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Khavari B, Barnett MM, Mahmoudi E, Geaghan MP, Graham A, Cairns MJ. microRNA and the Post-Transcriptional Response to Oxidative Stress during Neuronal Differentiation: Implications for Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Disorders. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:562. [PMID: 38792584 PMCID: PMC11121913 DOI: 10.3390/life14050562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress is one of the most important environmental exposures associated with psychiatric disorders, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In a previous study, we observed a substantial alteration of the gene expression landscape in neuron-like cells that were differentiated from SH-SY5Y cells after or during exposure to oxidative stress, with a subset of dysregulated genes being enriched for neurodevelopmental processes. To further explore the regulatory mechanisms that might account for such profound perturbations, we have now applied small RNA-sequencing to investigate changes in the expression of miRNAs. These molecules are known to play crucial roles in brain development and response to stress through their capacity to suppress gene expression and influence complex biological networks. Through these analyses, we observed more than a hundred differentially expressed miRNAs, including 80 previously reported to be dysregulated in psychiatric disorders. The seven most influential miRNAs associated with pre-treatment exposure, including miR-138-5p, miR-96-5p, miR-34c-5p, miR-1287-5p, miR-497-5p, miR-195-5p, and miR-16-5p, supported by at least 10 negatively correlated mRNA connections, formed hubs in the interaction network with 134 genes enriched with neurobiological function, whereas in the co-treatment condition, miRNA-mRNA interaction pairs were enriched in cardiovascular and immunity-related disease ontologies. Interestingly, 12 differentially expressed miRNAs originated from the DLK1-DIO3 location, which encodes a schizophrenia-associated miRNA signature. Collectively, our findings suggest that early exposure to oxidative stress, before and during prenatal neuronal differentiation, might increase the risk of mental illnesses in adulthood by disturbing the expression of miRNAs that regulate neurodevelopmentally significant genes and networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnaz Khavari
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (B.K.); (M.M.B.)
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Michelle M. Barnett
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (B.K.); (M.M.B.)
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Ebrahim Mahmoudi
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (B.K.); (M.M.B.)
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Michael P. Geaghan
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (B.K.); (M.M.B.)
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Adam Graham
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (B.K.); (M.M.B.)
| | - Murray J. Cairns
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (B.K.); (M.M.B.)
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
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Thomas KT, Vermare A, Egleston SO, Wang YD, Mishra A, Lin T, Peng J, Zakharenko SS. MicroRNA 3' ends shorten during adolescent brain maturation. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1168695. [PMID: 37122627 PMCID: PMC10140418 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1168695] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation is well-documented in psychiatric disease, but miRNA dynamics remain poorly understood during adolescent and early adult brain maturation, when symptoms often first appear. Here, we use RNA sequencing to examine miRNAs and their mRNA targets in cortex and hippocampus from early-, mid-, and late-adolescent and adult mice. Furthermore, we use quantitative proteomics by tandem mass tag mass spectrometry (TMT-MS) to examine protein dynamics in cortex from the same subjects. We found that ~25% of miRNAs' 3' ends shorten with age due to increased 3' trimming and decreased U tailing. Particularly, shorter but functionally competent isoforms (isomiRs) of miR-338-3p increase up to 10-fold during adolescence and only in brain. MiRNAs that undergo 3' shortening exhibit stronger negative correlations with targets that decrease with age and stronger positive correlations with targets that increase with age, than miRNAs with stable 3' ends. Increased 3' shortening with age was also observed in available mouse and human miRNA-seq data sets, and stronger correlations between miRNAs that undergo shortening and their mRNA targets were observed in two of the three available data sets. We conclude that age-associated miRNA 3' shortening is a well-conserved feature of postnatal brain maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen T. Thomas
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Anaïs Vermare
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Suzannah O. Egleston
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Yong-Dong Wang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Ashutosh Mishra
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Tong Lin
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Junmin Peng
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Stanislav S. Zakharenko
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Stanislav S. Zakharenko,
