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Badhe S, Nivins S, Kulkarni P, Jose A, Manek D, Badhe S, Sane H, Gokulchandran N, Badhe P, Sharma A. Abnormal Development of the Corpus Callosum in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An MRI Study. Top Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 33:e0312. [PMID: 38836588 DOI: 10.1097/rmr.0000000000000312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Altered size in the corpus callosum (CC) has been reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but few studies have investigated younger children. Moreover, knowledge about the age-related changes in CC size in individuals with ASD is limited. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to investigate the age-related size of the CC and compare them with age-matched healthy controls between the ages of 2 and 18 years. METHODS Structural-weighted images were acquired in 97 male patients diagnosed with ASD; published data were used for the control group. The CC was segmented into 7 distinct subregions (rostrum, genu, rostral body, anterior midbody, posterior midbody, isthmus, and splenium) as per Witelson's technique using ITK-SNAP software. We calculated both the total length and volume of the CC as well as the length and height of its 7 subregions. The length of the CC measures was studied as both continuous and categorical forms. For the continuous form, Pearson's correlation was used, while categorical forms were based on age ranges reflecting brain expansion during early postnatal years. Differences in CC measures between adjacent age groups in individuals with ASD were assessed using a Student t-test. Mean and standard deviation scores were compared between ASD and control groups using the Welch t-test. RESULTS Age showed a moderate positive association with the total length of the CC (r = 0.43; Padj = 0.003) among individuals with ASD. Among the subregions, a positive association was observed only in the anterior midbody of the CC (r = 0.41; Padj = 0.01). No association was found between the age and the height of individual subregions or with the total volume of the CC. In comparison with healthy controls, individuals with ASD exhibited shorter lengths and heights of the genu and splenium of the CC across wide age ranges. CONCLUSION Overall, our results highlight a distinct abnormal developmental trajectory of CC in ASD, particularly in the genu and splenium structures, potentially reflecting underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvarna Badhe
- Department of Research and Development, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Department of Regenerative Laboratory, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Samson Nivins
- Department of Research and Development, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Pooja Kulkarni
- Department of Research and Development, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Alitta Jose
- Department of Research and Development, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Divesh Manek
- Department of Radiology, Omega MRI, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; and
| | - Satyendra Badhe
- Department of Research and Development, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Department of Regenerative Laboratory, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Hemangi Sane
- Department of Research and Development, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Nandini Gokulchandran
- Department of Medical Services and Clinical Research, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Prerna Badhe
- Department of Regenerative Laboratory, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Alok Sharma
- Department of Medical Services and Clinical Research, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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Xie X, Li K, Liang X, Tian L, Lin B, Yan J, Shi Y, Liu X, Xi Z. Identification and characterization of circular RNA in the model of autism spectrum disorder from PM 2.5 exposure. Front Genet 2023; 14:970465. [PMID: 37229188 PMCID: PMC10203163 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.970465] [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] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
PM2.5 induces a series of effects on neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), however, the mechanism is not completely clear yet. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of closed-loop structures that can be stably expressed in vivo. In our experiments, rats exposed to PM2.5 exhibited autism-like phenotypes, such as anxiety, and memory loss. To explore the etiology, we performed transcriptome sequencing and found significant differences in the expression of circRNA. A total of 7770 circRNAs were identified between the control and experimental groups, 18 of which were differentially expressed, we selected ten circRNAs and performed qRT-PCR and Sanger sequencing to validate them. By GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, we found differentially expressed circRNAs that were mainly enriched in processes related to placental development and reproduction. Finally, using bioinformatics, we predicted miRNAs and mRNAs that circ-Mbd5 and circ-Ash1l might regulate and constructed circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks involving genes associated with ASD, suggesting that circRNAs might regulate the occurrence of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Xie
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Kang Li
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | | | - Lei Tian
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Bencheng Lin
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jun Yan
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yue Shi
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaohua Liu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhuge Xi
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
