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Fu C, Tang H, Liu L, Huang Y, Zhou H, Huang S, Peng T, Zeng P, Yang X, He L, Xu K. Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Promotes Myelin Remodeling and Motor Function by Mediating Sox2/Fyn Signals in Rats With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. Phys Ther 2024; 104:pzae011. [PMID: 38302073 DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzae011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in infants often leads to hemiplegic motor dysfunction. The mechanism of their motor dysfunction has been attributed to deficiencies of the transcription factor sex-determining region (SRY) box 2 (Sox2) or the non-receptor-type tyrosine kinase Fyn (involved in neuronal signal transduction), which causes a defect in myelin formation. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) following cerebral hypoxia-ischemia may stimulate myelin growth by regulating Sox2/Fyn, Ras homolog protein family A (RhoA), and rho-associated kinase 2 (ROCK2) expression levels. This study investigated how Sox2/Fyn regulates myelin remodeling following CIMT to improve motor function in rats with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP). METHODS To investigate the mechanism of Sox2 involvement in myelin growth and neural function in rats with HCP, Lentivirus (Lenti)-Sox2 adeno-associated virus and negative control-Lenti-Sox2 (LS) adeno-associated virus were injected into the lateral ventricle. The rats were divided into a control group and an HCP group with different interventions (CIMT, LS, or negative control-LS [NS] treatment), yielding the HCP, HCP plus CIMT (HCP + CIMT), HCP + LS, HCP + LS + CIMT, HCP + NS, and HCP + NS + CIMT groups. Front-limb suspension and RotaRod tests, Golgi-Cox staining, transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence staining, western blotting, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction experiments were used to analyze the motor function, dendrite/axon area, myelin ultrastructure, and levels of expression of oligodendrocytes and Sox2/Fyn/RhoA/ROCK2 in the motor cortex. RESULTS The rats in the HCP + LS + CIMT group had better values for motor function, dendrite/axon area, myelin ultrastructure, oligodendrocytes, and Sox2/Fyn/RhoA/ROCK2 expression in the motor cortex than rats in the HCP and HCP + NS groups. The improvement of motor function and myelin remodeling, the expression of oligodendrocytes, and the expression of Sox2/Fyn/RhoA/ROCK2 in the HCP + LS group were similar to those in the HCP + CIMT group. CONCLUSION CIMT might overcome RhoA/ROCK2 signaling by upregulating the transcription of Sox2 to Fyn in the brain to induce the maturation and differentiation of oligodendrocytes, thereby promoting myelin remodeling and improving motor function in rats with HCP. IMPACT The pathway mediated by Sox2/Fyn could be a promising therapeutic target for HCP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqiong Fu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongmei Tang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liru Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
- School of Exercise and Health, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongyu Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiya Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Peng
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peishan Zeng
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xubo Yang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu He
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kaishou Xu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
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Cordova I, Blesson A, Savatt JM, Sveden A, Mahida S, Hazlett H, Rooney Riggs E, Chopra M. Expansion of the Genotypic and Phenotypic Spectrum of ASH1L-Related Syndromic Neurodevelopmental Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:423. [PMID: 38674358 PMCID: PMC11049257 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic ASH1L variants have been reported in probands with broad phenotypic presentations, including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, seizures, congenital anomalies, and other skeletal, muscular, and sleep differences. Here, we review previously published individuals with pathogenic ASH1L variants and report three further probands with novel ASH1L variants and previously unreported phenotypic features, including mixed receptive language disorder and gait disturbances. These novel data from the Brain Gene Registry, an accessible repository of clinically derived genotypic and phenotypic data, have allowed for the expansion of the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ineke Cordova
- Autism and Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA 17822, USA; (I.C.); (E.R.R.)
| | - Alyssa Blesson
- Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Juliann M. Savatt
- Autism and Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA 17822, USA; (I.C.); (E.R.R.)
| | - Abigail Sveden
- Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sonal Mahida
- Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Heather Hazlett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27510, USA
| | - Erin Rooney Riggs
- Autism and Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA 17822, USA; (I.C.); (E.R.R.)
