Altered Expression Profile of IgLON Family of Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex of Schizophrenic Patients

Shared genetic architecture and causal relationship between frailty and schizophrenia

The complex relationship between frailty and schizophrenia has yet to be fully understood. This study aims to clarify their relationship by investigating their genetic links. We hypothesize a shared genetic architecture and a bidirectional causal relationship between the two conditions. Utilizing summary genetic data from European genome-wide association studies, we analyzed genetic associations through global and local correlations, shared genomic loci, tissue enrichments, and functional genes. Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization (MR) was employed to infer causality. Our findings show a positive genetic correlation between frailty and schizophrenia (LDSC: rg = 0.117, p = 6.686 × 10-7; HDL: rg = 0.101, p = 5.63 × 10-13) and local correlations in three genomic regions (chr9: 94167203-96671698, p = 2.21 × 10-6; chr11: 112459488-114257728, p = 1.01 × 10-5; and chr18: 77149991-78017158, p = 9.57 × 10-6). We identified 111 genomic loci associated with both conditions and demonstrated that genetic variants for frailty and schizophrenia share tissue enrichments and functional genes in brain. MR analysis suggests that frailty increases the likelihood of schizophrenia (OR: 1.763, 95% CI: 1.259-2.468, p = 0.001) and vice versa (β: 0.012, 95% CI: 0.006-0.018, p < 0.001). Our research supports the presence of a shared genetic basis and bidirectional causality between frailty and schizophrenia. These findings necessitate further investigation in diverse populations to confirm and expand on this genetic understanding.

New Evidence for the Role of the Blood-Brain Barrier and Inflammation in Stress-Associated Depression: A Gene-Environment Analysis Covering 19,296 Genes in 109,360 Humans

Mounting evidence supports the key role of the disrupted integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in stress- and inflammation-associated depression. We assumed that variations in genes regulating the expression and coding proteins constructing and maintaining this barrier, along with those involved in inflammation, have a predisposing or protecting role in the development of depressive symptoms after experiencing severe stress. To prove this, genome-by-environment (GxE) interaction analyses were conducted on 6.26 M SNPS covering 19,296 genes on PHQ9 depression in interaction with adult traumatic events scores in the UK Biobank (n = 109,360) in a hypothesis-free setup. Among the 63 genes that were significant in stress-connected depression, 17 were associated with BBB, 23 with inflammatory processes, and 4 with neuroticism. Compared to all genes, the enrichment of significant BBB-associated hits was 3.82, and those of inflammation-associated hits were 1.59. Besides some sex differences, CSMD1 and PTPRD, encoding proteins taking part in BBB integrity, were the most significant hits in both males and females. In conclusion, the identified risk genes and their encoded proteins could provide biomarkers or new drug targets to promote BBB integrity and thus prevent or decrease stress- and inflammation-associated depressive symptoms, and possibly infection, e.g., COVID-19-associated mental and neurological symptoms.

The IgLON family of cell adhesion molecules expressed in developing neural circuits ensure the proper functioning of the sensory system in mice

Deletions and malfunctions of the IgLON family of cell adhesion molecules are associated with anatomical, behavioral, and metabolic manifestations of neuropsychiatric disorders. We have previously shown that IgLON genes are expressed in sensory nuclei/pathways and that IgLON proteins modulate sensory processing. Here, we examined the expression of IgLON alternative promoter-specific isoforms during embryonic development and studied the sensory consequences of the anatomical changes when one of the IgLON genes, Negr1, is knocked out. At the embryonal age of E12.5 and E13.5, various IgLONs were distributed differentially and dynamically in the developing sensory areas within the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as in limbs and mammary glands. Sensory tests showed that Negr1 deficiency causes differences in vestibular function and temperature sensitivity in the knockout mice. Sex-specific differences were noted across olfaction, vestibular functioning, temperature regulation, and mechanical sensitivity. Our findings highlight the involvement of IgLON molecules during sensory circuit formation and suggest Negr1's critical role in somatosensory processing.

Shared Genetic Architecture Between Schizophrenia and Anorexia Nervosa: A Cross-trait Genome-Wide Analysis

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Schizophrenia (SCZ) and anorexia nervosa (AN) are 2 severe and highly heterogeneous disorders showing substantial familial co-aggregation. Genetic factors play a significant role in both disorders, but the shared genetic etiology between them is yet to be investigated.

STUDY DESIGN

Using summary statistics from recent large genome-wide association studies on SCZ (Ncases = 53 386) and AN (Ncases = 16 992), a 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted to explore the causal relationship between SCZ and AN. MiXeR was employed to quantify their polygenic overlap. A conditional/conjunctional false discovery rate (condFDR/conjFDR) framework was adopted to identify loci jointly associated with both disorders. Functional annotation and enrichment analyses were performed on the shared loci.

STUDY RESULTS

We observed a cross-trait genetic enrichment, a suggestive bidirectional causal relationship, and a considerable polygenic overlap (Dice coefficient = 62.2%) between SCZ and AN. The proportion of variants with concordant effect directions among all shared variants was 69.9%. Leveraging overlapping genetic associations, we identified 6 novel loci for AN and 33 novel loci for SCZ at condFDR <0.01. At conjFDR <0.05, we identified 10 loci jointly associated with both disorders, implicating multiple genes highly expressed in the cerebellum and pituitary and involved in synapse organization. Particularly, high expression of the shared genes was observed in the hippocampus in adolescence and orbitofrontal cortex during infancy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides novel insights into the relationship between SCZ and AN by revealing a shared genetic component and offers a window into their complex etiology.

