1
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Li J, Shen Z, Liu Y, Yan Z, Liu Y, Lin X, Tang J, Lv R, Geng G, Xiong ZQ, Zhou C, Yang H. A high-fidelity RNA-targeting Cas13 restores paternal Ube3a expression and improves motor functions in Angelman syndrome mice. Mol Ther 2023; 31:2286-2295. [PMID: 36805082 PMCID: PMC10362381 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by loss of function mutations in maternally expressed UBE3A. No gene-specific treatment is available for patients so far. Although intact and transcriptionally active, paternally inherited UBE3A is silenced by elongation of antisense long noncoding RNA UBE3A-ATS in neurons. Here, we demonstrated that RNA targeting of paternal Ube3a-ATS with a high-fidelity CRISPR-Cas13 (hfCas13x.1) system could restore Ube3a expression to similar levels as that of maternal Ube3a in the cultured mouse neurons. Furthermore, injection into lateral ventricles with neuron-specific hSyn1 promoter-driven hfCas13x.1 packaged in adeno-associated virus (AAV-PHP.eb) could restore paternal Ube3a expression in cortex and hippocampus of neonatal AS mice for up to 4 months after treatment. Behavioral tests showed that expression of paternal Ube3a significantly alleviated AS-related symptoms, including obesity and motor function. Our results suggested that hfCas13x.1-mediated suppression of the Ube3a-ATS lncRNA potentially serves as a promising targeted intervention for AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhui Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhixin Shen
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yajing Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zixiang Yan
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Yuanhua Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiang Lin
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, #20, Chazhong Road, Taijiang District, Fuzhou 350005, China
| | - Junjie Tang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ruimin Lv
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Guannan Geng
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhi-Qi Xiong
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Changyang Zhou
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Hui Yang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China; HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200131, China.
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2
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Cosgrove JA, Kelly LK, Kiffmeyer EA, Kloth AD. Sex-dependent influence of postweaning environmental enrichment in Angelman syndrome model mice. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2468. [PMID: 34985196 PMCID: PMC8865162 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutation or loss of UBE3A and marked by intellectual disability, ataxia, autism-like symptoms, and other atypical behaviors. One route to treatment may lie in the role that environment plays early in postnatal life. Environmental enrichment (EE) is one manipulation that has shown therapeutic potential in preclinical models of many brain disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we examined whether postweaning EE can rescue behavioral phenotypes in Ube3a maternal deletion mice (AS mice), and whether any improvements are sex-dependent. METHODS Male and female mice (C57BL/6J Ube3atm1Alb mice and wild-type (WT) littermates; ≥10 mice/group) were randomly assigned to standard housing (SH) or EE at weaning. EE had a larger footprint, a running wheel, and a variety of toys that promoted foraging, burrowing, and climbing. Following 6 weeks of EE, animals were submitted to a battery of tests that reliably elicit behavioral deficits in AS mice, including rotarod, open field, marble burying, and forced swim; weights were also monitored. RESULTS In male AS-EE mice, we found complete restoration of motor coordination, marble burying, and forced swim behavior to the level of WT-SH mice. We also observed a complete normalization of exploratory distance traveled in the open field, but we found no rescue of vertical behavior or center time. AS-EE mice also had weights comparable to WT-SH mice. Intriguingly, in the female AS-EE mice, we found a failure of EE to rescue the same behavioral deficits relative to female WT-SH mice. CONCLUSIONS Environmental enrichment is an effective route to correcting the most penetrant phenotypes in male AS mice but not female AS mice. This finding has important implications for the translatability of early behavioral intervention for AS patients, most importantly the potential dependency of treatment response on sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jameson A. Cosgrove
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
| | - Lauren K. Kelly
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
| | - Elizabeth A. Kiffmeyer
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
| | - Alexander D. Kloth
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
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3
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Negrón-Moreno PN, Diep DT, Guoynes CD, Sidorov MS. Dissociating motor impairment from five-choice serial reaction time task performance in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:968159. [PMID: 36212189 PMCID: PMC9539753 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.968159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a single-gene neurodevelopmental disorder associated with cognitive and motor impairment, seizures, lack of speech, and disrupted sleep. AS is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the UBE3A gene, and approaches to reinstate functional UBE3A are currently in clinical trials in children. Behavioral testing in a mouse model of AS (Ube3a m-/p+ ) represents an important tool to assess the effectiveness of current and future treatments preclinically. Existing behavioral tests effectively model motor impairments, but not cognitive impairments, in Ube3a m-/p+ mice. Here we tested the hypothesis that the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRTT) can be used to assess cognitive behaviors in Ube3a m-/p+ mice. Ube3a m-/p+ mice had more omissions during 5CSRTT training than wild-type littermate controls, but also showed impaired motor function including open field hypoactivity and delays in eating pellet rewards. Motor impairments thus presented an important confound for interpreting this group difference in omissions. We report that despite hypoactivity during habituation, Ube3a m-/p+ mice had normal response latencies to retrieve rewards during 5CSRTT training. We also accounted for delays in eating pellet rewards by assessing omissions solely on trials where eating delays would not impact results. Thus, the increase in omissions in Ube3a m-/p+ mice is likely not caused by concurrent motor impairments. This work underscores the importance of considering how known motor impairments in Ube3a m-/p+ mice may affect behavioral performance in other domains. Our results also provide guidance on how to design a 5CSRTT protocol that is best suited for future studies in Ube3a mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola N Negrón-Moreno
- University of Puerto Rico-Cayey, Cayey, PR, United States.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - David T Diep
- University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Caleigh D Guoynes
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Michael S Sidorov
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States.,Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
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4
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Copping NA, McTighe SM, Fink KD, Silverman JL. Emerging Gene and Small Molecule Therapies for the Neurodevelopmental Disorder Angelman Syndrome. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:1535-1547. [PMID: 34528170 PMCID: PMC8608975 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-021-01082-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare (~1:15,000) neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe developmental delay and intellectual disability, impaired communication skills, and a high prevalence of seizures, sleep disturbances, ataxia, motor deficits, and microcephaly. AS is caused by loss-of-function of the maternally inherited UBE3A gene. UBE3A is located on chromosome 15q11-13 and is biallelically expressed throughout the body but only maternally expressed in the brain due to an RNA antisense transcript that silences the paternal copy. There is currently no cure for AS, but advancements in small molecule drugs and gene therapies offer a promising approach for the treatment of the disorder. Here, we review AS and how loss-of-function of the maternal UBE3A contributes to the disorder. We also discuss the strengths and limitations of current animal models of AS. Furthermore, we examine potential small molecule drug and gene therapies for the treatment of AS and associated challenges faced by the therapeutic design. Finally, gene therapy offers the opportunity for precision medicine in AS and advancements in the treatment of this disorder can serve as a foundation for other single-gene neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nycole A Copping
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California, Research II Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Suite 1001B, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, Department of Neurology, MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | | | - Kyle D Fink
- Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, Department of Neurology, MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California, Research II Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Suite 1001B, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
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5