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Ramirez M, Badayeva Y, Yeung J, Wu J, Abdalla-Wyse A, Yang E, Trost B, Scherer SW, Goldowitz D. Temporal analysis of enhancers during mouse cerebellar development reveals dynamic and novel regulatory functions. eLife 2022; 11:74207. [PMID: 35942939 PMCID: PMC9398453 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74207] [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: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We have identified active enhancers in the mouse cerebellum at embryonic and postnatal stages which provides a view of novel enhancers active during cerebellar development. The majority of cerebellar enhancers have dynamic activity between embryonic and postnatal development. Cerebellar enhancers were enriched for neural transcription factor binding sites with temporally specific expression. Putative gene targets displayed spatially restricted expression patterns, indicating cell-type specific expression regulation. Functional analysis of target genes indicated that enhancers regulate processes spanning several developmental epochs such as specification, differentiation and maturation. We use these analyses to discover one novel regulator and one novel marker of cerebellar development: Bhlhe22 and Pax3, respectively. We identified an enrichment of de novo mutations and variants associated with autism spectrum disorder in cerebellar enhancers. Furthermore, by comparing our data with relevant brain development ENCODE histone profiles and cerebellar single-cell datasets we have been able to generalize and expand on the presented analyses, respectively. We have made the results of our analyses available online in the Developing Mouse Cerebellum Enhancer Atlas (https://goldowitzlab.shinyapps.io/developing_mouse_cerebellum_enhancer_atlas/), where our dataset can be efficiently queried, curated and exported by the scientific community to facilitate future research efforts. Our study provides a valuable resource for studying the dynamics of gene expression regulation by enhancers in the developing cerebellum and delivers a rich dataset of novel gene-enhancer associations providing a basis for future in-depth studies in the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ramirez
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Yuliya Badayeva
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Joanna Yeung
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Joshua Wu
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ayasha Abdalla-Wyse
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Erin Yang
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
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- Department of Molecular Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Brett Trost
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Daniel Goldowitz
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
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Zhang Y, Qin B, Wang L, Zhang K, Song C, Chen J, Cai J, Li T. Corpus Callosum Volumes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Sex-Associated Differences. J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 53:2421-2429. [PMID: 35352234 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05538-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the relationship between sex and corpus callosum (CC) volume in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) aged 2-4 years. This prospective study included 50 children with ASD and 50 typically developing (TD) children aged 2-4 years. Midsagittal slices of the CCs of the participants were divided into five subregions using FreeSurfer software. The PMCC, AMCC and TCC volumes were significantly higher in ASD participants than in TD participants, and results were significant in females with ASD rather than in males with ASD (all P < 0.05). In toddlers with ASD, the CC volumes were increased and more pronounced in females than in males. This could be due to overgrowth of axons or/and axonal pruning disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Clinical Big-Data and Drug Evaluation, Medical Data Science, Academy of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Bin Qin
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Clinical Big-Data and Drug Evaluation, Medical Data Science, Academy of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Longlun Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Cui Song
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Genetic Metabolic Disease, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
- Children Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jinhua Cai
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China.
| | - Tingyu Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China.
- Children Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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5
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Qin B, Wang L, Cai J, Li T, Zhang Y. Functional Brain Networks in Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:896388. [PMID: 35859600 PMCID: PMC9289162 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.896388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aims to investigate the functional brain network characteristics of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through functional connectivity (FC) calculations using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and graph theory analysis to better understand the pathogenesis of ASD and provide imaging evidence for the early assessment of this condition. METHODS A prospective study of preschool children including 32 with ASD (ASD group) and 22 healthy controls (HC)group was conducted in which all subjects underwent rs-fMRI scans, and then the differences in FC between the two groups was calculated, followed by graph-theoretic analysis to obtain the FC properties of the network. RESULTS In the calculation of FC, compared with the children in the HC group, significant increases or decreases in subnetwork connectivity was found in the ASD group. There were 25 groups of subnetworks with enhanced FC, of which the medial prefrontal and posterior cingulate gyrus and angular gyrus were all important components of the default mode network (DMN). There were 11 groups of subnetworks with weakened FC, including the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, precuneus, amygdala, and perirhinal cortex, with the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus predominating. In the network properties determined by graph theory, the clustering coefficient and local efficiency of the functional network was increased in the ASD group; specifically, compared with those in the HC group, nodes in the left subinsular frontal gyrus and the right middle temporal gyrus had increased efficiency, and nodes in the left perisylvian cortex, the left lingual gyrus, and the right hippocampus had decreased efficiency. CONCLUSION Alterations in functional brain networks are evident in preschool children with ASD and can be detected with sleep rs-fMRI, which is important for understanding the pathogenesis of ASD and assessing this condition early.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Qin
- Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Clinical Big Data and Drug Evaluation, Medical Data Science, Academy of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Longlun Wang
- Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jinhua Cai
- Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingyu Li
- Children Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Clinical Big Data and Drug Evaluation, Medical Data Science, Academy of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Clifton NE, Collado-Torres L, Burke EE, Pardiñas AF, Harwood JC, Di Florio A, Walters JTR, Owen MJ, O'Donovan MC, Weinberger DR, Holmans PA, Jaffe AE, Hall J. Developmental Profile of Psychiatric Risk Associated With Voltage-Gated Cation Channel Activity. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:399-408. [PMID: 33965196 PMCID: PMC8375582 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent breakthroughs in psychiatric genetics have implicated biological pathways onto which genetic risk for psychiatric disorders converges. However, these studies do not reveal the developmental time point(s) at which these pathways are relevant. METHODS We aimed to determine the relationship between psychiatric risk and developmental gene expression relating to discrete biological pathways. We used postmortem RNA sequencing data (BrainSeq and BrainSpan) from brain tissue at multiple prenatal and postnatal time points, with summary statistics from recent genome-wide association studies of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. We prioritized gene sets for overall enrichment of association with each disorder and then tested the relationship between the association of their constituent genes with their relative expression at each developmental stage. RESULTS We observed relationships between the expression of genes involved in voltage-gated cation channel activity during early midfetal, adolescence, and early adulthood time points and association with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, such that genes more strongly associated with these disorders had relatively low expression during early midfetal development and higher expression during adolescence and early adulthood. The relationship with schizophrenia was strongest for the subset of genes related to calcium channel activity, while for bipolar disorder, the relationship was distributed between calcium and potassium channel activity genes. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate periods during development when biological pathways related to the activity of calcium and potassium channels may be most vulnerable to the effects of genetic variants conferring risk for psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, they indicate key time points and potential targets for disorder-specific therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E Clifton
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
| | - Leonardo Collado-Torres
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland; Centre for Computational Biology, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Emily E Burke
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Antonio F Pardiñas
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Janet C Harwood
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Arianna Di Florio
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - James T R Walters
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Owen
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Michael C O'Donovan
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel R Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland; Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Neuroscience and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Peter A Holmans
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew E Jaffe
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland; Centre for Computational Biology, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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Majidi SP, Reddy NC, Moore MJ, Chen H, Yamada T, Andzelm MM, Cherry TJ, Hu LS, Greenberg ME, Bonni A. Chromatin Environment and Cellular Context Specify Compensatory Activity of Paralogous MEF2 Transcription Factors. Cell Rep 2020; 29:2001-2015.e5. [PMID: 31722213 PMCID: PMC6874310 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Compensation among paralogous transcription factors (TFs) confers genetic robustness of cellular processes, but how TFs dynamically respond to paralog depletion on a genome-wide scale in vivo remains incompletely understood. Using single and double conditional knockout of myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) family TFs in granule neurons of the mouse cerebellum, we find that MEF2A and MEF2D play functionally redundant roles in cerebellar-dependent motor learning. Although both TFs are highly expressed in granule neurons, transcriptomic analyses show MEF2D is the predominant genomic regulator of gene expression in vivo. Strikingly, genome-wide occupancy analyses reveal upon depletion of MEF2D, MEF2A occupancy robustly increases at a subset of sites normally bound to MEF2D. Importantly, sites experiencing compensatory MEF2A occupancy are concentrated within open chromatin and undergo functional compensation for genomic activation and gene expression. Finally, motor activity induces a switch from non-compensatory to compensatory MEF2-dependent gene regulation. These studies uncover genome-wide functional interdependency between paralogous TFs in the brain. Majidi et al. study how transcription factors respond to paralog depletion by conditionally depleting MEF2A and MEF2D in mouse cerebellum. Depletion of MEF2D induces functionally compensatory genomic occupancy by MEF2A. Compensation occurs within accessible chromatin in a context-dependent manner. This study explores the interdependency between paralogous transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahriyar P Majidi