Genetic forms of tauopathies: inherited causes and implications of Alzheimer's disease-like TAU pathology in primary and secondary tauopathies

Tauopathies are a heterogeneous group of neurologic diseases characterized by pathological axodendritic distribution, ectopic expression, and/or phosphorylation and aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein TAU, encoded by the gene MAPT. Neuronal dysfunction, dementia, and neurodegeneration are common features of these often detrimental diseases. A neurodegenerative disease is considered a primary tauopathy when MAPT mutations/haplotypes are its primary cause and/or TAU is the main pathological feature. In case TAU pathology is observed but superimposed by another pathological hallmark, the condition is classified as a secondary tauopathy. In some tauopathies (e.g. MAPT-associated frontotemporal dementia (FTD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD)) TAU is recognized as a significant pathogenic driver of the disease. In many secondary tauopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), TAU is suggested to contribute to the development of dementia, but in others (e.g. Niemann-Pick disease (NPC)) TAU may only be a bystander. The genetic and pathological mechanisms underlying TAU pathology are often not fully understood. In this review, the genetic predispositions and variants associated with both primary and secondary tauopathies are examined in detail, assessing evidence for the role of TAU in these conditions. We highlight less common genetic forms of tauopathies to increase awareness for these disorders and the involvement of TAU in their pathology. This approach not only contributes to a deeper understanding of these conditions but may also lay the groundwork for potential TAU-based therapeutic interventions for various tauopathies.

A cost-effective and efficient ex vivo, ex situ human whole brain perfusion protocol for immunohistochemistry

BACKGROUND

Chemical fixation of the brain can be executed through either the immersion method or the perfusion method. Perfusion fixation allows for better preservation of the brain tissue's ultrastructure, as it provides rapid and uniform delivery of the fixative to the tissue. Still, not all facilities have the expertise to perform perfusion fixation, with initial high cost and complexity of perfusion systems as the main factors limiting its widespread usage.

NEW METHOD

Here we present our low-cost approach of whole brain ex situ perfusion fixation to overcome the aforementioned limitations. Our self-made perfusion system, constructed utilising commercially accessible and affordable medical resources alongside laboratory and everyday items, demonstrates the capability to generate superior histological stainings of brain tissue. The perfused tissue can be stored prior to proceeding with IHC for at least one year.

RESULTS

Our method yielded high-quality results in histological stainings using both free-floating cryosections and paraffin-embedded tissue sections. The system is fully reusable and complies with the principles of sustainable management.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS

Our whole brain perfusion system has been assembled from simple components and is able to achieve a linear flow with a pressure of 70 mmHg corresponding to the perfusion pressure of the brain.

CONCLUSIONS

Our ex situ method can be especially useful in research settings where expensive perfusion systems are not affordable or in any field with high time pressure, making it suitable for the field of forensic medicine or pathology in general.

A single-nuclei paired multiomic analysis of the human midbrain reveals age- and Parkinson's disease-associated glial changes

Age is the primary risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), but how aging changes the expression and regulatory landscape of the brain remains unclear. Here we present a single-nuclei multiomic study profiling shared gene expression and chromatin accessibility of young, aged and PD postmortem midbrain samples. Combined multiomic analysis along a pseudopathogenesis trajectory reveals that all glial cell types are affected by age, but microglia and oligodendrocytes are further altered in PD. We present evidence for a disease-associated oligodendrocyte subtype and identify genes lost over the aging and disease process, including CARNS1, that may predispose healthy cells to develop a disease-associated phenotype. Surprisingly, we found that chromatin accessibility changed little over aging or PD within the same cell types. Peak-gene association patterns, however, are substantially altered during aging and PD, identifying cell-type-specific chromosomal loci that contain PD-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Our study suggests a previously undescribed role for oligodendrocytes in aging and PD.

The Role of IgLON Cell Adhesion Molecules in Neurodegenerative Diseases

In the brain, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are critical for neurite outgrowth, axonal fasciculation, neuronal survival and migration, and synapse formation and maintenance. Among CAMs, the IgLON family comprises five members: Opioid Binding Protein/Cell Adhesion Molecule Like (OPCML or OBCAM), Limbic System Associated Membrane Protein (LSAMP), neurotrimin (NTM), Neuronal Growth Regulator 1 (NEGR1), and IgLON5. IgLONs exhibit three N-terminal C2 immunoglobulin domains; several glycosylation sites; and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchoring to the membrane. Interactions as homo- or heterodimers in cis and in trans, as well as binding to other molecules, appear critical for their functions. Shedding by metalloproteases generates soluble factors interacting with cellular receptors and activating signal transduction. The aim of this review was to analyse the available data implicating a role for IgLONs in neuropsychiatric disorders. Starting from the identification of a pathological role for antibodies against IgLON5 in an autoimmune neurodegenerative disease with a poorly understood mechanism of action, accumulating evidence links IgLONs to neuropsychiatric disorders, albeit with still undefined mechanisms which will require future thorough investigations.

Circadian rhythm disruptions associated with opioid use disorder in the synaptic proteomes of the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens

Opioid craving and relapse vulnerability is associated with severe and persistent sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions. Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of circadian rhythms and opioid use disorder (OUD) may prove valuable for developing new treatments for opioid addiction. Previous work indicated molecular rhythm disruptions in the human brain associated with OUD, highlighting synaptic alterations in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc)-key brain regions involved in cognition and reward, and heavily implicated in the pathophysiology of OUD. To provide further insights into the synaptic alterations in OUD, we used mass-spectrometry based proteomics to deeply profile protein expression alterations in bulk tissue and synaptosome preparations from DLPFC and NAc of unaffected and OUD subjects. We identified 55 differentially expressed (DE) proteins in DLPFC homogenates, and 44 DE proteins in NAc homogenates, between unaffected and OUD subjects. In synaptosomes, we identified 161 and 56 DE proteins in DLPFC and NAc, respectively, of OUD subjects. By comparing homogenate and synaptosome protein expression, we identified proteins enriched specifically in synapses that were significantly altered in both DLPFC and NAc of OUD subjects. Across brain regions, synaptic protein alterations in OUD subjects were primarily identified in glutamate, GABA, and circadian rhythm signaling. Using time-of-death (TOD) analyses, where the TOD of each subject is used as a time-point across a 24- hour cycle, we were able to map circadian-related changes associated with OUD in synaptic proteomes related to vesicle-mediated transport and membrane trafficking in the NAc and platelet derived growth factor receptor beta signaling in DLPFC. Collectively, our findings lend further support for molecular rhythm disruptions in synaptic signaling in the human brain as a key factor in opioid addiction.