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Simmons DH, Titley HK, Hansel C, Mason P. Behavioral Tests for Mouse Models of Autism: An Argument for the Inclusion of Cerebellum-Controlled Motor Behaviors. Neuroscience 2021; 462:303-319. [PMID: 32417339 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mouse models of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have been interrogated using a variety of behavioral tests in order to understand the symptoms of ASD. However, the hallmark behaviors that are classically affected in ASD - deficits in social interaction and communication as well as the occurrence of repetitive behaviors - do not have direct murine equivalents. Thus, it is critical to identify the caveats that come with modeling a human disorder in mice. The most commonly used behavioral tests represent complex cognitive processes based on largely unknown brain circuitry. Motor impairments provide an alternative, scientifically rigorous approach to understanding ASD symptoms. Difficulties with motor coordination and learning - seen in both patients and mice - point to an involvement of the cerebellum in ASD pathology. This brain area supports types of motor learning that are conserved throughout vertebrate evolution, allowing for direct comparisons of functional abnormalities between humans with autism and ASD mouse models. Studying simple motor behaviors provides researchers with clearly interpretable results. We describe and evaluate methods used on mouse behavioral assays designed to test for social, communicative, perseverative, anxious, nociceptive, and motor learning abnormalities. We comment on the effectiveness and validity of each test based on how much information its results give, as well as its relevance to ASD, and will argue for an inclusion of cerebellum-supported motor behaviors in the phenotypic description of ASD mouse models. LAY SUMMARY: Mouse models of Autism Spectrum Disorder help us gain insight about ASD symptoms in human patients. However, there are many differences between mice and humans, which makes interpreting behaviors challenging. Here, we discuss a battery of behavioral tests for specific mouse behaviors to explore whether each test does indeed evaluate the intended measure, and whether these tests are useful in learning about ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana H Simmons
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Heather K Titley
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christian Hansel
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Peggy Mason
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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6
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Simchi L, Kaphzan H. Aberrant aggressive behavior in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome. Sci Rep 2021; 11:47. [PMID: 33420192 PMCID: PMC7794213 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79984-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder due to the absence of the E3-ligase protein, UBE3A. Inappropriate social interactions, usually hyper-sociability, is a part of that syndrome. In addition, clinical surveys and case reports describe aggressive behavior in AS individuals as a severe difficulty for caretakers. A mouse model for AS recapitulates most of the human AS phenotypes. However, very few studies utilized this mouse model for investigating affiliative social behavior, and not even a single study examined aggressive behavior. Hence, the aim of the herein study was to examine affiliative and aggressive social behavior. For that, we utilized a battery of behavioral paradigms, and performed detailed analyses of these behaviors. AS mice exhibited a unique characteristic of reduced habituation towards a social stimulus in comparison to their wild-type (WT) littermates. However, overall there were no additional marked differences in affiliative social behavior. In contrast to the mild changes in affiliative behavior, there was a striking enhanced aggression in the AS mice compared to their WT littermates. The herein findings emphasize the use of AS mouse model in characterizing and measuring inappropriate aggressive behavior, and suggests these as tools for investigating therapeutic interventions aimed at attenuating aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilach Simchi
- Laboratory for Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mt. Carmel, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Hanoch Kaphzan
- Laboratory for Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mt. Carmel, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
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7
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Dutta R, Crawley JN. Behavioral Evaluation of Angelman Syndrome Mice at Older Ages. Neuroscience 2020; 445:163-171. [PMID: 31730795 PMCID: PMC7214203 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder presenting with severe deficits in motor, speech, and cognitive abilities. The primary genetic cause of Angelman syndrome is a maternally transmitted mutation in the Ube3a gene, which has been successfully modeled in Ube3a mutant mice. Phenotypes have been extensively reported in young adult Ube3a mice. Because symptoms continue throughout life in Angelman syndrome, we tested multiple behavioral phenotypes of male Ube3a mice and WT littermate controls at older adult ages. Social behaviors on both the 3-chambered social approach and male-female social interaction tests showed impairments in Ube3a at 12 months of age. Anxiety-related scores on both the elevated plus-maze and the light ↔ dark transitions assays indicated anxiety-like phenotypes in 12 month old Ube3a mice. Open field locomotion parameters were consistently lower at 12 months. Reduced general exploratory locomotion at this age prevented the interpretation of an anxiety-like phenotype, and likely impacted social tasks. Robust phenotypes in middle-aged Ube3a mice appear to result from continued motor decline. Motor deficits may provide the best outcome measures for preclinical testing of pharmacological targets, towards reductions of symptoms in adults with Angelman syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Dutta
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jacqueline N Crawley
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
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8
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Schultz MN, Crawley JN. Evaluation of a TrkB agonist on spatial and motor learning in the Ube3a mouse model of Angelman syndrome. Learn Mem 2020; 27:346-354. [PMID: 32817301 PMCID: PMC7433657 DOI: 10.1101/lm.051201.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a mutation in the maternal allele of the gene Ube3a The primary symptoms of Angelman syndrome are severe cognitive deficits, impaired motor functions, and speech disabilities. Analogous phenotypes have been detected in young adult Ube3a mice. Here, we investigate cognitive phenotypes of Ube3a mice as compared to wild-type littermate controls at an older adult age. Water maze spatial learning, swim speed, and rotarod motor coordination and balance were impaired at 6 mo of age, as predicted. Based on previous findings of reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor in Ube3a mice, a novel therapeutic target, the TrkB agonist 7,8-DHF, was interrogated. Semichronic daily treatment with 7,8-DHF, 5 mg/kg i.p., did not significantly improve the impairments in performance during the acquisition of the water maze hidden platform location in Ube3a mice, after training with either massed or spaced trials, and had no effect on the swim speed and rotarod deficits. Robust behavioral phenotypes in middle-aged Ube3a mice appear to result from continued motor decline. Our results suggest that motor deficits could offer useful outcome measures for preclinical testing of many pharmacological targets, with the goal of reducing symptoms in adults with Angelman syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria N Schultz
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95821, USA
| | - Jacqueline N Crawley
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95821, USA
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9
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Javed S, Selliah T, Lee YJ, Huang WH. Dosage-sensitive genes in autism spectrum disorders: From neurobiology to therapy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 118:538-567. [PMID: 32858083 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of heterogenous neurodevelopmental disorders affecting 1 in 59 children. Syndromic ASDs are commonly associated with chromosomal rearrangements or dosage imbalance involving a single gene. Many of these genes are dosage-sensitive and regulate transcription, protein homeostasis, and synaptic function in the brain. Despite vastly different molecular perturbations, syndromic ASDs share core symptoms including social dysfunction and repetitive behavior. However, each ASD subtype has a unique pathogenic mechanism and combination of comorbidities that require individual attention. We have learned a great deal about how these dosage-sensitive genes control brain development and behaviors from genetically-engineered mice. Here we describe the clinical features of eight monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders caused by dosage imbalance of four genes, as well as recent advances in using genetic mouse models to understand their pathogenic mechanisms and develop intervention strategies. We propose that applying newly developed quantitative molecular and neuroscience technologies will advance our understanding of the unique neurobiology of each disorder and enable the development of personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sehrish Javed
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Tharushan Selliah
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Yu-Ju Lee
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Wei-Hsiang Huang
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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10
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Tsagkaris C, Papakosta V, Miranda AV, Zacharopoulou L, Danilchenko V, Matiashova L, Dhar A. Gene Therapy for Angelman Syndrome: Contemporary Approaches and Future Endeavors. Curr Gene Ther 2020; 19:359-366. [DOI: 10.2174/1566523220666200107151025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Background:
Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a congenital non inherited neurodevelopmental
disorder. The contemporary AS management is symptomatic and it has been accepted that gene therapy
may play a key role in the treatment of AS.