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; MD-PhD Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Naveen C Reddy
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael J Moore
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tomoko Yamada
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Milena M Andzelm
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Timothy J Cherry
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98101, USA; Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9(th) Ave., Seattle, WA 98101, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Linda S Hu
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Azad Bonni
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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Theoharides TC, Kavalioti M, Tsilioni I. Mast Cells, Stress, Fear and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E3611. [PMID: 31344805 PMCID: PMC6696098 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition characterized by impaired communication and obsessive behavior that affects 1 in 59 children. ASD is expected to affect 1 in about 40 children by 2020, but there is still no distinct pathogenesis or effective treatments. Prenatal stress has been associated with higher risk of developing ASD in the offspring. Moreover, children with ASD cannot handle anxiety and respond disproportionately even to otherwise benign triggers. Stress and environmental stimuli trigger the unique immune cells, mast cells, which could then trigger microglia leading to abnormal synaptic pruning and dysfunctional neuronal connectivity. This process could alter the "fear threshold" in the amygdala and lead to an exaggerated "fight-or-flight" reaction. The combination of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), secreted under stress, together with environmental stimuli could be major contributors to the pathogenesis of ASD. Recognizing these associations and preventing stimulation of mast cells and/or microglia could greatly benefit ASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theoharis C Theoharides
- Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
- Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
| | - Maria Kavalioti
- Graduate Program in Education, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Irene Tsilioni
- Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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Strain differences in the susceptibility to the gut-brain axis and neurobehavioural alterations induced by maternal immune activation in mice. Behav Pharmacol 2019; 29:181-198. [PMID: 29462110 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing realization that the severity of the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia is associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction. Nonetheless, the mechanisms underlying such comorbidities remain unknown. Several genetic and environmental factors have been linked to a higher susceptibility to neurodevelopmental abnormalities. The maternal immune activation (MIA) rodent model is a valuable tool for elucidating the basis of this interaction. We induced MIA with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) at gestational day 12.5 and assessed behavioural, physiological and molecular aspects relevant to the gut-brain axis in the offspring of an outbred (NIH Swiss) and an inbred (C57BL6/J) mouse strain. Our results showed that the specific MIA protocol employed induces social deficits in both strains. However, alterations in anxiety and depression-like behaviours were more pronounced in NIH Swiss mice. These strain-specific behavioural effects in the NIH Swiss mice were associated with marked changes in important components of gut-brain axis communication: the endocrine response to stress and gut permeability. In addition, MIA-induced changes in vasopressin receptor 1a mRNA expression in the hypothalamus were observed in NIH Swiss mice only. Taken together, these data suggest that genetic background is a critical factor in susceptibility to the gut-brain axis effects induced by MIA.
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10
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Challenges in the clinical interpretation of small de novo copy number variants in neurodevelopmental disorders. Gene 2019; 706:162-171. [PMID: 31085274 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In clinical genetics, the need to discriminate between benign and pathogenic variants identified in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders is an absolute necessity. Copy number variants (CNVs) of small size can enable the identification of genes that are critical for neurologic development. However, assigning a definite association with a specific disorder is a difficult task. Among 328 trios analyzed over seven years of activity in a single laboratory, we identified 19 unrelated patients (5.8%) who carried a small (<500 kb) de novo CNV. Four patients had an additional independent de novo CNV. Nine had a variant that could be assigned as definitely pathogenic, whereas the remaining CNVs were considered as variants of unknown significance (VUS). We report clinical and molecular findings of patients harboring VUS. We reviewed the medical literature available for genes impacted by CNVs, obtained the probability of truncating loss-of-function intolerance, and compared overlapping CNVs reported in databases. The classification of small non-recurrent CNVs remains difficult but, among our findings, we provide support for a role of SND1 in the susceptibility of autism, describe a new case of the rare 17p13.1 microduplication syndrome, and report an X-linked duplication involving KIF4A and DLG3 as a likely cause of epilepsy.