Identification of recurrent 3q13.31 chromosomal rearrangement indicates LSAMP as a tumor suppressor gene in neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a childhood malignancy of the sympathetic nervous system. NB is mainly driven by copy number alterations, such as MYCN amplification, large deletions of chromosome arm 11q and gain of chromosome arm 17q, which are all markers of high‑risk disease. Genes targeted by recurrent, smaller, focal alterations include CDKN2A/B, TERT, PTPRD and ATRX. Our previous study on relapsed NB detected recurrent structural alterations centered at limbic system‑associated membrane protein (LSAMP; HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee: 6705; chromosomal location 3q13.31), which is a gene frequently reported to be deleted or downregulated in other types of cancer. Notably, in cancer, LSAMP has been shown to have tumor‑suppressing functions. The present study performed an expanded investigation using whole genome sequencing of tumors from 35 patients, mainly with high‑risk NB. Focal duplications or deletions targeting LSAMP were detected in six cases (17%), whereas single nucleotide polymorphism‑microarray analysis of 16 NB cell lines detected segmental alterations at 3q13.31 in seven out of the 16 NB cell lines (44%). Furthermore, low expression of LSAMP in NB tumors was significantly associated with poor overall and event‑free survival. In vitro, knockdown of LSAMP in NB cell lines increased cell proliferation, whereas overexpression decreased proliferation and viability. These findings supported a tumor suppressor role for LSAMP in NB. However, the higher incidence of LSAMP aberrations in cell lines and in relapsed NB tumors suggested that these alterations were a late event predominantly in advanced NB with a poor prognosis, indicating a role of LSAMP in tumor progression rather than in tumor initiation. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated recurrent genomic aberrations of chromosomal region 3q13.31 that targeted the LSAMP gene, which encodes a membrane protein involved in cell adhesion, central nervous system development and neurite outgrowth. The frequent aberrations affecting LSAMP, together with functional evidence, suggested an anti‑proliferative role of LSAMP in NB.

Depression-Associated Negr1 Gene-Deficiency Induces Alterations in the Monoaminergic Neurotransmission Enhancing Time-Dependent Sensitization to Amphetamine in Male Mice

In GWAS studies, the neural adhesion molecule encoding the neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) gene has been consistently linked with both depression and obesity. Although the linkage between NEGR1 and depression is the strongest, evidence also suggests the involvement of NEGR1 in a wide spectrum of psychiatric conditions. Here we show the expression of NEGR1 both in tyrosine- and tryptophan hydroxylase-positive cells. Negr1-/- mice show a time-dependent increase in behavioral sensitization to amphetamine associated with increased dopamine release in both the dorsal and ventral striatum. Upregulation of transcripts encoding dopamine and serotonin transporters and higher levels of several monoamines and their metabolites was evident in distinct brain areas of Negr1-/- mice. Chronic (23 days) escitalopram-induced reduction of serotonin and dopamine turnover is enhanced in Negr1-/- mice, and escitalopram rescued reduced weight of hippocampi in Negr1-/- mice. The current study is the first to show alterations in the brain monoaminergic systems in Negr1-deficient mice, suggesting that monoaminergic neural circuits contribute to both depressive and obesity-related phenotypes linked to the human NEGR1 gene.

Shared genetics between classes of obesity and psychiatric disorders: A large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis

AIMS

Epidemiological studies demonstrate an association between classes of obesity and psychiatric disorders, although little is known about shared genetics and causality of association. Thus, we aimed to investigate shared genetics and causal link between different classes of obesity and psychiatric disorders.

METHODS

We used genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data range from 9725 to 500,199 sample sizes of European descent, conducted a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait association study to investigate genetic overlap between the classes of obesity and anorexia nervosa, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and Tourette syndrome. We conducted transcriptome-wide association study analysis (TWAS) to identified variants regulated gene expression in those related disorders. Finally, pathway enrichment analysis to identified major pathways.

RESULTS

In the combined analysis, we replicated 211 previously reported loci and discovered 58 novel independent loci that were associated with all three classes of obesity and related psychiatric disorders. Functional analysis revealed that the identified variants regulated gene expression in major tissues belonging to exocrine/endocrine, digestive, circulatory, adipose, digestive, respiratory, and nervous systems, such as DCC, NEGR1, INO80E. Mendelian randomization analyses suggested that there may be a two-way or one-way causal relationship between obesity and psychiatric disorders.

CONCLUSION

This large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis identified shared genetics and potential causal links between classes of obesity and psychiatric disorders (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, anorexia nervosa, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder). Such shared genetics suggests potential new biological functions in common among them.

Anti-IgLON5 disease: a novel topic beyond neuroimmunology

Anti-IgLON5 disease is a recently defined autoimmune disorder of the nervous system associated with autoantibodies against IgLON5. Given its broad clinical spectrum and extremely complex pathogenesis, as well as difficulties in its early diagnosis and treatment, anti-IgLON5 disease has become the subject of considerable research attention in the field of neuroimmunology. Anti-IgLON5 disease has characteristics of both autoimmunity and neurodegeneration due to the unique activity of the anti-IgLON5 antibody. Neuropathologic examination revealed the presence of a tauopathy preferentially affecting the hypothalamus and brainstem tegmentum, potentially broadening our understanding of tauopathies. In contrast to that seen with other autoimmune encephalitis-related antibodies, basic studies have demonstrated that IgLON5 antibody-induced neuronal damage and degeneration are irreversible, indicative of a potential link between autoimmunity and neurodegeneration in anti-IgLON5 disease. Herein, we comprehensively review and discuss basic and clinical studies relating to anti-IgLON5 disease to better understand this complicated disorder.