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to summarize existing and suggested gene therapy approaches
to Angelman syndrome.
Methods:
This is a literature review. Pubmed and Scopus databases were researched with keywords
(gene therapy, Angelman’s syndrome, neurological disorders, neonates). Peer-reviewed studies that
were closely related to gene therapies in Angelman syndrome and available in English, Greek, Ukrainian
or Indonesian were included. Studies that were published before 2000 were excluded and did not
align with the aforementioned criteria.
Results:
UBE3A serves multiple roles in signaling and degradation procedures. Although the restoration
of UBE3A expression rather than targeting known activities of the molecule would be the optimal
therapeutic goal, it is not possible so far. Reinstatement of paternal UBE3A appears as an adequate alternative.
This can be achieved by administering topoisomerase-I inhibitors or reducing UBE3A antisense
transcript (UBE3A-ATS), a molecule which silences paternal UBE3A.
Conclusion:
Understanding UBE3A imprinting unravels the path to an etiologic treatment of AS.
Gene therapy models tested on mice appeared less effective than anticipated pointing out that activation
of paternal UBE3A cannot counteract the existing CNS defects. On the other hand, targeting abnormal
downstream cell signaling pathways has provided promising rescue effects. Perhaps, combined
reinstatement of paternal UBE3A expression with abnormal signaling pathways-oriented treatment is
expected to provide better therapeutic effects. However, AS gene therapy remains debatable in pharmacoeconomics
and ethics context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Valeriia Danilchenko
- Department of Pediatrics #1 with Propaedeutics and Neonatology, Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy, Poltava, Ukraine
| | | | - Amrit Dhar
- Government Medical College, Jammu and Kashmir, India
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11
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Dodge A, Peters MM, Greene HE, Dietrick C, Botelho R, Chung D, Willman J, Nenninger AW, Ciarlone S, Kamath SG, Houdek P, Sumová A, Anderson AE, Dindot SV, Berg EL, O'Geen H, Segal DJ, Silverman JL, Weeber EJ, Nash KR. Generation of a Novel Rat Model of Angelman Syndrome with a Complete Ube3a Gene Deletion. Autism Res 2020; 13:397-409. [PMID: 31961493 PMCID: PMC7787396 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by severe intellectual disability, seizures, lack of speech, and ataxia. The gene responsible for AS was identified as Ube3a and it encodes for E6AP, an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Currently, there is very little known about E6AP's mechanism of action in vivo or how the lack of this protein in neurons may contribute to the AS phenotype. Elucidating the mechanistic action of E6AP would enhance our understanding of AS and drive current research into new avenues that could lead to novel therapeutic approaches that target E6AP's various functions. To facilitate the study of AS, we have generated a novel rat model in which we deleted the rat Ube3a gene using CRISPR. The AS rat phenotypically mirrors human AS with loss of Ube3a expression in the brain and deficits in motor coordination as well as learning and memory. This model offers a new avenue for the study of AS. Autism Res 2020, 13: 397-409. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research,Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by severe intellectual disability, seizures, difficulty speaking, and ataxia. The gene responsible for AS was identified as UBE3A, yet very little is known about its function in vivo or how the lack of this protein in neurons may contribute to the AS phenotype. To facilitate the study of AS, we have generated a novel rat model in which we deleted the rat Ube3a gene using CRISPR. The AS rat mirrors human AS with loss of Ube3a expression in the brain and deficits in motor coordination as well as learning and memory. This model offers a new avenue for the study of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andie Dodge
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Melinda M Peters
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Hayden E Greene
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Clifton Dietrick
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Robert Botelho
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Diana Chung
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jonathan Willman
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Austin W Nenninger
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Stephanie Ciarlone
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
- PTC Therapeutics Inc., Plainfield, 07080, New Jersey
| | - Siddharth G Kamath
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Pavel Houdek
- Department of Neurohumoral Regulations, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Sumová
- Department of Neurohumoral Regulations, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anne E Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Scott V Dindot
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas
| | - Elizabeth L Berg
- School of Medicine, MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California - Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Henriette O'Geen
- Genome Center and MIND Institute, University of California - Davis, Davis, California
| | - David J Segal
- Genome Center and MIND Institute, University of California - Davis, Davis, California
| | - Jill L Silverman
- School of Medicine, MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California - Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Edwin J Weeber
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
- PTC Therapeutics Inc., Plainfield, 07080, New Jersey
| | - Kevin R Nash
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
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12
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Rotaru DC, Mientjes EJ, Elgersma Y. Angelman Syndrome: From Mouse Models to Therapy. Neuroscience 2020; 445:172-189. [PMID: 32088294 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The UBE3A gene is part of the chromosome 15q11-q13 region that is frequently deleted or duplicated, leading to several neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Angelman syndrome (AS) is caused by the absence of functional maternally derived UBE3A protein, while the paternal UBE3A gene is present but silenced specifically in neurons. Patients with AS present with severe neurodevelopmental delay, with pronounced motor deficits, absence of speech, intellectual disability, epilepsy, and sleep problems. The pathophysiology of AS is still unclear and a treatment is lacking. Animal models of AS recapitulate the genotypic and phenotypic features observed in AS patients, and have been invaluable for understanding the disease process as well as identifying apropriate drug targets. Using these AS mouse models we have learned that loss of UBE3A probably affects many areas of the brain, leading to increased neuronal excitability and a loss of synaptic spines, along with changes in a number of distinct behaviours. Inducible AS mouse models have helped to identify the critical treatment windows for the behavioral and physiological phenotypes. Additionally, AS mouse models indicate an important role for the predominantly nuclear UBE3A isoform in generating the characteristic AS pathology. Last, but not least, the AS mice have been crucial in guiding Ube3a gene reactivation treatments, which present a very promising therapy to treat AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana C Rotaru
- Department of Neuroscience, The ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Edwin J Mientjes
- Department of Neuroscience, The ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Neuroscience, The ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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13
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Yang X. Towards an understanding of Angelman syndrome in mice studies. J Neurosci Res 2019; 98:1162-1173. [PMID: 31867793 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe mental retardation, absence of speech, abnormal motor coordination, abnormal EEG, and spontaneous seizure. AS is caused by a deficiency in the ubiquitin ligase E3A (Ube3a) gene product, known to play a dual role as both ubiquitin ligase and transcription coactivator. In AS animal models, multiple Ube3a substrates are accumulated in neurons. So far, studies in mouse models have either aimed at re-expressing Ube3a or manipulating downstream signaling pathways. Reintroducing Ube3a in AS mice showed promising results but may have two caveats. First, it may cause an overdosage in the Ube3a expression, which in turn is known to contribute to autism spectrum disorders. Second, in mutation cases, the exogenous Ube3a may have to compete with the mutated endogenous form. Such two caveats left spaces for developing therapies or interventions directed to targets downstream Ube3a. Notably, Ube3a expression is dynamically regulated by neuronal activity and plays a crucial role in synaptic plasticity. The abnormal synaptic plasticity uncovered in AS mice has been frequently rescued, but circuits symptoms like seizure are resistant to treatment. Future investigations are needed to further clarify the function (s) of Ube3a during development. Here I reviewed the recently identified major Ube3a substrates and signaling pathways involved in AS pathology, the Ube3a expression, imprinting and evolution, the AS mouse models that have been generated and inspired therapeutic potentials, and finally proposed some future explorations to better understand the AS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yang