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11
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Migdalska-Richards A, Mill J. Epigenetic studies of schizophrenia: current status and future directions. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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12
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Breen MS, Ozcan S, Ramsey JM, Wang Z, Ma’ayan A, Rustogi N, Gottschalk MG, Webster MJ, Weickert CS, Buxbaum JD, Bahn S. Temporal proteomic profiling of postnatal human cortical development. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:267. [PMID: 30518843 PMCID: PMC6281671 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0306-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthy cortical development depends on precise regulation of transcription and translation. However, the dynamics of how proteins are expressed, function and interact across postnatal human cortical development remain poorly understood. We surveyed the proteomic landscape of 69 dorsolateral prefrontal cortex samples across seven stages of postnatal life and integrated these data with paired transcriptome data. We detected 911 proteins by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 83 were significantly associated with postnatal age (FDR < 5%). Network analysis identified three modules of co-regulated proteins correlated with age, including two modules with increasing expression involved in gliogenesis and NADH metabolism and one neurogenesis-related module with decreasing expression throughout development. Integration with paired transcriptome data revealed that these age-related protein modules overlapped with RNA modules and displayed collinear developmental trajectories. Importantly, RNA expression profiles that are dynamically regulated throughout cortical development display tighter correlations with their respective translated protein expression compared to those RNA profiles that are not. Moreover, the correspondence between RNA and protein expression significantly decreases as a function of cortical aging, especially for genes involved in myelination and cytoskeleton organization. Finally, we used this data resource to elucidate the functional impact of genetic risk loci for intellectual disability, converging on gliogenesis, myelination and ATP-metabolism modules in the proteome and transcriptome. We share all data in an interactive, searchable companion website. Collectively, our findings reveal dynamic aspects of protein regulation and provide new insights into brain development, maturation, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Breen
- 0000 0001 0670 2351grid.59734.3cDepartment of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA ,0000 0001 0670 2351grid.59734.3cDepartment of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA ,0000 0001 0670 2351grid.59734.3cSeaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA
| | - Sureyya Ozcan
- 0000000121885934grid.5335.0Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, CB3 0AS Cambridge, UK
| | - Jordan M. Ramsey
- 0000000121885934grid.5335.0Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, CB3 0AS Cambridge, UK
| | - Zichen Wang
- 0000 0001 0670 2351grid.59734.3cDepartment of Pharmacological Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, BD2K-LINCS Data Coordination and Integration Center, Knowledge Management Center for Illuminating the Druggable Genome (KMC-IDG), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA
| | - Avi Ma’ayan
- 0000 0001 0670 2351grid.59734.3cDepartment of Pharmacological Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, BD2K-LINCS Data Coordination and Integration Center, Knowledge Management Center for Illuminating the Druggable Genome (KMC-IDG), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA
| | - Nitin Rustogi
- 0000000121885934grid.5335.0Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, CB3 0AS Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael G. Gottschalk
- 0000000121885934grid.5335.0Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, CB3 0AS Cambridge, UK ,grid.5963.9Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg Germany, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maree J. Webster
- Stanley Medical Research Institute, Laboratory of Brain Research, Rockville, MD 20850 USA
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- 0000 0000 8900 8842grid.250407.4Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031 Australia ,0000 0004 4902 0432grid.1005.4School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia ,0000 0000 9159 4457grid.411023.5Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210 USA
| | - Joseph D. Buxbaum
- 0000 0001 0670 2351grid.59734.3cDepartment of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA ,0000 0001 0670 2351grid.59734.3cDepartment of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA ,0000 0001 0670 2351grid.59734.3cSeaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA
| | - Sabine Bahn
- 0000000121885934grid.5335.0Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, CB3 0AS Cambridge, UK
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13
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Chang Q, Yang H, Wang M, Wei H, Hu F. Role of Microtubule-Associated Protein in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neurosci Bull 2018; 34:1119-1126. [PMID: 29936584 PMCID: PMC6246838 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-018-0246-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, along with repetitive and restrictive patterns of behaviors or interests. Normal brain development is crucial to behavior and cognition in adulthood. Abnormal brain development, such as synaptic and myelin dysfunction, is involved in the pathogenesis of ASD. Microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) are important in regulating the processes of brain development, including neuron production and synaptic formation, as well as myelination. Increasing evidence suggests that the level of MAPs are changed in autistic patients and mouse models of ASD. Here, we discuss the roles of MAPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoqiao Chang
- Department of Neurology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliate of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030012, China
| | - Hua Yang
- Department of Neurology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliate of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030012, China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliate of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030012, China
| | - Hongen Wei
- Department of Neurology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliate of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030012, China.
| | - Fengyun Hu
- Department of Neurology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliate of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030012, China.