GPBAR1 preserves neurite and synapse of dopaminergic neurons via RAD21-OPCML signaling: Role in preventing Parkinson's disease in mouse model and human patients

Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibits systemic impacts on the metabolism, while metabolic alteration contributes to the risk and progression of PD. Bile acids (BA) metabolism disturbance has been linked to PD pathology. Membrane-bound G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1) is expressed in the brain and thought to be neuroprotective; however, the role of GPBAR1 in PD remains unknown. The current study aimed to explore the effect of GPBAR1 in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mice with dopaminergic (DA) neuron-specific Gpbar1 knockdown or central GPBAR1 activation. The underlying mechanisms were investigated using mesencephalic primary neurons analyzed. Our study found that GPBAR1 was reduced in the substantia nigra of PD patients and MPTP-PD mice, and its expression was negatively correlated with the severity of PD-related features. Genetic downregulation of Gpbar1 in mouse mesencephalic DA neurons exacerbated MPTP-induced neurobehavioral and neuropathological deficits, whereas activation of central GPBAR1 with INT-777 (INT) relieved it. Moreover, in vivo and in vitro experiments showed the neurite- and synapse-protective effects of GPBAR1 activation in PD model. Mechanistically, by promoting the nuclear localization of cohesin subunit RAD21, GPBAR1 activation increased opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule (Opcml) expression, thereby inhibiting neurite and synapse degeneration of DA neurons in PD model. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that GPBAR1 is implicated in PD pathogenesis and activation of central GPBAR1 with INT antagonizes neurodegenerative pathology in PD model. This neuroprotection, at least in part, is attributed to the RAD21-OPCML signaling in neurons. Hence, GPBAR1 may serve as a promising candidate target for PD treatment.

Genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of autism spectrum disorder

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to identify differentially methylated genes and related signaling pathways in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

METHODS

First, the DNA methylation profile in the brain samples (GSE131706 and GSE80017) and peripheral blood samples (GSE109905) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO) dataset, followed by identification of differentially methylated genes and functional analysis. Second, the GSE109905 data set was used to further validate the methylation state and test the ability to diagnose disease of identified differentially methylated genes. Third, expression measurement of selected differentially methylated genes was performed in whole blood from an independent sample. Finally, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of core differentially methylated genes was constructed.

RESULTS

Totally, 74 differentially methylated genes were identified in ASD, including 38 hypermethylated genes and 36 hypomethylated genes. 15 differentially methylated genes were further identified after validation in the GSE109905 data set. Among these, major histocompatibility complex (HLA)-DQA1 was involved in the molecular function of myosin heavy chain class II receptor activity; HLA-DRB5 was involved in the signaling pathways of cell adhesion molecules, Epstein-Barr virus infection and antigen processing and presentation. In the PPI analysis, the interaction pairs of HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DRB5, FMN2 and ACTR3, and CALCOCO2 and BAZ2B were identified. Interestingly, FMN2, BAZ2B, HLA-DRB5, CALCOCO2 and DUSP22 had a potential diagnostic value for patients with ASD. The expression result of four differentially methylated genes (HLA-DRB5, NTM, IL16 and COL5A3) in the independent sample was consistent with the integrated analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Identified differentially methylated genes and enriched signaling pathway could be associated with ASD.

Anti-IgLON5 antibodies cause progressive behavioral and neuropathological changes in mice

BACKGROUND

Anti-IgLON5 disease is a rare neurological disorder associated with autoantibodies against the neuronal cell adhesion protein, IgLON5. Cellular investigations with human IgLON5 antibodies have suggested an antibody-mediated pathogenesis, but whether human IgLON5 autoantibodies can induce disease symptoms in mice is yet to be shown. Moreover, the effects of anti-IgLON5 autoantibodies on neurons and the precise molecular mechanisms in vivo remain controversial.

METHODS

We investigated the effects of anti-IgLON5 antibodies in vivo and evaluated their long-term effects. We used two independent passive-transfer animal models and evaluated the effects of the antibodies on mouse behaviors at different time points from day 1 until day 30 after IgG infusion. A wide range of behaviors, including tests of locomotion, coordination, memory, anxiety, depression and social interactions were established. At termination, brain tissue was analyzed for human IgG, neuronal markers, glial markers, synaptic markers and RNA sequencing.

RESULTS

These experiments showed that patient's anti-IgLON5 antibodies induced progressive and irreversible behavioral deficits in vivo. Notably, cognitive abnormality was supported by impaired average gamma power in the CA1 during novel object recognition testing. Accompanying brain tissue studies showed progressive increase of brain-bound human antibodies in the hippocampus of anti-IgLON5 IgG-injected mice, which persisted 30 days after the injection of patient's antibodies was stopped. Microglial and astrocyte density was increased in the hippocampus of anti-IgLON5 IgG-injected mice at Day 30. Whole-cell voltage clamp recordings proved that anti-IgLON5 antibodies affected synaptic homeostasis. Further western blot investigation of synaptic proteins revealed a reduction of presynaptic (synaptophysin) and post-synaptic (PSD95 and NMDAR1) expression in anti-IgLON5 IgG-injected mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our findings indicated an irreversible effect of anti-IgLON5 antibodies and supported the pathogenicity of these antibodies in vivo.

Spatiotemporal Control of Neuronal Remodeling by Cell Adhesion Molecules: Insights From Drosophila

Developmental neuronal remodeling is required for shaping the precise connectivity of the mature nervous system. Remodeling involves pruning of exuberant neural connections, often followed by regrowth of adult-specific ones, as a strategy to refine neural circuits. Errors in remodeling are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. Despite its fundamental nature, our understanding of the mechanisms governing neuronal remodeling is far from complete. Specifically, how precise spatiotemporal control of remodeling and rewiring is achieved is largely unknown. In recent years, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), and other cell surface and secreted proteins of various families, have been implicated in processes of neurite pruning and wiring specificity during circuit reassembly. Here, we review some of the known as well as speculated roles of CAMs in these processes, highlighting recent advances in uncovering spatiotemporal aspects of regulation. Our focus is on the fruit fly Drosophila, which is emerging as a powerful model in the field, due to the extensive, well-characterized and stereotypic remodeling events occurring throughout its nervous system during metamorphosis, combined with the wide and constantly growing toolkit to identify CAM binding and resulting cellular interactions in vivo. We believe that its many advantages pose Drosophila as a leading candidate for future breakthroughs in the field of neuronal remodeling in general, and spatiotemporal control by CAMs specifically.