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
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14
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Sonzogni M, Wallaard I, Santos SS, Kingma J, du Mee D, van Woerden GM, Elgersma Y. A behavioral test battery for mouse models of Angelman syndrome: a powerful tool for testing drugs and novel Ube3a mutants. Mol Autism 2018; 9:47. [PMID: 30220990 PMCID: PMC6137919 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-018-0231-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations affecting UBE3A function. AS is characterized by intellectual disability, impaired motor coordination, epilepsy, and behavioral abnormalities including autism spectrum disorder features. The development of treatments for AS heavily relies on the ability to test the efficacy of drugs in mouse models that show reliable, and preferably clinically relevant, phenotypes. We previously described a number of behavioral paradigms that assess phenotypes in the domains of motor performance, repetitive behavior, anxiety, and seizure susceptibility. Here, we set out to evaluate the robustness of these phenotypes when tested in a standardized test battery. We then used this behavioral test battery to assess the efficacy of minocycline and levodopa, which were recently tested in clinical trials of AS. Methods We combined data of eight independent experiments involving 111 Ube3a mice and 120 wild-type littermate control mice. Using a meta-analysis, we determined the statistical power of the subtests and the effect of putative confounding factors, such as the effect of sex and of animal weight on rotarod performance. We further assessed the robustness of these phenotypes by comparing Ube3a mutants in different genetic backgrounds and by comparing the behavioral phenotypes of independently derived Ube3a-mutant lines. In addition, we investigated if the test battery allowed re-testing the same animals, which would allow a within-subject testing design. Results We find that the test battery is robust across different Ube3a-mutant lines, but confirm and extend earlier studies that several phenotypes are very sensitive to genetic background. We further found that the audiogenic seizure susceptibility phenotype is fully reversible upon pharmacological treatment and highly suitable for dose-finding studies. In agreement with the clinical trial results, we found that minocycline and levodopa treatment of Ube3a mice did not show any sign of improved performance in our test battery. Conclusions Our study provides a useful tool for preclinical drug testing to identify treatments for Angelman syndrome. Since the phenotypes are observed in several independently derived Ube3a lines, the test battery can also be employed to investigate the effect of specific Ube3a mutations on these phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Sonzogni
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ilse Wallaard
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sara Silva Santos
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jenina Kingma
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dorine du Mee
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Geeske M. van Woerden
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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15
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Leach PT, Crawley JN. Touchscreen learning deficits in Ube3a, Ts65Dn and Mecp2 mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders with intellectual disabilities. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 17:e12452. [PMID: 29266714 PMCID: PMC6013336 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Mutant mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders with intellectual disabilities provide useful translational research tools, especially in cases where robust cognitive deficits are reproducibly detected. However, motor, sensory and/or health issues consequent to the mutation may introduce artifacts that preclude testing in some standard cognitive assays. Touchscreen learning and memory tasks in small operant chambers have the potential to circumvent these confounds. Here we use touchscreen visual discrimination learning to evaluate performance in the maternally derived Ube3a mouse model of Angelman syndrome, the Ts65Dn trisomy mouse model of Down syndrome, and the Mecp2Bird mouse model of Rett syndrome. Significant deficits in acquisition of a 2-choice visual discrimination task were detected in both Ube3a and Ts65Dn mice. Procedural control measures showed no genotype differences during pretraining phases or during acquisition. Mecp2 males did not survive long enough for touchscreen training, consistent with previous reports. Most Mecp2 females failed on pretraining criteria. Significant impairments on Morris water maze spatial learning were detected in both Ube3a and Ts65Dn, replicating previous findings. Abnormalities on rotarod in Ube3a, and on open field in Ts65Dn, replicating previous findings, may have contributed to the observed acquisition deficits and swim speed abnormalities during water maze performance. In contrast, these motor phenotypes do not appear to have affected touchscreen procedural abilities during pretraining or visual discrimination training. Our findings of slower touchscreen learning in 2 mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders with intellectual disabilities indicate that operant tasks offer promising outcome measures for the preclinical discovery of effective pharmacological therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- P T Leach
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California
| | - J N Crawley
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California
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16
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Enhanced Operant Extinction and Prefrontal Excitability in a Mouse Model of Angelman Syndrome. J Neurosci 2018; 38:2671-2682. [PMID: 29431654 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2828-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS), a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with intellectual disability, is caused by loss of maternal allele expression of UBE3A in neurons. Mouse models of AS faithfully recapitulate disease phenotypes across multiple domains, including behavior. Yet in AS, there has been only limited study of behaviors encoded by the prefrontal cortex, a region broadly involved in executive function and cognition. Because cognitive impairment is a core feature of AS, it is critical to develop behavioral readouts of prefrontal circuit function in AS mouse models. One such readout is behavioral extinction, which has been well described mechanistically and relies upon prefrontal circuits in rodents. Here we report exaggerated operant extinction in male AS model mice, concomitant with enhanced excitability in medial prefrontal neurons from male and female AS model mice. Abnormal behavior was specific to operant extinction, as two other prefrontally dependent tasks (cued fear extinction and visuospatial discrimination) were largely normal in AS model mice. Inducible deletion of Ube3a during adulthood was not sufficient to drive abnormal extinction, supporting the hypothesis that there is an early critical period for development of cognitive phenotypes in AS. This work represents the first formal experimental analysis of prefrontal circuit function in AS, and identifies operant extinction as a useful experimental paradigm for modeling cognitive aspects of AS in mice.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Prefrontal cortex encodes "high-level" cognitive processes. Thus, understanding prefrontal function is critical in neurodevelopmental disorders where cognitive impairment is highly penetrant. Angelman syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with speech and motor impairments, an outwardly happy demeanor, and intellectual disability. We describe a behavioral phenotype in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome and related abnormalities in prefrontal cortex function. We hypothesize that robust and reliable prefrontally encoded behavior may be used to model cognitive impairments in Angelman syndrome.