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Abstract
The prenatal period is increasingly considered as a crucial target for the primary prevention of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Understanding their pathophysiological mechanisms remains a great challenge. Our review reveals new insights from prenatal brain development research, involving (epi)genetic research, neuroscience, recent imaging techniques, physical modeling, and computational simulation studies. Studies examining the effect of prenatal exposure to maternal distress on offspring brain development, using brain imaging techniques, reveal effects at birth and up into adulthood. Structural and functional changes are observed in several brain regions including the prefrontal, parietal, and temporal lobes, as well as the cerebellum, hippocampus, and amygdala. Furthermore, alterations are seen in functional connectivity of amygdalar-thalamus networks and in intrinsic brain networks, including default mode and attentional networks. The observed changes underlie offspring behavioral, cognitive, emotional development, and susceptibility to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. It is concluded that used brain measures have not yet been validated with regard to sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, or robustness in predicting neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, more prospective long-term longitudinal follow-up studies starting early in pregnancy should be carried out, in order to examine brain developmental measures as mediators in mediating the link between prenatal stress and offspring behavioral, cognitive, and emotional problems and susceptibility for disorders.
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15
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Quinn JP, Savage AL, Bubb VJ. Non-coding genetic variation shaping mental health. Curr Opin Psychol 2018; 27:18-24. [PMID: 30099302 PMCID: PMC6624474 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Gene expression determined by the genome mediating a response to cell environment. Genetic variation results in distinct individual response in gene expression. Non-coding DNA is an important site for such functional genetic variation. Gene expression is a major modulator of brain chemistry and thus behavior.
Over 98% of our genome is non-coding and is now recognised to have a major role in orchestrating the tissue specific and stimulus inducible gene expression pattern which underpins our wellbeing and mental health. The non-coding genome responds functionally to our environment at all levels, encompassing the span from psychological to physiological challenge. The gene expression pattern, termed the transcriptome, ultimately gives us our neurochemistry. Therefore a major modulator of mental wellbeing is how our genes are regulated in response to life experiences. Superimposed on the aforementioned non-coding DNA framework is a vast body of genetic variation in the elements that control response to challenges. These differences, termed polymorphisms, allow for a differential response from a specific DNA element to the same challenge thus potentially allowing ‘individuality’ in the modulation of our transcriptome. This review will focus on a fundamental mechanism defining our psychological and psychiatric wellbeing, namely how genetic variation can be correlated with differential gene expression in response to specific challenges, thus resulting in altered neurochemistry which consequently may shape behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Quinn
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK.
| | - Abigail L Savage
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Vivien J Bubb
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
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16
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Ratnaseelan AM, Tsilioni I, Theoharides TC. Effects of Mycotoxins on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Immune Processes. Clin Ther 2018; 40:903-917. [PMID: 29880330 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The effects of air pollutants have been receiving increased attention both clinically and in the media. One such pollutant is mold, fungal growth in the form of multicellular filaments known as hyphae. The growth of molds is omnipresent not only in outdoor settings but also in indoor environments containing excessive amounts of moisture. METHODS PubMed was searched for relevant articles using terms such as mold, mycotoxins, fungi, immunity, inflammation, neurodevelopment, cognition, Alzheimer's, and autism. FINDINGS Exposure to molds is most commonly associated with allergies and asthma. However, it is now thought to be associated with many complex health problems, since some molds, especially Trichoderma, Fusarium and Stachybotrys spp, produce mycotoxins that are absorbed from the skin, airways, and intestinal lining. People exposed to molds and mycotoxins present with symptoms affecting multiple organs, including the lungs, musculoskeletal system, as well as the central and peripheral nervous systems. Furthermore, evidence has recently implicated exposure to mycotoxins in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder. The effects of mycotoxins can be mediated via different pathways that include the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, especially from mast cells. IMPLICATIONS The information reviewed indicates that exposure to mold and mycotoxins can affect the nervous system, directly or through immune cell activation, thus contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarane M Ratnaseelan
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Irene Tsilioni
- Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Theoharis C Theoharides
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
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17