Anti-IgLON5 Disease - The Current State of Knowledge and Further Perspectives

Anti-IgLON5 disease is a relatively new neurological entity with the first cases reported in 2014. So far, less than 70 articles on this topic have been published. Due to its unspecific symptomatology, diverse progression, novelty and ambiguous character, it remains a difficulty for both clinical practitioners and scientists. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge concerning anti-IgLON5 disease; mechanisms underlying its cause, symptomatology, clinical progression, differential diagnosis and treatment, which could be helpful in clinical practice and future research.

Role of Bioactive Compounds in the Regulation of Mitochondrial Dysfunctions in Brain and Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles that participate in a wide range of metabolic processes, including energy production and biomolecule synthesis. The morphology and distribution of intracellular mitochondria change dynamically, reflecting a cell’s metabolic activity. Oxidative stress is defined as a mismatch between the body’s ability to neutralise and eliminate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS). A determination of mitochondria failure in increasing oxidative stress, as well as its implications in neurodegenerative illnesses and apoptosis, is a significant developmental process of focus in this review. The neuroprotective effects of bioactive compounds linked to neuronal regulation, as well as related neuronal development abnormalities, will be investigated. In conclusion, the study of secondary components and the use of mitochondrial features in the analysis of various neurodevelopmental diseases has enabled the development of a new class of mitochondrial-targeted pharmaceuticals capable of alleviating neurodegenerative disease states and enabling longevity and healthy ageing for the vast majority of people.

Dysregulation of schizophrenia-associated genes and genome-wide hypomethylation in neurons overexpressing DNMT1

Aim: To study the effects of DNMT1 overexpression on transcript levels of genes dysregulated in schizophrenia and on genome-wide methylation patterns. Materials & methods: Transcriptome and DNA methylome comparisons were made between R1 (wild-type) and Dnmt1^tet/tet mouse embryonic stem cells and neurons overexpressing DNMT1. Genes dysregulated in both Dnmt1^tet/tet cells and schizophrenia patients were studied further. Results & conclusions: About 50% of dysregulated genes in patients also showed altered transcript levels in Tet/Tet neurons in a DNA methylation-independent manner. These neurons unexpectedly showed genome-wide hypomethylation, increased transcript levels of Tet1 and Apobec 1-3 genes and increased activity and copy number of LINE-1 elements. The observed similarities between Tet/Tet neurons and schizophrenia brain samples reinforce DNMT1 overexpression as a risk factor.

Spatiotemporal expression of IgLON family members in the developing mouse nervous system

Differential expression of cell adhesion molecules in neuronal populations is one of the many mechanisms promoting the formation of functional neural circuits in the developing nervous system. The IgLON family consists of five cell surface immunoglobulin proteins that have been associated with various developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder. However, there is still limited and fragmented information about their patterns of expression in certain regions of the developing nervous system and how their expression contributes to their function. Utilizing an in situ hybridization approach, we have analyzed the spatiotemporal expression of all IgLON family members in the developing mouse brain, spinal cord, eye, olfactory epithelium, and vomeronasal organ. At one prenatal (E16) and two postnatal (P0 and P15) ages, we show that each IgLON displays distinct expression patterns in the olfactory system, cerebral cortex, midbrain, cerebellum, spinal cord, and eye, indicating that they likely contribute to the wiring of specific neuronal circuitry. These analyses will inform future functional studies aimed at identifying additional roles for these proteins in nervous system development.

Suicide Related Phenotypes in a Bipolar Sample: Genetic Underpinnings

Suicide in Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a relevant clinical concern. Genetics may shape the individual risk for suicide behavior in BD, together with known clinical factors. The lack of consistent replication in BD may be associated with its multigenetic component. In the present contribution we analyzed a sample of BD individuals (from STEP-BD database) to identify the genetic variants potentially associated with three different suicide-related phenotypes: (1) a feeling that the life was not worth living; (2) fantasies about committing a violent suicide; (3) previous attempted suicide. The sample under analysis included 1115 BD individuals. None of the SNPs reached genome-wide significance. However, a trend of association was evidenced for rs2767403, an intron variant of AOPEP gene, in association with phenotype #1 (p = 5.977 × 10⁻⁶). The molecular pathway analysis showed a significant enrichment in all the investigated phenotypes on pathways related to post synaptic signaling, neurotransmission and neurodevelopment. Further, NOTCH signaling or the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic signaling were found to be associated with specific suicide-related phenotypes. The present investigation contributes to the hypothesis that the genetic architecture of suicide behaviors in BD is related to alteration of entire pathways rather than single genes. In particular, our molecular pathway analysis points on some specific molecular events that could be the focus of further research in this field.

Interactions between maternal fluoxetine exposure, the maternal gut microbiome and fetal neurodevelopment in mice

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most widely used treatment by women experiencing depression during pregnancy. However, the effects of maternal SSRI use on early offspring development remain poorly understood. Recent studies suggest that SSRIs can modify the gut microbiota and interact directly with particular gut bacteria, raising the question of whether the gut microbiome impacts host responses to SSRIs. In this study, we investigate effects of prenatal SSRI exposure on fetal neurodevelopment and further evaluate potential modulatory influences of the maternal gut microbiome. We demonstrate that maternal treatment with the SSRI fluoxetine induces widespread alterations in the fetal brain transcriptome during midgestation, including increases in the expression of genes relevant to synaptic organization and neuronal signaling and decreases in the expression of genes related to DNA replication and mitosis. Notably, maternal fluoxetine treatment from E7.5 to E14.5 has no overt effects on the composition of the maternal gut microbiota. However, maternal pretreatment with antibiotics to deplete the gut microbiome substantially modifies transcriptional responses of the fetal brain to maternal fluoxetine treatment. In particular, maternal fluoxetine treatment elevates localized expression of the opioid binding protein/cell adhesion molecule like gene Opcml in the fetal thalamus and lateral ganglionic eminence, which is prevented by maternal antibiotic treatment. Together, these findings reveal that maternal fluoxetine treatment alters gene expression in the fetal brain through pathways that are impacted, at least in part, by the presence of the maternal gut microbiota.