| | - Maya Chopra
- Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Al-Aamri M, Alshaqaq M, Al-Abdi SY. A Saudi Girl With Co-occurring CHD1 (Pilarowski-Bjornsson Syndrome) and ASH1L Gene Variants. Cureus 2023; 15:e49905. [PMID: 38174187 PMCID: PMC10763589 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Pilarowski-Bjornsson Syndrome (PBS) is a recently identified and rare genetic disorder. PBS is caused by missense variants in the CHD1 gene, a chromatin remodeler and helicase DNA-binding protein. In this report, we present the first case of PBS in Saudi Arabia. The patient exhibits a phenotype and genotype that are consistent with previously reported cases of PBS. Notably, this case is unique due to the coexisting presence of an absent, small, and homeotic disks protein 1 homolog like a histone lysine methyltransferase (ASH1L) variant and developmental dissociation. The ASH1L variant may contribute to the developmental dissociation observed in the patient. Furthermore, since the patient is female, this case contributes to the female-skewed distribution of PBS, although the exact cause of this phenomenon requires further investigation. This report highlights the importance of identifying and characterizing rare genetic disorders such as PBS. Understanding the genetic basis of these disorders can lead to improved diagnosis, treatment, and management strategies. Continued research on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying PBS and related disorders is crucial for advancing our knowledge and developing effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Al-Aamri
- Pediatric Nephrology, Maternity and Children Hospital Alahsa, Alahsa, SAU
| | - Moayad Alshaqaq
- Pediatric Neurology, Maternity and Children Hospital Alahsa, Alhasa, SAU
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Gupta R, Advani D, Yadav D, Ambasta RK, Kumar P. Dissecting the Relationship Between Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:6476-6529. [PMID: 37458987 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03502-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) and neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) are two common causes of death in elderly people, which includes progressive neuronal cell death and behavioral changes. NDDs include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and motor neuron disease, characterized by cognitive defects and memory impairment, whereas NPDs include depression, seizures, migraine headaches, eating disorders, addictions, palsies, major depressive disorders, anxiety, and schizophrenia, characterized by behavioral changes. Mounting evidence demonstrated that NDDs and NPDs share an overlapping mechanism, which includes post-translational modifications, the microbiota-gut-brain axis, and signaling events. Mounting evidence demonstrated that various drug molecules, namely, natural compounds, repurposed drugs, multitarget directed ligands, and RNAs, have been potentially implemented as therapeutic agents against NDDs and NPDs. Herein, we highlighted the overlapping mechanism, the role of anxiety/stress-releasing factors, cytosol-to-nucleus signaling, and the microbiota-gut-brain axis in the pathophysiology of NDDs and NPDs. We summarize the therapeutic application of natural compounds, repurposed drugs, and multitarget-directed ligands as therapeutic agents. Lastly, we briefly described the application of RNA interferences as therapeutic agents in the pathogenesis of NDDs and NPDs. Neurodegenerative diseases and neuropsychiatric diseases both share a common signaling molecule and molecular phenomenon, namely, pro-inflammatory cytokines, γCaMKII and MAPK/ERK, chemokine receptors, BBB permeability, and the gut-microbiota-brain axis. Studies have demonstrated that any alterations in the signaling mentioned above molecules and molecular phenomena lead to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, namely, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan Gupta
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, New Delhi, Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Dia Advani
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, New Delhi, Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Divya Yadav
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, New Delhi, Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Rashmi K Ambasta
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, New Delhi, Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Pravir Kumar
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, New Delhi, Delhi, 110042, India.
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Ritchie FD, Lizarraga SB. The role of histone methyltransferases in neurocognitive disorders associated with brain size abnormalities. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:989109. [PMID: 36845425 PMCID: PMC9950662 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.989109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain size is controlled by several factors during neuronal development, including neural progenitor proliferation, neuronal arborization, gliogenesis, cell death, and synaptogenesis. Multiple neurodevelopmental disorders have co-morbid brain size abnormalities, such as microcephaly and macrocephaly. Mutations in histone methyltransferases that modify histone H3 on Lysine 36 and Lysine 4 (H3K36 and H3K4) have been identified in neurodevelopmental disorders involving both microcephaly and macrocephaly. H3K36 and H3K4 methylation are both associated with transcriptional activation and are proposed to sterically hinder the repressive activity of the Polycomb Repressor Complex 2 (PRC2). During neuronal development, tri-methylation of H3K27 (H3K27me3) by PRC2 leads to genome wide transcriptional repression of genes that regulate cell fate transitions and neuronal arborization. Here we provide a review of neurodevelopmental processes and disorders associated with H3K36 and H3K4 histone methyltransferases, with emphasis on processes that contribute to brain size abnormalities. Additionally, we discuss how the counteracting activities of H3K36 and H3K4 modifying enzymes vs. PRC2 could contribute to brain size abnormalities which is an underexplored mechanism in relation to brain size control.
