade triggered by neuronal activity, the proposed biological pathway provides an explanation for both the polygenic and environmental influences that determine the complex etiology of this mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketan K. Marballi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Amelia L. Gallitano
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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Yu Y, Lin Y, Takasaki Y, Wang C, Kimura H, Xing J, Ishizuka K, Toyama M, Kushima I, Mori D, Arioka Y, Uno Y, Shiino T, Nakamura Y, Okada T, Morikawa M, Ikeda M, Iwata N, Okahisa Y, Takaki M, Sakamoto S, Someya T, Egawa J, Usami M, Kodaira M, Yoshimi A, Oya-Ito T, Aleksic B, Ohno K, Ozaki N. Rare loss of function mutations in N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors and their contributions to schizophrenia susceptibility. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:12. [PMID: 29317596 PMCID: PMC5802496 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-017-0061-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In schizophrenia (SCZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the dysregulation of glutamate transmission through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) has been implicated as a potential etiological mechanism. Previous studies have accumulated evidence supporting NMDAR-encoding genes' role in etiology of SCZ and ASD. We performed a screening study for exonic regions of GRIN1, GRIN2A, GRIN2C, GRIN2D, GRIN3A, and GRIN3B, which encode NMDAR subunits, in 562 participates (370 SCZ and 192 ASD). Forty rare variants were identified including 38 missense, 1 frameshift mutation in GRIN2C and 1 splice site mutation in GRIN2D. We conducted in silico analysis for all variants and detected seven missense variants with deleterious prediction. De novo analysis was conducted if pedigree samples were available. The splice site mutation in GRIN2D is predicted to result in intron retention by minigene assay. Furthermore, the frameshift mutation in GRIN2C and splice site mutation in GRIN2D were genotyped in an independent sample set comprising 1877 SCZ cases, 382 ASD cases, and 2040 controls. Both of them were revealed to be singleton. Our study gives evidence in support of the view that ultra-rare variants with loss of function (frameshift, nonsense or splice site) in NMDARs genes may contribute to possible risk of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Yu
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yingni Lin
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuto Takasaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Chenyao Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kimura
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Jingrui Xing
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Kanako Ishizuka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Miho Toyama
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Itaru Kushima
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Daisuke Mori
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuko Arioka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Center for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yota Uno
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Laboratory for Psychiatric and Molecular Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Tomoko Shiino
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yukako Nakamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takashi Okada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Mako Morikawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masashi Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Nakao Iwata
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Yuko Okahisa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Manabu Takaki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Shinji Sakamoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Someya
- Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
| | - Jun Egawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
| | - Masahide Usami
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaki Kodaira
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Yoshimi
- Division of Clinical Sciences and Neuropsychopharmacology, Faculty and Graduate School of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomoko Oya-Ito
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Nutrition, Shubun University, Ichinomiya, Japan
| | - Branko Aleksic
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
| | - Kinji Ohno
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Norio Ozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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Wilkerson JR, Albanesi JP, Huber KM. Roles for Arc in metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent LTD and synapse elimination: Implications in health and disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 77:51-62. [PMID: 28969983 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The Arc gene is robustly transcribed in specific neural ensembles in response to experience-driven activity. Upon induction, Arc mRNA is transported to dendrites, where it can be rapidly and locally translated by activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1/5). mGluR-induced dendritic synthesis of Arc is implicated in weakening or elimination of excitatory synapses by triggering endocytosis of postsynaptic AMPARs in both hippocampal CA1 and cerebellar Purkinje neurons. Importantly, CA1 neurons with experience-induced Arc mRNA are susceptible, or primed for mGluR-induced long-term synaptic depression (mGluR-LTD). Here we review mechanisms and function of Arc in mGluR-LTD and synapse elimination and propose roles for these forms of plasticity in Arc-dependent formation of sparse neural representations of learned experience. We also discuss accumulating evidence linking dysregulation of Arc and mGluR-LTD in human cognitive disorders such as intellectual disability, autism and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia R Wilkerson
- Departments of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
| | - Joseph P Albanesi
- Departments of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
| | - Kimberly M Huber
- Departments of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, United States.
