Systematic screening for mutations in the glycine receptor alpha2 subunit gene (GLRA2) in patients with schizophrenia and other psychiatric diseases

Whole-genome sequencing reveals the artificial selection and local environmental adaptability of pigeons (Columba livia)

To meet human needs, domestic pigeons (Columba livia) with various phenotypes have been bred to provide genetic material for our research on artificial selection and local environmental adaptation. Seven pigeon breeds were resequenced and can be divided into commercial varieties (Euro-pigeon, Shiqi, Shen King, Taishen, and Silver King), ornamental varieties (High Fliers), and local varieties (Tarim pigeon). Phylogenetic analysis based on population resequencing showed that one group contained local breeds and ornamental pigeons from China, whereas all commercial varieties were clustered together. It is revealed that the traditional Chinese ornamental pigeon is a branch of Tarim pigeon. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analyses revealed significant differences in the genetic diversity of the three types of pigeons. Genome sweep analysis revealed that the selected genes of commercial breeds were related to body size, reproduction, and plumage color. The genomic imprinting genes left by the ornamental pigeon breeds were mostly related to special human facial features and muscular dystrophy. The Tarim pigeon has evolved genes related to chemical ion transport, photoreceptors, oxidative stress, organ development, and olfaction in order to adapt to local environmental stress. This research provides a molecular basis for pigeon genetic resource evaluation and genetic improvement and suggests that the understanding of adaptive evolution should integrate the effects of various natural environmental characteristics.

Directly and Indirectly Targeting the Glycine Modulatory Site to Modulate NMDA Receptor Function to Address Unmet Medical Needs of Patients With Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects ~1% of the world's population. It is clinically characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Currently available antipsychotic medications are relatively ineffective in improving negative and cognitive deficits, which are related to a patient's functional outcomes and quality of life. Negative symptoms and cognitive deficits are unmet by the antipsychotic medications developed to date. In recent decades, compelling animal and clinical studies have supported the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction hypothesis of schizophrenia and have suggested some promising therapeutic agents. Notably, several NMDAR-enhancing agents, especially those that function through the glycine modulatory site (GMS) of NMDAR, cause significant reduction in psychotic and cognitive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Given that the NMDAR-mediated signaling pathway has been implicated in cognitive/social functions and that GMS is a potential therapeutic target for enhancing the activation of NMDARs, there is great interest in investigating the effects of direct and indirect GMS modulators and their therapeutic potential. In this review, we focus on describing preclinical and clinical studies of direct and indirect GMS modulators in the treatment of schizophrenia, including glycine, D-cycloserine, D-serine, glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) inhibitors, and D-amino acid oxidase (DAO or DAAO) inhibitors. We highlight some of the most promising recently developed pharmacological compounds designed to either directly or indirectly target GMS and thus augment NMDAR function to treat the cognitive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Overall, the current findings suggest that indirectly targeting of GMS appears to be more beneficial and leads to less adverse effects than direct targeting of GMS to modulate NMDAR functions. Indirect GMS modulators, especially GlyT1 inhibitors and DAO inhibitors, open new avenues for the treatment of unmet medical needs for patients with schizophrenia.

Glycine Signaling in the Framework of Dopamine-Glutamate Interaction and Postsynaptic Density. Implications for Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia

Treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) or suboptimal response to antipsychotics affects almost 30% of schizophrenia (SCZ) patients, and it is a relevant clinical issue with significant impact on the functional outcome and on the global burden of disease. Among putative novel treatments, glycine-centered therapeutics (i.e. sarcosine, glycine itself, D-Serine, and bitopertin) have been proposed, based on a strong preclinical rationale with, however, mixed clinical results. Therefore, a better appraisal of glycine interaction with the other major players of SCZ pathophysiology and specifically in the framework of dopamine - glutamate interactions is warranted. New methodological approaches at cutting edge of technology and drug discovery have been applied to study the role of glycine in glutamate signaling, both at presynaptic and post-synaptic level and have been instrumental for unveiling the role of glycine in dopamine-glutamate interaction. Glycine is a non-essential amino acid that plays a critical role in both inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission. In caudal areas of central nervous system (CNS), such as spinal cord and brainstem, glycine acts as a powerful inhibitory neurotransmitter through binding to its receptor, i.e. the Glycine Receptor (GlyR). However, glycine also works as a co-agonist of the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission. Glycine concentration in the synaptic cleft is finely tuned by glycine transporters, i.e. GlyT1 and GlyT2, that regulate the neurotransmitter's reuptake, with the first considered a highly potential target for psychosis therapy. Reciprocal regulation of dopamine and glycine in forebrain, glycine modulation of glutamate, glycine signaling interaction with postsynaptic density proteins at glutamatergic synapse, and human genetics of glycinergic pathways in SCZ are tackled in order to highlight the exploitation of this neurotransmitters and related molecules in SCZ and TRS.

Effects of L-theanine on posttraumatic stress disorder induced changes in rat brain gene expression

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by the occurrence of a traumatic event that is beyond the normal range of human experience. The future of PTSD treatment may specifically target the molecular mechanisms of PTSD. In the US, approximately 20% of adults report taking herbal products to treat medical illnesses. L-theanine is the amino acid in green tea primarily responsible for relaxation effects. No studies have evaluated the potential therapeutic properties of herbal medications on gene expression in PTSD. We evaluated gene expression in PTSD-induced changes in the amygdala and hippocampus of Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were assigned to PTSD-stressed and nonstressed groups that received either saline, midazolam, L-theanine, or L-theanine + midazolam. Amygdala and hippocampus tissue samples were analyzed for changes in gene expression. One-way ANOVA was used to detect significant difference between groups in the amygdala and hippocampus. Of 88 genes examined, 17 had a large effect size greater than 0.138. Of these, 3 genes in the hippocampus and 5 genes in the amygdala were considered significant (P < 0.05) between the groups. RT-PCR analysis revealed significant changes between groups in several genes implicated in a variety of disorders ranging from PTSD, anxiety, mood disorders, and substance dependence.

Porcine maternal infanticide as a model for puerperal psychosis

Childbirth is a period of substantial rapid biological and psychological change and a wide range of psychotic disorders can occur ranging from mild 'baby blues' to severe episodes of psychotic illnesses. Puerperal psychosis is the most extreme form of postnatal psychosis, occurring in 1 in 1,000 births. In this study, we have used the pig as an animal model for human postnatal psychiatric illness. Our aim was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with maternal (infanticide) sow aggression. This is defined by sows attacking and killing their own newborn offspring, within 24 hr of birth. An affected sib pair whole genome linkage analysis was carried out with 80 microsatellite markers covering the 18 porcine autosomes and the X chromosome, with the aim of identifying chromosomal regions responsible for this abnormal behavior. Analysis was carried out using the non-parametric linkage test of Whittemore and Halpern, as implemented in the Merlin software. The results identified 4 QTL mapping on Sus scrofa chromosomes 2 (SSC2), 10 (SSC10), and X (SSCX). The peak regions of these QTL are syntenic to HSA 5q14.3-15, 1q32, Xpter-Xp2.1, and Xq2.4-Xqter, respectively. Several potential candidate genes lie in these regions in addition to relevant abnormal behavioral QTL, found in humans and rodents.

Genetics and etiopathophysiology of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the most common, devastating, and least understood neuropsychiatric illnesses present in the human population. Despite decades of research involving neurochemical, neuroanatomical, neuropathologic, neurodevelopmental, neuropsychological, and genetic approaches, no clear etiopathophysiology has been elucidated. Among the most robust findings, however, is the contribution of genetics to disease development. Statistical models suggest that susceptibility to the disorder is governed by the effects of multiple genes, coupled with environmental and stochastic factors. This review briefly summarizes recent etiopathologic findings and hypotheses, with special attention to genetics.