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17
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Strain-dependence of the Angelman Syndrome phenotypes in Ube3a maternal deficiency mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8451. [PMID: 28814801 PMCID: PMC5559514 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08825-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, most commonly caused by deletion or mutation of the maternal allele of the UBE3A gene, with behavioral phenotypes and seizures as key features. Currently no treatment is available, and therapeutics are often ineffective in controlling AS-associated seizures. Previous publications using the Ube3a maternal deletion model have shown behavioral and seizure susceptibility phenotypes, however findings have been variable and merit characterization of electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. In this study, we extend previous studies comparing the effect of genetic background on the AS phenotype by investigating the behavioral profile, EEG activity, and seizure threshold. AS C57BL/6J mice displayed robust behavioral impairments, spontaneous EEG polyspikes, and increased cortical and hippocampal power primarily driven by delta and theta frequencies. AS 129 mice performed poorly on wire hang and contextual fear conditioning and exhibited a lower seizure threshold and altered spectral power. AS F1 hybrid mice (C57BL/6J × 129) showed milder behavioral impairments, infrequent EEG polyspikes, and fewer spectral power alterations. These findings indicate the effect of common genetic backgrounds on the Ube3a maternal deletion behavioral, EEG, and seizure threshold phenotypes. Our results will inform future studies on the optimal strain for evaluating therapeutics with different AS-like phenotypes.
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18
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Stoppel DC, Anderson MP. Hypersociability in the Angelman syndrome mouse model. Exp Neurol 2017; 293:137-143. [PMID: 28411125 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Deletions and reciprocal triplications of the human chromosomal 15q11-13 region cause two distinct neurodevelopmental disorders. Maternally-derived deletions or inactivating mutations of UBE3A, a 15q11-13 gene expressed exclusively from the maternal allele in neurons, cause Angelman syndrome, characterized by intellectual disability, motor deficits, seizures, and a characteristic increased social smiling, laughing, and eye contact. Conversely, maternally-derived triplications of 15q11-13 cause a behavioral disorder on the autism spectrum with clinical features that include decreased sociability that we recently reconstituted in mice with Ube3a alone. Based on the unique sociability features reported in Angelman syndrome and the repressed sociability observed when Ube3a gene dosage is increased, we hypothesized that mice with neuronal UBE3A loss that models Angelman syndrome would display evidence of hypersocial behavior. We report that mice with maternally-inherited Ube3a gene deletion (Ube3amKO) have a prolonged preference for, and interaction with, social stimuli in the three chamber social approach task. By contrast, interactions with a novel object are reduced. Further, ultrasonic vocalizations and physical contacts are increased in male and female Ube3amKO mice paired with an unfamiliar genotype-matched female. Single housing wild type mice increased these same social behavior parameters to levels observed in Ube3amKO mice where this effect was partially occluded. These results indicate sociability is repressed by social experience and the endogenous levels of UBE3A protein and suggest some social behavioral features observed in Angelman syndrome may reflect an increased social motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Stoppel
- Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Matthew P Anderson
- Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Boston Children's Hospital Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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19
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Krishnan V, Stoppel DC, Nong Y, Johnson MA, Nadler MJS, Ozkaynak E, Teng BL, Nagakura I, Mohammad F, Silva MA, Peterson S, Cruz TJ, Kasper EM, Arnaout R, Anderson MP. Autism gene Ube3a and seizures impair sociability by repressing VTA Cbln1. Nature 2017; 543:507-512. [PMID: 28297715 PMCID: PMC5364052 DOI: 10.1038/nature21678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Maternally inherited 15q11-13 chromosomal triplications cause a frequent and highly penetrant autism linked to increased gene dosages of UBE3A, which both possesses ubiquitin-ligase and transcriptional co-regulatory functions. Here, using in vivo mouse genetics, we show that increasing UBE3A in the nucleus down-regulates glutamatergic synapse organizer cerebellin-1 (Cbln1) that is needed for sociability in mice. Epileptic seizures also repress Cbln1 and are found to expose sociability impairments in mice with asymptomatic increases of UBE3A. This Ube3a-seizure synergy maps to glutamate neurons of the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) where Cbln1 deletions impair sociability and weaken glutamatergic transmission. We provide preclinical evidence that viral-vector-based chemogenetic activations of, or Cbln1 restorations in VTA glutamatergic neurons rescues sociability deficits induced by Ube3a and/or seizures. Our results suggest a gene × seizure interaction in VTA glutamatergic neurons that impairs sociability by downregulating Cbln1, a key node in the expanding protein interaction network of autism genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishnav Krishnan
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - David C Stoppel
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Yi Nong
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Mark A Johnson
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Monica J S Nadler
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Ekim Ozkaynak
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Brian L Teng
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Ikue Nagakura
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Fahim Mohammad
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Michael A Silva
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Sally Peterson
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Tristan J Cruz
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Ekkehard M Kasper
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Ramy Arnaout
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Division of Clinical Informatics, Department of Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.,Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Matthew P Anderson
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Boston Children's Hospital Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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20
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Mercer AA, Palarz KJ, Tabatadze N, Woolley CS, Raman IM. Sex differences in cerebellar synaptic transmission and sex-specific responses to autism-linked Gabrb3 mutations in mice. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27077953 PMCID: PMC4878876 DOI: 10.7554/elife.07596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons of the cerebellar nuclei (CbN) transmit cerebellar signals to premotor areas. The cerebellum expresses several autism-linked genes, including GABRB3, which encodes GABAA receptor β3 subunits and is among the maternal alleles deleted in Angelman syndrome. We tested how this Gabrb3 m-/p+ mutation affects CbN physiology in mice, separating responses of males and females. Wild-type mice showed sex differences in synaptic excitation, inhibition, and intrinsic properties. Relative to females, CbN cells of males had smaller synaptically evoked mGluR1/5-dependent currents, slower Purkinje-mediated IPSCs, and lower spontaneous firing rates, but rotarod performances were indistinguishable. In mutant CbN cells, IPSC kinetics were unchanged, but mutant males, unlike females, showed enlarged mGluR1/5 responses and accelerated spontaneous firing. These changes appear compensatory, since mutant males but not females performed indistinguishably from wild-type siblings on the rotarod task. Thus, sex differences in cerebellar physiology produce similar behavioral output, but provide distinct baselines for responses to mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey A Mercer
- Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
| | - Kristin J Palarz
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States.,Integrated Science Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
| | - Nino Tabatadze
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
| | - Catherine S Woolley
- Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
| | - Indira M Raman
- Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States.,Integrated Science Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
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21
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Towards a therapy for Angelman syndrome by targeting a long non-coding RNA. Nature 2014; 518:409-12. [PMID: 25470045 PMCID: PMC4351819 DOI: 10.1038/nature13975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 352] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a single gene disorder characterized by intellectual disability, developmental delay, behavioral uniqueness, speech impairment, seizures, and ataxia1,2. It is caused by maternal deficiency of the imprinted gene UBE3A, encoding an E3 ubiquitin ligase3-5. All patients carry at least one copy of paternal UBE3A, which is intact but silenced by a nuclear-localized long non-coding RNA, UBE3A antisense transcript (UBE3A-ATS)6-8. Murine Ube3a-ATS reduction by either transcription termination or topoisomerase I inhibition increased paternal Ube3a expression9,10. Despite a clear understanding of the disease-causing event in AS and the potential to harness the intact paternal allele to correct disease, no gene-specific treatment exists for patients. Here we developed a potential therapeutic intervention for AS by reducing Ube3a-ATS with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). ASO treatment achieved specific reduction of Ube3a-ATS and sustained unsilencing of paternal Ube3a in neurons in vitro and in vivo. Partial restoration of UBE3A protein in an AS mouse model ameliorated some cognitive deficits associated with the disease. Although additional studies of phenotypic correction are needed, for the first time we developed a sequence-specific and clinically feasible method to activate expression of the paternal Ube3a allele.
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22
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Li G, Qiu S. Neurodevelopmental Underpinnings of Angelman Syndrome. JOURNAL OF BIOANALYSIS & BIOMEDICINE 2014; 6:052056. [PMID: 26491538 PMCID: PMC4610198 DOI: 10.4172/1948-593x.1000111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guohui Li
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, School of Life Science, Arizona State University, USA
| | - Shenfeng Qiu
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, School of Life Science, Arizona State University, USA
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
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23
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Meng L, Person RE, Huang W, Zhu PJ, Costa-Mattioli M, Beaudet AL. Truncation of Ube3a-ATS unsilences paternal Ube3a and ameliorates behavioral defects in the Angelman syndrome mouse model. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1004039. [PMID: 24385930 PMCID: PMC3873245 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by maternal deficiency of the imprinted gene UBE3A. Individuals with AS suffer from intellectual disability, speech impairment, and motor dysfunction. Currently there is no cure for the disease. Here, we evaluated the phenotypic effect of activating the silenced paternal allele of Ube3a by depleting its antisense RNA Ube3a-ATS in mice. Premature termination of Ube3a-ATS by poly(A) cassette insertion activates expression of Ube3a from the paternal chromosome, and ameliorates many disease-related symptoms in the AS mouse model, including motor coordination defects, cognitive deficit, and impaired long-term potentiation. Studies on the imprinting mechanism of Ube3a revealed a pattern of biallelic transcription initiation with suppressed elongation of paternal Ube3a, implicating transcriptional collision between sense and antisense polymerases. These studies demonstrate the feasibility and utility of unsilencing the paternal copy of Ube3a via targeting Ube3a-ATS as a treatment for Angelman syndrome. Angelman syndrome (AS) is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed in young children, currently with no effective treatments. It is characterized by absence of speech, ataxia, intellectual disability, epilepsy, and a characteristic behavior of frequent laughter and smiling. The disease is caused by loss of the maternal allele of UBE3A, which is preferentially silenced on the paternal chromosome and expressed on the maternal chromosome in neurons due to genomic imprinting. It has been long proposed that by activating the originally silenced paternal allele of UBE3A, the disease may be cured. Here in our research, we demonstrated the feasibility of activating paternal Ube3a in mice by terminating the transcription of its antisense RNA Ube3a-ATS genetically. In the AS mouse model who additionally receives the terminated Ube3a-ATS allele from the paternal side, we observed restoration of Ube3a expression, amelioration of behavioral defects and reversal of the impaired long-term potentiation. We further studied the imprinting mechanisms of Ube3a and proposed a novel transcriptional collision model. These results provide solid in vivo evidence for a key regulatory role of Ube3a-ATS in the disease and open up an exciting possibility of a gene-specific treatment for Angelman syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyan Meng
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Richard Erwin Person
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ping Jun Zhu
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mauro Costa-Mattioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Arthur L. Beaudet
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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24
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Huang HS, Burns AJ, Nonneman RJ, Baker LK, Riddick NV, Nikolova VD, Riday TT, Yashiro K, Philpot BD, Moy SS. Behavioral deficits in an Angelman syndrome model: effects of genetic background and age. Behav Brain Res 2013; 243:79-90. [PMID: 23295389 PMCID: PMC3629944 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2012] [Revised: 12/05/2012] [Accepted: 12/27/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder associated with disruption of maternally inherited UBE3A (ubiquitin protein ligase E3A) expression. At the present time, there is no effective treatment for AS. Mouse lines with loss of maternal Ube3a (Ube3a(m-/p+)) recapitulate multiple aspects of the clinical AS profile, including impaired motor coordination, learning deficits, and seizures. Thus, these genetic mouse models could serve as behavioral screens for preclinical efficacy testing, a critical component of drug discovery for AS intervention. However, the severity and consistency of abnormal phenotypes reported in Ube3a(m-/p+) mice can vary, dependent upon age and background strain, which is problematic for the detection of beneficial drug effects. As part of an ongoing AS drug discovery initiative, we characterized Ube3a(m-/p+) mice on either a 129S7/SvEvBrd-Hprt(b-m2) (129) or C57BL/6J (B6) background across a range of functional domains and ages to identify reproducible and sufficiently large phenotypes suitable for screening therapeutic compounds. The results from the study showed that Ube3a(m-/p+) mice have significant deficits in acquisition and reversal learning in the Morris water maze. The findings also demonstrated that Ube3a(m-/p+) mice exhibit motor impairment in a rotarod task, hypoactivity, reduced rearing and marble-burying, and deficient fear conditioning. Overall, these profiles of abnormal phenotypes can provide behavioral targets for evaluating effects of novel therapeutic strategies relevant to AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsien-Sung Huang