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Calabrò M, Porcelli S, Crisafulli C, Wang SM, Lee SJ, Han C, Patkar AA, Masand PS, Albani D, Raimondi I, Forloni G, Bin S, Mattiaccio A, Mantovani V, Jun TY, Pae CU, Serretti A. Genetic Variants Within Key Nodes of the Cascade of Antipsychotic Mechanisms: Effects on Antipsychotic Response and Schizophrenia Psychopathology in a Naturalistic Treatment Setting in Two Independent Korean and Italian Samples. Adv Ther 2017; 34:1482-1497. [PMID: 28508933 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-017-0555-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Schizophrenia (SCZ) is one of the most disabling psychiatric disorders. Genetic factors play an important role in both SCZ liability and its treatment outcome. In the present paper, we investigated the effects of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within ten strong candidate genes involved with antipsychotics (APs) mechanisms of action. METHODS Two independent samples were investigated in the present study. Totals of 176 SCZ subjects and 326 controls of Korean ancestry, and 83 SCZ subjects and 194 controls of Italian ancestry were recruited and genotyped. SCZ risk and other parameters were also investigated. RESULTS Concerning APs response, only a nominal association with HOMER1 rs3822568 in the Korean sample was found. In the haplotype analysis, rs9801117 C-rs12668837 C-rs4621754 A haplotype within ESYT2 and NCAPG2 genes was associated with APs response in the same sample. As for secondary outcomes, rs7439 within PKDCC and rs12668837 within NCAPG2 were associated with SCZ risk in the Italian sample. In the haplotype analysis, rs2788478 G-rs2657375 T-rs1039621 A within the region between WDR60 and ESYT genes and rs2013 C (ESYT2)-rs6459896 A (NCAPG2) haplotypes were associated with SCZ in the same sample. No association was found in the Korean sample. Finally, our exploratory data suggest a possible modulation of HOMER1, ARC, BDNF, TXNRD2, WDR60, and ESYT2 genes in the APs response to specific symptom clusters. CONCLUSION Our results did not support a primary role for the genes investigated in the APs response. On the other hand, our secondary results suggest a possible involvement of NACPG2 and PKDCC in SCZ liability. Finally, our exploratory findings may deserve further investigations in specific studies.
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DNA methylation analysis of the EGR3 gene in patients of schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2017; 251:115-117. [PMID: 28199908 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. EGR3 is considered as a potential candidate gene for schizophrenia. We conducted in vitro DNA methylation reaction, Lucia luciferase activity assay, and pyrosequencing assay to assess the DNA methylation of the EGR3 expression underlying the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We found that DNA methylation of the putative EGR3 regulatory regions attenuated Lucia luciferase activity. There was no difference in the DNA methylation pattern of EGR3 between in 50 schizophrenic patients and 47 controls. Our data suggest that DNA methylation regulated the expression of EGR3 might not be associated with schizophrenia.
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Smith-Hicks CL, Cai P, Savonenko AV, Reeves RH, Worley PF. Increased Sparsity of Hippocampal CA1 Neuronal Ensembles in a Mouse Model of Down Syndrome Assayed by Arc Expression. Front Neural Circuits 2017; 11:6. [PMID: 28217086 PMCID: PMC5289947 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2017.00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the leading chromosomal cause of intellectual disability, yet the neural substrates of learning and memory deficits remain poorly understood. Here, we interrogate neural networks linked to learning and memory in a well-characterized model of DS, the Ts65Dn mouse. We report that Ts65Dn mice exhibit exploratory behavior that is not different from littermate wild-type (WT) controls yet behavioral activation of Arc mRNA transcription in pyramidal neurons of the CA1 region of the hippocampus is altered in Ts65Dn mice. In WT mice, a 5 min period of exploration of a novel environment resulted in Arc mRNA transcription in 39% of CA1 neurons. By contrast, the same period of exploration resulted in only ~20% of CA1 neurons transcribing Arc mRNA in Ts65Dn mice indicating increased sparsity of the behaviorally induced ensemble. Like WT mice the CA1 pyramidal neurons of Ts65Dn mice reactivated Arc transcription during a second exposure to the same environment 20 min after the first experience, but the size of the reactivated ensemble was only ~60% of that in WT mice. After repeated daily exposures there was a further decline in the size of the reactivated ensemble in Ts65Dn and a disruption of reactivation. Together these data demonstrate reduction in the size of the behaviorally induced network that expresses Arc in Ts65Dn mice and disruption of the long-term stability of the ensemble. We propose that these deficits in network formation and stability contribute to cognitive symptoms in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance L Smith-Hicks
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peiling Cai
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West-China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu, China
| | - Alena V Savonenko
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Roger H Reeves
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Paul F Worley
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimore, MD, USA
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