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6
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Thudium S, Palozola K, L'Her É, Korb E. Identification of a transcriptional signature found in multiple models of ASD and related disorders. Genome Res 2022; 32:gr.276591.122. [PMID: 36104286 PMCID: PMC9528985 DOI: 10.1101/gr.276591.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation plays a critical role in many neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In particular, many such disorders are the result of mutations in genes that encode chromatin-modifying proteins. However, although these disorders share many features, it is unclear whether they also share gene expression disruptions resulting from the aberrant regulation of chromatin. We examined five chromatin modifiers that are all linked to ASD despite their different roles in regulating chromatin. Specifically, we depleted ASH1L, CHD8, CREBBP, EHMT1, and NSD1 in parallel in a highly controlled neuronal culture system. We then identified sets of shared genes, or transcriptional signatures, that are differentially expressed following loss of multiple ASD-linked chromatin modifiers. We examined the functions of genes within the transcriptional signatures and found an enrichment in many neurotransmitter transport genes and activity-dependent genes. In addition, these genes are enriched for specific chromatin features such as bivalent domains that allow for highly dynamic regulation of gene expression. The down-regulated transcriptional signature is also observed within multiple mouse models of NDDs that result in ASD, but not those only associated with intellectual disability. Finally, the down-regulated transcriptional signature can distinguish between control and idiopathic ASD patient iPSC-derived neurons as well as postmortem tissue, demonstrating that this gene set is relevant to the human disorder. This work identifies a transcriptional signature that is found within many neurodevelopmental syndromes, helping to elucidate the link between epigenetic regulation and the underlying cellular mechanisms that result in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Thudium
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Katherine Palozola
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Éloïse L'Her
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Erica Korb
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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7
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Gao Y, Aljazi MB, He J. Kdm6b Haploinsufficiency Causes ASD/ADHD-Like Behavioral Deficits in Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:905783. [PMID: 35711692 PMCID: PMC9194811 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.905783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease that has intellectual disability (ID) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as its common comorbidities. Recent genetic and clinical studies report that KDM6B, a gene encoding a histone H3 lysine 27-specific demethylase, is one of the highest ASD risk genes. However, the relationship between KDM6B mutations and neurodevelopmental diseases remains unclear. Here we use an animal model to show that genetic deletion of one Kdm6b allele in mice leads to autistic-like impaired sociability and object recognition memory. In addition, the mutant mice display markedly increased locomotor activity and impulsivity, two ADHD-like behavioral traits that are ameliorated by methylphenidate treatment. Thus, our study not only uncovers a potential causal link between disruptive KDM6B mutations and ASD/ADHD-like behavioral deficits but also provides a new mouse model for studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the Kdm6b-mutation-related neurodevelopmental diseases.
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8
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Epigenetic switch controls social actions. Neuron 2022; 110:1085-1087. [PMID: 35390284 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in epigenetic factors are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this issue of Neuron, Yan et al. (2022) show that the antagonism of ASH1L and PRC2 switches the equilibrium of histone methylation at the ephrin receptor A7 locus, causing decreased EphA7 expression, deficits in synaptic pruning, and ASD-like behaviors.
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9
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Gao Y, Aljazi MB, He J. Neural Hyperactivity Is a Core Pathophysiological Change Induced by Deletion of a High Autism Risk Gene Ash1L in the Mouse Brain. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:873466. [PMID: 35449559 PMCID: PMC9016273 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.873466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ASH1L is one of the highest risk genes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). Our recent studies demonstrate that loss of Ash1l in the mouse brain is sufficient to induce ASD/ID-like behavioral and cognitive deficits, suggesting that disruptive ASH1L mutations are likely to have a positive correlation with ASD/ID genesis. However, the core pathophysiological changes in the Ash1l-deficient brain remain largely unknown. Here we show that loss of Ash1l in the mouse brain causes locomotor hyperactivity, high metabolic activity, and hyperactivity-related disturbed sleep and lipid metabolic changes. In addition, the mutant mice display lower thresholds for the convulsant reagent-induced epilepsy and increased neuronal activities in multiple brain regions. Thus, our current study reveals that neural hyperactivity is a core pathophysiological change in the Ash1l-deficient mouse brain, which may function as a brain-level mechanism leading to the Ash1l-deletion-induced brain functional abnormalities and autistic-like behavioral deficits.