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Bustamante ML, Herrera L, Gaspar PA, Nieto R, Maturana A, Villar MJ, Salinas V, Silva H. Shifting the focus toward rare variants in schizophrenia to close the gap from genotype to phenotype. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2017; 174:663-670. [PMID: 28901686 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a disorder with a high heritability and a complex architecture. Several dozen genetic variants have been identified as risk factors through genome-wide association studies including large population-based samples. However, the bulk of the risk cannot be accounted for by the genes associated to date. Rare mutations have been historically seen as relevant only for some infrequent, Mendelian forms of psychosis. Recent findings, however, show that the subset of patients that present a mutation with major effect is larger than expected. We discuss some of the molecular findings of these studies. SZ is clinically and genetically heterogeneous. To identify the genetic variation underlying the disorder, research should be focused on features that are more likely a product of genetic heterogeneity. Based on the phenotypical correlations with rare variants, cognition emerges as a relevant domain to study. Cognitive disturbances could be useful in selecting cases that have a higher probability of carrying deleterious mutations, as well as on the correct ascertainment of sporadic cases for the identification of de novo variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Leonor Bustamante
- Faculty of Medicine, Program of Human Genetics, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.,Clínica Psiquiátrica Universitaria, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Luisa Herrera
- Faculty of Medicine, Program of Human Genetics, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Pablo A Gaspar
- Clínica Psiquiátrica Universitaria, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.,Biomedical Neurosciences Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Nieto
- Clínica Psiquiátrica Universitaria, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Alejandro Maturana
- Clínica Psiquiátrica Universitaria, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - María José Villar
- Clínica Psiquiátrica Universitaria, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Valeria Salinas
- Faculty of Medicine, Program of Human Genetics, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Hernán Silva
- Clínica Psiquiátrica Universitaria, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.,Biomedical Neurosciences Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
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18
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Hu Y, Ehli EA, Boomsma DI. MicroRNAs as biomarkers for psychiatric disorders with a focus on autism spectrum disorder: Current progress in genetic association studies, expression profiling, and translational research. Autism Res 2017; 10:1184-1203. [PMID: 28419777 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small noncoding RNA molecules, 18-25 nucleotides in length, which can negatively regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by binding to messenger RNAs. About half of all identified miRNAs in humans are expressed in the brain and display regulatory functions important for many biological processes related to the development of the central nervous system (CNS). Disruptions in miRNA biogenesis and miRNA-target interaction have been related to CNS diseases, including psychiatric disorders. In this review, we focus on the role of miRNAs in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and summarize recent findings about ASD-associated genetic variants in miRNA genes, in miRNA biogenesis genes, and miRNA targets. We discuss deregulation of miRNA expression in ASD and functional validation of ASD-related miRNAs in animal models. Including miRNAs in studies of ASD will contribute to our understanding of its etiology and pathogenesis and facilitate the discrimination between different disease subgroups. Autism Res 2017. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1184-1203. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubin Hu
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam (NCA), The Netherlands
| | - Erik A Ehli
- Avera Institute for Human Genetics, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
| | - Dorret I Boomsma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam (NCA), The Netherlands.,Avera Institute for Human Genetics, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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19
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Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Gut instincts: microbiota as a key regulator of brain development, ageing and neurodegeneration. J Physiol 2017; 595:489-503. [PMID: 27641441 PMCID: PMC5233671 DOI: 10.1113/jp273106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 444] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing realisation that the gut-brain axis and its regulation by the microbiota may play a key role in the biological and physiological basis of neurodevelopmental, age-related and neurodegenerative disorders. The routes of communication between the microbiota and brain are being unravelled and include the vagus nerve, gut hormone signalling, the immune system, tryptophan metabolism or by way of microbial metabolites such as short chain fatty acids. The importance of early life gut microbiota in shaping future health outcomes is also emerging. Disturbances of this composition by way of antibiotic exposure, lack of breastfeeding, infection, stress and the environmental influences coupled with the influence of host genetics can result in long-term effects on physiology and behaviour, at least in animal models. It is also worth noting that mode of delivery at birth influences microbiota composition with those born by Caesarean section having a distinctly different microbiota in early life to those born per vaginum. At the other extreme of life, ageing is associated with a narrowing in microbial diversity and healthy ageing correlates with a diverse microbiome. Recently, the gut microbiota has been implicated in a variety of conditions including depression, autism, schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. There is still considerable debate as to whether or not the gut microbiota changes are core to the pathophysiology of such conditions or are merely epiphenomenal. It is plausible that such neuropsychiatric disorders might be treated in the future by targeting the microbiota either by microbiota transplantation, antibiotics or psychobiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy G. Dinan