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Casas BS, Arancibia-Altamirano D, Acevedo-La Rosa F, Garrido-Jara D, Maksaev V, Pérez-Monje D, Palma V. It takes two to tango: Widening our understanding of the onset of schizophrenia from a neuro-angiogenic perspective. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:946706. [PMID: 36092733 PMCID: PMC9448889 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.946706] [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: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating mental disorder characterized by perturbations in thinking, perception, and behavior, along with brain connectivity deficiencies, neurotransmitter dysfunctions, and loss of gray brain matter. To date, schizophrenia has no cure and pharmacological treatments are only partially efficacious, with about 30% of patients describing little to no improvement after treatment. As in most neurological disorders, the main descriptions of schizophrenia physiopathology have been focused on neural network deficiencies. However, to sustain proper neural activity in the brain, another, no less important network is operating: the vast, complex and fascinating vascular network. Increasing research has characterized schizophrenia as a systemic disease where vascular involvement is important. Several neuro-angiogenic pathway disturbances have been related to schizophrenia. Alterations, ranging from genetic polymorphisms, mRNA, and protein alterations to microRNA and abnormal metabolite processing, have been evaluated in plasma, post-mortem brain, animal models, and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models. During embryonic brain development, the coordinated formation of blood vessels parallels neuro/gliogenesis and results in the structuration of the neurovascular niche, which brings together physical and molecular signals from both systems conforming to the Blood-Brain barrier. In this review, we offer an upfront perspective on distinctive angiogenic and neurogenic signaling pathways that might be involved in the biological causality of schizophrenia. We analyze the role of pivotal angiogenic-related pathways such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and HIF signaling related to hypoxia and oxidative stress events; classic developmental pathways such as the NOTCH pathway, metabolic pathways such as the mTOR/AKT cascade; emerging neuroinflammation, and neurodegenerative processes such as UPR, and also discuss non-canonic angiogenic/axonal guidance factor signaling. Considering that all of the mentioned above pathways converge at the Blood-Brain barrier, reported neurovascular alterations could have deleterious repercussions on overall brain functioning in schizophrenia.
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Zhuo C, Tian H, Chen J, Li Q, Yang L, Zhang Q, Chen G, Cheng L, Zhou C, Song X. Associations of cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia with genetic features and with schizophrenia-related structural and functional brain changes. Front Genet 2022; 13:880027. [PMID: 36061201 PMCID: PMC9437456 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.880027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in patients with major psychiatric disorders (MPDs), including schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, in whom it can be highly disruptive to community functioning and worsen prognosis. Previously, genetic factors and cognitive impairments in MPD patients have been examined mostly in isolated circuits rather than in the whole brain. In the present study, genetic, neuroimaging, and psychometric approaches were combined to investigate the relationship among genetic factors, alterations throughout the brain, and cognitive impairments in a large cohort of patients diagnosed with SCZ, with a reference healthy control (HC) group. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SCZ-risk genes were found to be strongly related to cognitive impairments as well as to gray matter volume (GMV) and functional connectivity (FC) alterations in the SCZ group. Annotating 136 high-ranking SNPs revealed 65 affected genes (including PPP1R16B, GBBR2, PDE4B, CANCNA1C, SLC12AB, SATB2, MAG12, and SATB2). Only one, a PDE4B SNP (rs1006737), correlated with GMV (r = 0:19 p = 0.015) and FC (r = 0.21, p = 0.0074) in SCZ patients. GMV and FC alterations correlated with one another broadly across brain regions. Moreover, the present data demonstrate three-way SNP-FC-GMV associations in patients with SCZ, thus providing clues regarding potential genetic bases of cognition impairments in SCZ. SNP-FC-GMV relationships correlated with visual learning and reasoning dimensions of cognition. These data provide evidence that SCZ-related cognitive impairments may reflect genetically underlain whole-brain structural and functional alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjun Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Tracing of Brian Circuits in Psychiatry and Neurology (RTBNP_Lab), Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Digital Analysis Center of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurology Imaging-Genetics and Comorbidity Laboratory (PNGC_Lab) of Tianjin Mental Health Center, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Deep Learning Center of MRI and Genetics, Wenzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Wenzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Chuanjun Zhuo, ; Xueqin Song,
| | - Hongjun Tian
- Department of Psychiatry, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiayue Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qianchen Li
- Department of Pharmacology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiuyu Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Guangdong Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Langlang Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chunhua Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xueqin Song
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Chuanjun Zhuo, ; Xueqin Song,