Alternative Promoter Use Governs the Expression of IgLON Cell Adhesion Molecules in Histogenetic Fields of the Embryonic Mouse Brain

The members of the IgLON superfamily of cell adhesion molecules facilitate fundamental cellular communication during brain development, maintain functional brain circuitry, and are associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, autism, schizophrenia, and intellectual disabilities. Usage of alternative promoter-specific 1a and 1b mRNA isoforms in Lsamp, Opcml, Ntm, and the single promoter of Negr1 in the mouse and human brain has been previously described. To determine the precise spatiotemporal expression dynamics of Lsamp, Opcml, Ntm isoforms, and Negr1, in the developing brain, we generated isoform-specific RNA probes and carried out in situ hybridization in the developing (embryonic, E10.5, E11.5, 13.5, 17; postnatal, P0) and adult mouse brains. We show that promoter-specific expression of IgLONs is established early during pallial development (at E10.5), where it remains throughout its differentiation through adulthood. In the diencephalon, midbrain, and hindbrain, strong expression patterns are initiated a few days later and begin fading after birth, being only faintly expressed during adulthood. Thus, the expression of specific IgLONs in the developing brain may provide the means for regionally specific functionality as well as for specific regional vulnerabilities. The current study will therefore improve the understanding of how IgLON genes are implicated in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders.

The Downregulation of LSAMP Expression Promotes Lung Cancer Progression and Is Associated with Poor Survival Prognosis

Lung cancer has been a leading cause of cancer-related death for decades and therapeutic strategies for non-driver mutation lung cancer are still lacking. A novel approach for this type of lung cancer is an emergent requirement. Here we find that loss of LSAMP (Limbic System Associated Membrane Protein), compared to other IgLON family of proteins NTM (Neurotrimin) and OPCML (OPioid-binding Cell adhesion MoLecule), exhibits the strongest prognostic and therapeutic significance in predicting lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) progression. Lower expression of LSAMP and NTM, but not OPCML, were found in tumor parts compared with normal parts in six LUAD patients, and this was validated by public datasets, Oncomine^® and TCGA. The lower expression of LSAMP, but not NTM, was correlated to shorter overall survival. Two epigenetic regulations, including hypermethylation and miR-143-3p upregulation but not copy number variation, were associated with downregulation of LSAMP in LUAD patients. Pathway network analysis showed that NEGR1 (Neuronal Growth Regulator 1) was involved in the regulatory loop of LSAMP. The biologic functions by LSMAP knockdown in lung cancer cells revealed LSMAP was linked to cancer cell migration via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) but not proliferation nor stemness of LUAD. Our result showed for the first time that LSAMP acts as a potential tumor suppressor in regulating lung cancer. A further deep investigation into the role of LSAMP in lung cancer tumorigenesis would provide therapeutic hope for such affected patients.

Chronic Alcohol Use Induces Molecular Genetic Changes in the Dorsomedial Thalamus of People with Alcohol-Related Disorders

The Mediodorsal (MD) thalamus that represents a fundamental subcortical relay has been underrepresented in the studies focusing on the molecular changes in the brains of subjects with alcohol use disorder (AUD). In the current study, MD thalamic regions from AUD subjects and controls were analyzed with Affymetrix Clariom S human microarray. Long-term alcohol use induced a significant (FDR ≤ 0.05) upregulation of 2802 transcripts and downregulation of 1893 genes in the MD thalamus of AUD subjects. A significant upregulation of GRIN1 (glutamate receptor NMDA type 1) and FTO (alpha-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase) was confirmed in western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical staining revealed similar heterogenous distribution of GRIN1 in the thalamic nuclei of both AUD and control subjects. The most prevalent functional categories of upregulated genes were related to glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, cellular metabolism, and neurodevelopment. The prevalent gene cluster among down-regulated genes was immune system mediators. Forty-two differentially expressed genes, including FTO, ADH1B, DRD2, CADM2, TCF4, GCKR, DPP6, MAPT and CHRH1, have been shown to have strong associations (FDR p < 10-8) with AUD or/and alcohol use phenotypes in recent GWA studies. Despite a small number of subjects, we were able to detect robust molecular changes in the mediodorsal thalamus caused by alcohol emphasizing the importance of deeper brain structures such as diencephalon, in the development of AUD-related dysregulation of neurocircuitry.

Genome-wide association study of smoking trajectory and meta-analysis of smoking status in 842,000 individuals

Here we report a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) for longitudinal smoking phenotypes in 286,118 individuals from the Million Veteran Program (MVP) where we identified 18 loci for smoking trajectory of current versus never in European Americans, one locus in African Americans, and one in Hispanic Americans. Functional annotations prioritized several dozen genes where significant loci co-localized with either expression quantitative trait loci or chromatin interactions. The smoking trajectories were genetically correlated with 209 complex traits, for 33 of which smoking was either a causal or a consequential factor. We also performed European-ancestry meta-analyses for smoking status in the MVP and GWAS & Sequencing Consortium of Alcohol and Nicotine use (GSCAN) (Ntotal = 842,717) and identified 99 loci for smoking initiation and 13 loci for smoking cessation. Overall, this large GWAS of longitudinal smoking phenotype in multiple populations, combined with a meta-GWAS for smoking status, adds new insights into the genetic vulnerability for smoking behavior.