- APC Microbiome InstituteUniversity College CorkIreland
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural ScienceUniversity College CorkIreland
| | - John F. Cryan
- APC Microbiome InstituteUniversity College CorkIreland
- Department of Anatomy and NeuroscienceUniversity College CorkIreland
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20
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John S, Mishra R. mRNA Transcriptomics of Galectins Unveils Heterogeneous Organization in Mouse and Human Brain. Front Mol Neurosci 2016; 9:139. [PMID: 28018170 PMCID: PMC5159438 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2016.00139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Galectins, a family of non-classically secreted, β-galactoside binding proteins is involved in several brain disorders; however, no systematic knowledge on the normal neuroanatomical distribution and functions of galectins exits. Hence, the major purpose of this study was to understand spatial distribution and predict functions of galectins in brain and also compare the degree of conservation vs. divergence between mouse and human species. The latter objective was required to determine the relevance and appropriateness of studying galectins in mouse brain which may ultimately enable us to extrapolate the findings to human brain physiology and pathologies. Results: In order to fill this crucial gap in our understanding of brain galectins, we analyzed the in situ hybridization and microarray data of adult mouse and human brain respectively, from the Allen Brain Atlas, to resolve each galectin-subtype’s spatial distribution across brain distinct cytoarchitecture. Next, transcription factors (TFs) that may regulate galectins were identified using TRANSFAC software and the list obtained was further curated to sort TFs on their confirmed transcript expression in the adult brain. Galectin-TF cluster analysis, gene-ontology annotations and co-expression networks were then extrapolated to predict distinct functional relevance of each galectin in the neuronal processes. Data shows that galectins have highly heterogeneous expression within and across brain sub-structures and are predicted to be the crucial targets of brain enriched TFs. Lgals9 had maximal spatial distribution across mouse brain with inferred predominant roles in neurogenesis while LGALS1 was ubiquitously expressed in human. Limbic region associated with learning, memory and emotions and substantia nigra associated with motor movements showed strikingly high expression of LGALS1 and LGALS8 in human vs. mouse brain. The overall expression profile of galectin-8 was most preserved across both these species, however, galectin-9 showed maximal preservation only in the cerebral cortex. Conclusion: It is for the first time that a comprehensive description of galectins’ mRNA expression profile in brain is presented. Results suggests that spatial transcriptome changes in galectins may contribute to differential brain functions and evolution across species that highlights galectins as novel signatures of brain heterogeneity and functions, which if disturbed, can promote several brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian John
- Disease Biology Program, Department of Neurobiology and Genetics, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Rashmi Mishra
- Disease Biology Program, Department of Neurobiology and Genetics, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology Thiruvananthapuram, India
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Plant N. Can a systems approach produce a better understanding of mood disorders? Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2016; 1861:3335-3344. [PMID: 27565355 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One in twenty-five people suffer from a mood disorder. Current treatments are sub-optimal with poor patient response and uncertain modes-of-action. There is thus a need to better understand underlying mechanisms that determine mood, and how these go wrong in affective disorders. Systems biology approaches have yielded important biological discoveries for other complex diseases such as cancer, and their potential in affective disorders will be reviewed. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review will provide a general background to affective disorders, plus an outline of experimental and computational systems biology. The current application of these approaches in understanding affective disorders will be considered, and future recommendations made. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Experimental systems biology has been applied to the study of affective disorders, especially at the genome and transcriptomic levels. However, data generation has been slowed by a lack of human tissue or suitable animal models. At present, computational systems biology has only be applied to understanding affective disorders on a few occasions. These studies provide sufficient novel biological insight to motivate further use of computational biology in this field. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE In common with many complex diseases much time and money has been spent on the generation of large-scale experimental datasets. The next step is to use the emerging computational approaches, predominantly developed in the field of oncology, to leverage the most biological insight from these datasets. This will lead to the critical breakthroughs required for more effective diagnosis, stratification and treatment of affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Plant
- School of Bioscience and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK.
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