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Jafari P, Baghernia S, Moghanibashi M, Mohamadynejad P. Significant Association of Variable Number Tandem Repeat Polymorphism rs58335419 in the MIR137 Gene With the Risk of Gastric and Colon Cancers. Br J Biomed Sci 2022; 79:10095. [PMID: 35996520 PMCID: PMC8915678 DOI: 10.3389/bjbs.2021.10095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the article: The MIR137 gene acts as a tumor-suppressor gene in colon and gastric cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of functional variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism rs58335419 locating in the upstream of the MIR137 gene with the risk of colon and gastric cancers. Materials and methods: Totally, 429 individuals were contributed in the study, including 154 colon and 120 gastric cancer patients and 155 healthy controls. The target VNTR was genotyped using PCR and electrophoresis for all samples. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 software and by T, χ2 and logistic regression tests. Results: Excluding the rare genotypes, our results showed that genotype 3/5 (95% CI = 1.08–3.73, OR = 2.01, p = 0.026) significantly increased the risk of colon cancer but not gastric cancer (95% CI = 0.88–3.30, OR = 1.70, p = 0.114). Also, in the stratification analysis for VNTRs and sex, genotypes 3/4 (95% CI = 1.00–6.07, OR = 2.46, p = 0.049) and 3/5 (95% CI = 1.25–7.18, OR = 2.99, p = 0.014) significantly increased the risk of colon cancer in men but not in women. In addition, all genotypes including the rare genotypes as a group, significantly increase the risk of gastric (95% CI = 1.14–3.00, OR = 1.85, p = 0.012) and colon (95% CI = 1.38–3.43, OR = 2.17, p = 0.001) cancers compared to the genotype 3/3 as a reference. Conclusion: The results show that increasing the copy of VNTR in the MIR137 gene, increases the risk of colon and gastric cancers and can serve as a marker for susceptibility to colon and gastric cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pegah Jafari
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
| | - Sedighe Baghernia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
| | - Mehdi Moghanibashi
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
- *Correspondence: Mehdi Moghanibashi,
| | - Parisa Mohamadynejad
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
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Zhuo C, Liu W, Jiang R, Li R, Yu H, Chen G, Shan J, Zhu J, Cai Z, Lin C, Cheng L, Xu Y, Liu S, Luo Q, Jin S, Liu C, Chen J, Wang L, Yang L, Zhang Q, Li Q, Tian H, Song X. Metabolic risk factors of cognitive impairment in young women with major psychiatric disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:880031. [PMID: 35966480 PMCID: PMC9373724 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.880031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive performance improves clinical outcomes of patients with major psychiatric disorder (MPD), but is impaired by hyperglycemia. Psychotropic agents often induce metabolism syndrome (MetS). The identification of modifiable metabolic risk factors of cognitive impairment may enable targeted improvements of patient care. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between MetS and cognitive impairment in young women with MPD, and to explore risk factors. METHODS We retrospectively studied women of 18-34 years of age receiving psychotropic medications for first-onset schizophrenia (SCH), bipolar disorder (BP), or major depressive disorder (MDD). Data were obtained at four time points: presentation but before psychotropic medication; 4-8 and 8-12 weeks of psychotropic therapy; and enrollment. MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, (MCCB)-based Global Deficit Scores were used to assess cognitive impairment. Multiple logistic analysis was used to calculate risk factors. Multivariate models were used to investigate factors associated with cognitive impairment. RESULTS We evaluated 2,864 participants. Cognitive impairment was observed in 61.94% of study participants, and was most prevalent among patients with BP (69.38%). HbA1c within the 8-12 week-treatment interval was the most significant risk factor and highest in BP. Factors in SCH included pre-treatment waist circumference and elevated triglycerides during the 8-12 weeks treatment interval. Cumulative dosages of antipsychotics, antidepressants, and valproate were associated with cognitive impairment in all MPD subgroups, although lithium demonstrated a protect effect (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Cognitive impairment was associated with elevated HbA1c and cumulative medication dosages. Pre-treatment waist circumference and triglyceride level at 8-12 weeks were risk factors in SCH. Monitoring these indices may inform treatment revisions to improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjun Zhuo
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Psychiatric Transformational Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Multiple Organs Damage in the Mental Disorder (MODMD) Center of Wenzhou Seventh Hospital, Wenzhou, China.,Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ronghuan Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Ranli Li
- Key Laboratory of Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetic and Cor-morbidity, Tianjin Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Haiping Yu
- Inpatient Department of Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Guangdong Chen
- Inpatient Department of Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jianmin Shan
- Inpatient Department of Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Zhu
- Inpatient Department of Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ziyao Cai
- Inpatient Department of Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chongguang Lin