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Andrew J. Burns
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Randal J. Nonneman
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lorinda K. Baker
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Natallia V. Riddick
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Viktoriya D. Nikolova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Thorfinn T. Riday
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Koji Yashiro
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Benjamin D. Philpot
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sheryl S. Moy
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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25
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Millan MJ. An epigenetic framework for neurodevelopmental disorders: from pathogenesis to potential therapy. Neuropharmacology 2012; 68:2-82. [PMID: 23246909 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2012] [Revised: 11/11/2012] [Accepted: 11/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are characterized by aberrant and delayed early-life development of the brain, leading to deficits in language, cognition, motor behaviour and other functional domains, often accompanied by somatic symptoms. Environmental factors like perinatal infection, malnutrition and trauma can increase the risk of the heterogeneous, multifactorial and polygenic disorders, autism and schizophrenia. Conversely, discrete genetic anomalies are involved in Down, Rett and Fragile X syndromes, tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis, the less familiar Phelan-McDermid, Sotos, Kleefstra, Coffin-Lowry and "ATRX" syndromes, and the disorders of imprinting, Angelman and Prader-Willi syndromes. NDDs have been termed "synaptopathies" in reference to structural and functional disturbance of synaptic plasticity, several involve abnormal Ras-Kinase signalling ("rasopathies"), and many are characterized by disrupted cerebral connectivity and an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory transmission. However, at a different level of integration, NDDs are accompanied by aberrant "epigenetic" regulation of processes critical for normal and orderly development of the brain. Epigenetics refers to potentially-heritable (by mitosis and/or meiosis) mechanisms controlling gene expression without changes in DNA sequence. In certain NDDs, prototypical epigenetic processes of DNA methylation and covalent histone marking are impacted. Conversely, others involve anomalies in chromatin-modelling, mRNA splicing/editing, mRNA translation, ribosome biogenesis and/or the regulatory actions of small nucleolar RNAs and micro-RNAs. Since epigenetic mechanisms are modifiable, this raises the hope of novel therapy, though questions remain concerning efficacy and safety. The above issues are critically surveyed in this review, which advocates a broad-based epigenetic framework for understanding and ultimately treating a diverse assemblage of NDDs ("epigenopathies") lying at the interface of genetic, developmental and environmental processes. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Neurodevelopmental Disorders'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Millan
- Unit for Research and Discovery in Neuroscience, IDR Servier, 125 chemin de ronde, 78290 Croissy sur Seine, Paris, France.
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Chung L, Bey AL, Jiang YH. Synaptic plasticity in mouse models of autism spectrum disorders. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF PHARMACOLOGY 2012; 16:369-78. [PMID: 23269898 PMCID: PMC3526740 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2012.16.6.369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2012] [Revised: 10/27/2012] [Accepted: 10/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of synaptic plasticity together with behavioral and molecular studies have become a popular approach to model autism spectrum disorders in order to gain insight into the pathosphysiological mechanisms and to find therapeutic targets. Abnormalities of specific types of synaptic plasticity have been revealed in numerous genetically modified mice that have molecular construct validity to human autism spectrum disorders. Constrained by the feasibility of technique, the common regions analyzed in most studies are hippocampus and visual cortex. The relevance of the synaptic defects in these regions to the behavioral abnormalities of autistic like behaviors is still a subject of debate. Because the exact regions or circuits responsible for the core features of autistic behaviors in humans are still poorly understood, investigation using region-specific conditional mutant mice may help to provide the insight into the neuroanatomical basis of autism in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leeyup Chung
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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27
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Riday TT, Dankoski EC, Krouse MC, Fish EW, Walsh PL, Han JE, Hodge CW, Wightman RM, Philpot BD, Malanga CJ. Pathway-specific dopaminergic deficits in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome. J Clin Invest 2012; 122:4544-54. [PMID: 23143301 DOI: 10.1172/jci61888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by maternal deletions or mutations of the ubiquitin ligase E3A (UBE3A) allele and characterized by minimal verbal communication, seizures, and disorders of voluntary movement. Previous studies have suggested that abnormal dopamine neurotransmission may underlie some of these deficits, but no effective treatment currently exists for the core features of AS. A clinical trial of levodopa (L-DOPA) in AS is ongoing, although the underlying rationale for this treatment strategy has not yet been thoroughly examined in preclinical models. We found that AS model mice lacking maternal Ube3a (Ube3a(m-/p+) mice) exhibit behavioral deficits that correlated with abnormal dopamine signaling. These deficits were not due to loss of dopaminergic neurons or impaired dopamine synthesis. Unexpectedly, Ube3a(m-/p+) mice exhibited increased dopamine release in the mesolimbic pathway while also exhibiting a decrease in dopamine release in the nigrostriatal pathway, as measured with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. These findings demonstrate the complex effects of UBE3A loss on dopamine signaling in subcortical motor pathways that may inform ongoing clinical trials of L-DOPA therapy in patients with AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorfinn T Riday
- Curriculum in Neurobiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina North Carolina 27599, USA
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28
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Farook MF, DeCuypere M, Hyland K, Takumi T, LeDoux MS, Reiter LT. Altered serotonin, dopamine and norepinepherine levels in 15q duplication and Angelman syndrome mouse models. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43030. [PMID: 22916201 PMCID: PMC3420863 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2012] [Accepted: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood neurodevelopmental disorders like Angelman syndrome and autism may be the result of underlying defects in neuronal plasticity and ongoing problems with synaptic signaling. Some of these defects may be due to abnormal monoamine levels in different regions of the brain. Ube3a, a gene that causes Angelman syndrome (AS) when maternally deleted and is associated with autism when maternally duplicated has recently been shown to regulate monoamine synthesis in the Drosophila brain. Therefore, we examined monoamine levels in striatum, ventral midbrain, frontal cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex and hippocampus in Ube3a deficient and Ube3a duplication animals. We found that serotonin (5HT), a monoamine affected in autism, was elevated in the striatum and cortex of AS mice. Dopamine levels were almost uniformly elevated compared to control littermates in the striatum, midbrain and frontal cortex regardless of genotype in Ube3a deficient and Ube3a duplication animals. In the duplication 15q autism mouse model, paternal but not maternal duplication animals showed a decrease in 5HT levels when compared to their wild type littermates, in accordance with previously published data. However, maternal duplication animals show no significant changes in 5HT levels throughout the brain. These abnormal monoamine levels could be responsible for many of the behavioral abnormalities observed in both AS and autism, but further investigation is required to determine if any of these changes are purely dependent on Ube3a levels in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Febin Farook