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Cheon S, Culver AM, Bagnell AM, Ritchie FD, Vacharasin JM, McCord MM, Papendorp CM, Chukwurah E, Smith AJ, Cowen MH, Moreland TA, Ghate PS, Davis SW, Liu JS, Lizarraga SB. Counteracting epigenetic mechanisms regulate the structural development of neuronal circuitry in human neurons. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2291-2303. [PMID: 35210569 PMCID: PMC9133078 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01474-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with defects in neuronal connectivity and are highly heritable. Genetic findings suggest that there is an overrepresentation of chromatin regulatory genes among the genes associated with ASD. ASH1 like histone lysine methyltransferase (ASH1L) was identified as a major risk factor for ASD. ASH1L methylates Histone H3 on Lysine 36, which is proposed to result primarily in transcriptional activation. However, how mutations in ASH1L lead to deficits in neuronal connectivity associated with ASD pathogenesis is not known. We report that ASH1L regulates neuronal morphogenesis by counteracting the catalytic activity of Polycomb Repressive complex 2 group (PRC2) in stem cell-derived human neurons. Depletion of ASH1L decreases neurite outgrowth and decreases expression of the gene encoding the neurotrophin receptor TrkB whose signaling pathway is linked to neuronal morphogenesis. The neuronal morphogenesis defect is overcome by inhibition of PRC2 activity, indicating that a balance between the Trithorax group protein ASH1L and PRC2 activity determines neuronal morphology. Thus, our work suggests that ASH1L may epigenetically regulate neuronal morphogenesis by modulating pathways like the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway. Defects in neuronal morphogenesis could potentially impair the establishment of neuronal connections which could contribute to the neurodevelopmental pathogenesis associated with ASD in patients with ASH1L mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seonhye Cheon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Allison M Culver
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Anna M Bagnell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Foster D Ritchie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Janay M Vacharasin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Mikayla M McCord
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Carin M Papendorp
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Evelyn Chukwurah
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Austin J Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Mara H Cowen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Trevor A Moreland
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Pankaj S Ghate
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Shannon W Davis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Judy S Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital and Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Sofia B Lizarraga
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
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Luo SS, Zou KX, Zhu H, Cheng Y, Yan YS, Sheng JZ, Huang HF, Ding GL. Integrated Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals the Effect of Maternal Gestational Diabetes on Fetal Mouse Hippocampi. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:748862. [PMID: 35237591 PMCID: PMC8883435 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.748862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that adverse intrauterine environments could affect the long-term health of offspring. Recent evidence indicates that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with neurocognitive changes in offspring. However, the mechanism remains unclear. Using a GDM mouse model, we collected hippocampi, the structure critical to cognitive processes, for electron microscopy, methylome and transcriptome analyses. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) and RNA-seq in the GDM fetal hippocampi showed altered methylated modification and differentially expressed genes enriched in common pathways involved in neural synapse organization and signal transmission. We further collected fetal mice brains for metabolome analysis and found that in GDM fetal brains, the metabolites displayed significant changes, in addition to directly inducing cognitive dysfunction, some of which are important to methylation status such as betaine, fumaric acid, L-methionine, succinic acid, 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). These results suggest that GDM affects metabolites in fetal mice brains and further affects hippocampal DNA methylation and gene regulation involved in cognition, which is a potential mechanism for the adverse neurocognitive effects of GDM in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Si Luo
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke-Xin Zou
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Cheng
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Shang Yan
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian-Zhong Sheng
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China
| | - He-Feng Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China.,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.,The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guo-Lian Ding
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
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Oztenekecioglu B, Mavis M, Osum M, Kalkan R. Genetic and Epigenetic Alterations in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Glob Med Genet 2021; 8:144-148. [PMID: 34877571 PMCID: PMC8635813 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1735540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is extremely important to understand the causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) which is a neurodevelopmental disease. Treatment and lifelong support of autism are also important to improve the patient's life quality. In this article, several findings were explained to understand the possible causes of ASD. We draw, outline, and describe ASD and its relation with the epigenetic mechanisms. Here, we discuss, several different factors leading to ASD such as environmental, epigenetic, and genetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bugsem Oztenekecioglu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Merdiye Mavis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Meryem Osum