- Inpatient Department of Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Langlang Cheng
- Inpatient Department of Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yong Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Sha Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Qinghua Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shili Jin
- Inpatient Department, Shandong Daizhuang Hospital, Jining, China
| | - Chuanxin Liu
- Inpatient Department, Shandong Daizhuang Hospital, Jining, China
| | - Jiayue Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yanan Fifth Hospital, Yan'An, China
| | - Qiuyu Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Anning Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qianchen Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Hebei Fifth Peoples Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hongjun Tian
- Key Laboratory of Multiple Organ Damage in Patients With Mental Disorder, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xueqin Song
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Psychiatric Transformational Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Xiao X, Zhang CY, Zhang Z, Hu Z, Li M, Li T. Revisiting tandem repeats in psychiatric disorders from perspectives of genetics, physiology, and brain evolution. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:466-475. [PMID: 34650204 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01329-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have revealed substantial genetic components comprised of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the heritable risk of psychiatric disorders. However, genetic risk factors not covered by GWAS also play pivotal roles in these illnesses. Tandem repeats, which are likely functional but frequently overlooked by GWAS, may account for an important proportion in the "missing heritability" of psychiatric disorders. Despite difficulties in characterizing and quantifying tandem repeats in the genome, studies have been carried out in an attempt to describe impact of tandem repeats on gene regulation and human phenotypes. In this review, we have introduced recent research progress regarding the genomic distribution and regulatory mechanisms of tandem repeats. We have also summarized the current knowledge of the genetic architecture and biological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders brought by studies of tandem repeats. These findings suggest that tandem repeats, in candidate psychiatric risk genes or in different levels of linkage disequilibrium (LD) with psychiatric GWAS SNPs and haplotypes, may modulate biological phenotypes related to psychiatric disorders (e.g., cognitive function and brain physiology) through regulating alternative splicing, promoter activity, enhancer activity and so on. In addition, many tandem repeats undergo tight natural selection in the human lineage, and likely exert crucial roles in human brain evolution. Taken together, the putative roles of tandem repeats in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders is strongly implicated, and using examples from previous literatures, we wish to call for further attention to tandem repeats in the post-GWAS era of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chu-Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhuohua Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhonghua Hu
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Department of Critical Care Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital and Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China. .,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China. .,KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
| | - Tao Li
- Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. .,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, China.
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Nayak R, Rosh I, Kustanovich I, Stern S. Mood Stabilizers in Psychiatric Disorders and Mechanisms Learnt from In Vitro Model Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9315. [PMID: 34502224 PMCID: PMC8431659 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia are psychiatric disorders that manifest unusual mental, behavioral, and emotional patterns leading to suffering and disability. These disorders span heterogeneous conditions with variable heredity and elusive pathophysiology. Mood stabilizers such as lithium and valproic acid (VPA) have been shown to be effective in BD and, to some extent in schizophrenia. This review highlights the efficacy of lithium and VPA treatment in several randomized, controlled human trials conducted in patients suffering from BD and schizophrenia. Furthermore, we also address the importance of using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a disease model for mirroring the disease's phenotypes. In BD, iPSC-derived neurons enabled finding an endophenotype of hyperexcitability with increased hyperpolarizations. Some of the disease phenotypes were significantly alleviated by lithium treatment. VPA studies have also reported rescuing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and reducing activity. Another significant contribution of iPSC models can be attributed to studying the molecular etiologies of schizophrenia such as abnormal differentiation of patient-derived neural stem cells, decreased neuronal connectivity and neurite number, impaired synaptic function, and altered gene expression patterns. Overall, despite significant advances using these novel models, much more work remains to fully understand the mechanisms by which these disorders affect the patients' brains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Shani Stern
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel; (R.N.); (I.R.); (I.K.)
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