Environment and Gene Association With Obesity and Their Impact on Neurodegenerative and Neurodevelopmental Diseases

Obesity is a multifactorial disease in which environmental conditions and several genes play an important role in the development of this disease. Obesity is associated with neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington diseases) and with neurodevelopmental diseases (autism disorder, schizophrenia, and fragile X syndrome). Some of the environmental conditions that lead to obesity are physical activity, alcohol consumption, socioeconomic status, parent feeding behavior, and diet. Interestingly, some of these environmental conditions are shared with neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. Obesity impairs neurodevelopment abilities as memory and fine-motor skills. Moreover, maternal obesity affects the cognitive function and mental health of the offspring. The common biological mechanisms involved in obesity and neurodegenerative/neurodevelopmental diseases are insulin resistance, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative damage, among others, leading to impaired brain development or cell death. Obesogenic environmental conditions are not the only factors that influence neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. In fact, several genes implicated in the leptin-melanocortin pathway (LEP, LEPR, POMC, BDNF, MC4R, PCSK1, SIM1, BDNF, TrkB, etc.) are associated with obesity and neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. Moreover, in the last decades, the discovery of new genes associated with obesity (FTO, NRXN3, NPC1, NEGR1, MTCH2, GNPDA2, among others) and with neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental diseases (APOE, CD38, SIRT1, TNFα, PAI-1, TREM2, SYT4, FMR1, TET3, among others) had opened new pathways to comprehend the common mechanisms involved in these diseases. In conclusion, the obesogenic environmental conditions, the genes, and the interaction gene-environment would lead to a better understanding of the etiology of these diseases.

Expression and impact of Lsamp neural adhesion molecule in the serotonergic neurotransmission system

Limbic system associated membrane protein (Lsamp) is a neural adhesion protein which has been recently found to be differentially expressed between serotonergic neuron subtypes. We have previously shown elevated serotonin (5-HT) turnover rate in Lsamp-deficient mice. The purpose of the current study was to elucidate the role of Lsamp in serotonergic neurotransmission. Chronic (18 days) administration of serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) escitalopram (10 mg/kg) significantly increased general activity in wild-type mice in the open field and protected exploration in Lsamp^-/- mice in the elevated-plus maze. An important psychopathology-related endophenotype, elevated 5-HT turnover in the brain of Lsamp-deficient mice, was reproduced in the saline group. Escitalopram restored the elevated 5-HT turnover of Lsamp-deficient mice to a level comparable with their wild-type littermates, suggesting that high 5-HT turnover in mutants is mediated by the increased activity of serotonin transporter (SERT protein encoded by Slc6a4 gene). The baseline level of Slc6a4 transcript was not changed in Lsamp-deficient mice, however, our immunohistochemical analysis showed partial co-expression of Lsamp with both SERT and Tph2 proteins in raphe. Overactivity of SERT in Lsamp^-/- mice is further supported by significant elevation of Maoa transcript and increase of DOPAC, another Mao A product, specifically in the raphe. Again, elevation of DOPAC was reduced to the level of wild-type by chronic SSRI treatment. The activity of Lsamp gene promoters varied in 5-HT producing nuclei: both Lsamp 1a and 1b promoters were active in the dorsal raphe; most of the expression in the median raphe was from 1b promoter, whereas Lsamp 1a promoter was almost exclusively active in the caudal subgroup of raphe nuclei. We suggest that Lsamp may have an impact on the integrity of serotonergic synapses, which is possibly the neurochemical basis of the anxiety- and sociability-related phenotype in Lsamp-deficient mice.

Identifying novel associations in GWAS by hierarchical Bayesian latent variable detection of differentially misclassified phenotypes

BACKGROUND

Heterogeneity in the definition and measurement of complex diseases in Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) may lead to misdiagnoses and misclassification errors that can significantly impact discovery of disease loci. While well appreciated, almost all analyses of GWAS data consider reported disease phenotype values as is without accounting for potential misclassification.

RESULTS

Here, we introduce Phenotype Latent variable Extraction of disease misdiagnosis (PheLEx), a GWAS analysis framework that learns and corrects misclassified phenotypes using structured genotype associations within a dataset. PheLEx consists of a hierarchical Bayesian latent variable model, where inference of differential misclassification is accomplished using filtered genotypes while implementing a full mixed model to account for population structure and genetic relatedness in study populations. Through simulations, we show that the PheLEx framework dramatically improves recovery of the correct disease state when considering realistic allele effect sizes compared to existing methodologies designed for Bayesian recovery of disease phenotypes. We also demonstrate the potential of PheLEx for extracting new potential loci from existing GWAS data by analyzing bipolar disorder and epilepsy phenotypes available from the UK Biobank. From the PheLEx analysis of these data, we identified new candidate disease loci not previously reported for these datasets that have value for supplemental hypothesis generation.

CONCLUSION

PheLEx shows promise in reanalyzing GWAS datasets to provide supplemental candidate loci that are ignored by traditional GWAS analysis methodologies.

The Role of Genetic Variation of BMI, Body Composition, and Fat Distribution for Mental Traits and Disorders: A Look-Up and Mendelian Randomization Study

Anthropometric traits and mental disorders or traits are known to be associated clinically and to show genetic overlap. We aimed to identify genetic variants with relevance for mental disorders/traits and either (i) body mass index (or obesity), (ii) body composition, (and/or) (iii) body fat distribution. We performed a look-up analysis of 1,005 genome-wide significant SNPs for BMI, body composition, and body fat distribution in 15 mental disorders/traits. We identified 40 independent loci with one or more SNPs fulfilling our threshold significance criterion (P < 4.98 × 10-5) for the mental phenotypes. The majority of loci was associated with schizophrenia, educational attainment, and/or intelligence. Fewer associations were found for bipolar disorder, neuroticism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, major depressive disorder, depressive symptoms, and well-being. Unique associations with measures of body fat distribution adjusted for BMI were identified at five loci only. To investigate the potential causality between body fat distribution and schizophrenia, we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses. We found no causal effect of body fat distribution on schizophrenia and vice versa. In conclusion, we identified 40 loci which may contribute to genetic overlaps between mental disorders/traits and BMI and/or shape related phenotypes. The majority of loci identified for body composition overlapped with BMI loci, thus suggesting pleiotropic effects.