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Rasime Kalkan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus.,Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Deficiency of autism risk factor ASH1L in prefrontal cortex induces epigenetic aberrations and seizures. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6589. [PMID: 34782621 PMCID: PMC8593046 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26972-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
ASH1L, a histone methyltransferase, is identified as a top-ranking risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), however, little is known about the biological mechanisms underlying the link of ASH1L haploinsufficiency to ASD. Here we show that ASH1L expression and H3K4me3 level are significantly decreased in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of postmortem tissues from ASD patients. Knockdown of Ash1L in PFC of juvenile mice induces the downregulation of risk genes associated with ASD, intellectual disability (ID) and epilepsy. These downregulated genes are enriched in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic function and have decreased H3K4me3 occupancy at their promoters. Furthermore, Ash1L deficiency in PFC causes the diminished GABAergic inhibition, enhanced glutamatergic transmission, and elevated PFC pyramidal neuronal excitability, which is associated with severe seizures and early mortality. Chemogenetic inhibition of PFC pyramidal neuronal activity, combined with the administration of GABA enhancer diazepam, rescues PFC synaptic imbalance and seizures, but not autistic social deficits or anxiety-like behaviors. These results have revealed the critical role of ASH1L in regulating synaptic gene expression and seizures, which provides insights into treatment strategies for ASH1L-associated brain diseases.
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Gao Y, Aljazi MB, Wu Y, He J. Vorinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, ameliorates the sociability and cognitive memory in an Ash1L-deletion-induced ASD/ID mouse model. Neurosci Lett 2021; 764:136241. [PMID: 34509565 PMCID: PMC8572157 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) are neurodevelopmental diseases associated with various gene mutations. Previous genetic and clinical studies reported that ASH1L is a high ASD risk gene identified in human patients. Our recent study used a mouse model to demonstrate that loss of ASH1L in the developing mouse brain was sufficient to cause multiple developmental defects, core autistic-like behaviors, and impaired cognitive memory, suggesting that the disruptive ASH1L mutations are the causative drivers leading the human ASD/ID genesis. Using this Ash1L-deletion-induced ASD/ID mouse model, here we showed that postnatal administration of vorinostat (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), significantly ameliorated both ASD-like behaviors and ID-like cognitive memory deficit. Thus, our study demonstrates that SAHA is a promising reagent for the pharmacological treatment of core ASD/ID behavioral and memory deficits caused by disruptive ASH1L mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuen Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Mohammad B Aljazi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Jin He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States.
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Aljazi MB, Gao Y, Wu Y, Mias GI, He J. Histone H3K36me2-Specific Methyltransferase ASH1L Promotes MLL-AF9-Induced Leukemogenesis. Front Oncol 2021; 11:754093. [PMID: 34692539 PMCID: PMC8534482 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.754093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
ASH1L and MLL1 are two histone methyltransferases that facilitate transcriptional activation during normal development. However, the roles of ASH1L and its enzymatic activity in the development of MLL-rearranged leukemias are not fully elucidated in Ash1L gene knockout animal models. In this study, we used an Ash1L conditional knockout mouse model to show that loss of ASH1L in hematopoietic progenitor cells impaired the initiation of MLL-AF9-induced leukemic transformation in vitro. Furthermore, genetic deletion of ASH1L in the MLL-AF9-transformed cells impaired the maintenance of leukemic cells in vitro and largely blocked the leukemia progression in vivo. Importantly, the loss of ASH1L function in the Ash1L-deleted cells could be rescued by wild-type but not the catalytic-dead mutant ASH1L, suggesting the enzymatic activity of ASH1L was required for its function in promoting MLL-AF9-induced leukemic transformation. At the molecular level, ASH1L enhanced the MLL-AF9 target gene expression by directly binding to the gene promoters and modifying the local histone H3K36me2 levels. Thus, our study revealed the critical functions of ASH1L in promoting the MLL-AF9-induced leukemogenesis, which provides a molecular basis for targeting ASH1L and its enzymatic activity to treat MLL-AF9-induced leukemias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad B Aljazi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Nature Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Yuen Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Nature Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Nature Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - George I Mias
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Nature Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Jin He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Nature Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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