- Department of Neurology, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Michael DeCuypere
- Department of Neurosurgery, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Keith Hyland
- Medical Neurogenetics, LCC, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Toru Takumi
- Hiroshima University, School of Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Mark S. LeDoux
- Department of Neurology, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Lawrence T. Reiter
- Department of Neurology, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
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29
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Bhattacharya A, Klann E. The molecular basis of cognitive deficits in pervasive developmental disorders. Learn Mem 2012; 19:434-43. [PMID: 22904374 DOI: 10.1101/lm.025007.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Persons with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) exhibit a range of cognitive deficits that hamper their quality of life, including difficulties involving communication, sociability, and perspective-taking. In recent years, a variety of studies in mice that model genetic syndromes with a high risk of PDD have provided insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with these disorders. What is less appreciated is how the molecular anomalies affect neuronal and circuit function to give rise to the cognitive deficits associated with PDD. In this review, we describe genetic mutations that cause PDD and discuss how they alter fundamental social and cognitive processes. We then describe efforts to correct cognitive impairments associated with these disorders and identify areas of further inquiry in the search for molecular targets for therapeutics for PDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Bhattacharya
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
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30
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Godavarthi SK, Dey P, Maheshwari M, Jana NR. Defective glucocorticoid hormone receptor signaling leads to increased stress and anxiety in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome. Hum Mol Genet 2012; 21:1824-34. [PMID: 22215440 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddr614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused due to deletions or loss-of-function mutations in maternally inherited UBE3A. Ube3a functions as an ubiquitin ligase as well as a transcriptional coactivator of steroid hormone receptors. However, the mechanisms by which maternal Ube3a deficiency gives rise to phenotypic features of AS are not clear. We report here that Ube3a regulates glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transactivation and GR signaling pathway is disrupted in Ube3a-maternal-deficient mice brain. The expression of several GR-dependent genes is down-regulated in multiple brain regions of Ube3a-maternal-deficient mice. AS mice show significantly higher level of blood corticosterone, selective loss of GR and reduced number of parvalbumin-positive inhibitory interneurons in their hippocampus that could ultimately lead to increased stress. These mice also exhibit increased anxiety-like behavior, which could be due to chronic stress. Altogether, our findings suggest that chronic stress due to altered GR signaling might lead to anxiety-like behavior in a mouse of model of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swetha K Godavarthi
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Gurgaon 122 050, India
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31
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Curley JP. Is there a genomically imprinted social brain? Bioessays 2011; 33:662-8. [PMID: 21805481 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201100060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2011] [Revised: 06/05/2011] [Accepted: 06/06/2011] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Imprinted genes (IGs) are expressed or silenced according to their parent-of-origin. These genes are known to play a role in regulating offspring growth, development and infant behaviors such as suckling and ultrasonic calls. In adults, neurally expressed IGs coordinate several behaviors including maternal care, sex, feeding, emotionality, and cognition. However, despite evidence from human psychiatric disorders and evolutionary theory that maternally and paternally expressed genes should also regulate social behavior, little empirical data from mouse research exists. This paper discusses data from a recent study (Garfield et al., 2011) that the IG Grb10 governs unique aspects of mouse social behavior and interprets the relevance of these findings for the future of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Curley
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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32
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Takumi T. The neurobiology of mouse models syntenic to human chromosome 15q. J Neurodev Disord 2011; 3:270-81. [PMID: 21789598 PMCID: PMC3261275 DOI: 10.1007/s11689-011-9088-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2010] [Accepted: 07/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in childhood as social behavioral abnormalities, such as abnormal social interaction, impaired communication, and restricted interest or behavior. Of the known causes of autism, duplication of human chromosome 15q11–q13 is the most frequently associated cytogenetic abnormality. Chromosome 15q11–q13 is also known to include imprinting genes. In terms of neuroscience, it contains interesting genes such as Necdin, Ube3a, and a cluster of GABAA subunits as well as huge clusters of non-coding RNAs (small nucleolar RNAs, snoRNAs). Phenotypic analyses of mice genetically or chromosomally engineered for each gene or their clusters on a region of mouse chromosome seven syntenic to human 15q11–q13 indicate that this region may be involved in social behavior, serotonin metabolism, and weight control. Further studies using these models will provide important clues to the pathophysiology of autism. This review overviews phenotypes of mouse models of genes in 15q11–q13 and their relationships to autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toru Takumi
- Laboratory of Integrative Bioscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami, Hiroshima, 734-8553, Japan,
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Mabb AM, Judson MC, Zylka MJ, Philpot BD. Angelman syndrome: insights into genomic imprinting and neurodevelopmental phenotypes. Trends Neurosci 2011; 34:293-303. [PMID: 21592595 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2011.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2011] [Revised: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 04/05/2011] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a severe genetic disorder caused by mutations or deletions of the maternally inherited UBE3A gene. UBE3A encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is expressed biallelically in most tissues but is maternally expressed in almost all neurons. In this review, we describe recent advances in understanding the expression and function of UBE3A in the brain and the etiology of AS. We highlight current AS model systems, epigenetic mechanisms of UBE3A regulation, and the identification of potential UBE3A substrates in the brain. In the process, we identify major gaps in our knowledge that, if bridged, could move us closer to identifying treatments for this debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Mabb
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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