From Bound Cells Comes a Sound Mind: The Role of Neuronal Growth Regulator 1 in Psychiatric Disorders

Cell-to-cell adhesion is important for maintenance of brain structure and function. Abnormal neuronal cell adhesion and loss of its connectivity are considered a main cause of psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD). Various cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are involved in neuronal cell adhesions and thereby affect brain functions such as learning and memory, cognitive functions, and psychiatric functions. Compared with other CAMs, neuronal growth regulator 1 (Negr1) has a distinct functioning mechanism in terms of its cross-talk with cytokine receptor signaling. Negr1 is a member of the immunoglobulin LON (IgLON) family of proteins and is involved in neuronal outgrowth, dendritic arborization, and synapse formation. In humans, Negr1 is a risk gene for obesity based on a genome-wide association study. More recently, accumulating evidence supports that it also plays a critical role in psychiatric disorders. In this review, we discuss the recent findings on the role of Negr1 in MDD, focusing on its regulatory mechanism. We also provide evidence of putative involvement of Negr1 in other psychiatric disorders based on the novel behavioral phenotypes of Negr1 knockout mice.

Integrating genome-wide association study and methylation functional annotation data identified candidate genes and pathways for schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe mental disorder. Both environmental and genetic factors contribute to the development of SCZ. The estimated heritability of SCZ is about 80%. Previous genetic studies of SCZ mainly focused on the genetic variations associated the risk of SCZ. Limited efforts are paid to explore the roles and biological mechanism of nuclear acid methylation implicated in the pathogenesis of SCZ.

METHODS

A two-stage integrative analysis of SCZ GWAS and nuclear acid methylation functional annotation data (including meQTLs and m6A) was performed in this study. First, the discovery GWAS of SCZ was aligned with genomic meQTLs and m6A annotation data to identify the candidate genes associated with SCZ. Second, another independent replication GWAS dataset of SCZ was applied to validate the discovery results. Furthermore, the functional relevance of identified candidate genes with SCZ were validated by the mRNA expression profiling of SCZ brain tissues. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis of identified candidate genes was performed by the DAVID tool.

RESULTS

The two-stage integrative analysis detected 106 meQTLs related candidate genes for SCZ. After comparing with the differentially expressed genes in SCZ brain tissues, 49 overlapped genes were identified for meQTLs, such as ZSCAN12, BTN3A2 and HLA-DQA1. Besides, for meQTLs, 29 SCZ associated pathways and 56 SCZ associated GO terms were detected, such as cell adhesion molecules and asthma. For m6A, 25 candidate genes were detected by the two-stage integrative analysis for SCZ, such as ZSCAN12, HLA-DQA1 and SNX19. Furthermore, 17 of the 25 genes were detected in the mRNA expression profiling of SCZ brain tissues.

CONCLUSION

This study identified multiple SCZ associated genes and pathways, supporting the implication of nuclear acid methylation in the pathogenesis of SCZ.

Understanding the genetics of neuropsychiatric disorders: the potential role of genomic regulatory blocks

Recent genome-wide association studies have identified numerous loci associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. The majority of these are in non-coding regions, and are commonly assigned to the nearest gene along the genome. However, this approach neglects the three-dimensional organisation of the genome, and the fact that the genome contains arrays of extremely conserved non-coding elements termed genomic regulatory blocks (GRBs), which can be utilized to detect genes under long-range developmental regulation. Here we review a GRB-based approach to assign loci in non-coding regions to potential target genes, and apply it to reanalyse the results of one of the largest schizophrenia GWAS (SWG PGC, 2014). We further apply this approach to GWAS data from two related neuropsychiatric disorders-autism spectrum disorder and bipolar disorder-to show that it is applicable to developmental disorders in general. We find that disease-associated SNPs are overrepresented in GRBs and that the GRB model is a powerful tool for linking these SNPs to their correct target genes under long-range regulation. Our analysis identifies novel genes not previously implicated in schizophrenia and corroborates a number of predicted targets from the original study. The results are available as an online resource in which the genomic context and the strength of enhancer-promoter associations can be browsed for each schizophrenia-associated SNP.

Anti-IgLON5 Disease: A Case With 11-Year Clinical Course and Review of the Literature

Background: Anti-IgLON5 disease is a novel disorder with a complex interplay between inflammation and neurodegeneration. Patients develop antibodies against IgLON5 but also deposition of neuronal tau protein. Symptoms often have an insidious onset, slow progression and mimic other neurological disorders. Here we report a case with severely prolonged 11-year disease course and provide a review of current reported cases with focus on presentation, work-up, treatment, and outcome. Method: All reported cases of anti-IgLON5 disease were evaluated. Cases reported twice (in case series and as single case reports), were carefully excluded. Results: Most patients display a characteristic sleep disorder with severe insomnia, non rapid eye movement (NREM) parasomnia, with finalistic movements and sleep disordered breathing (stridor and obstructive sleep apnea). Other symptoms are bulbar involvement, gait instability, movement disorders, oculomotor abnormalities, dysautonomia, and peripheral symptoms. Antibodies are present in both serum and CSF and there is a strong correlation with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1^*10:01 and HLA-DQB1^*05:01. Neuropathological examination reveals neurodegeneration with neuronal tau deposits in regions that correlate with the clinical presentation (e.g., predominantly hypothalamus and tegmentum of the brain stem). Majority of cases respond partially to immunotherapy. Cases, who received no treatment or treatment with IV corticosteroids alone, had a higher mortality than cases treated with more potent immunotherapy. Conclusion: The clinical spectrum of Anti-IgLON5 disease continues to expand. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiology, therapeutic strategies and outcome in this novel disorder. Aggressive immunotherapy seems to increase survival.

Placental NEGR1 DNA methylation is associated with BMI and neurodevelopment in preschool-age children

Studies have linked maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and hyperglycaemia with metabolic and neurodevelopmental complications in childhood. DNA methylation (DNAm) might enable foetal adaptations to environmental adversities through important gene loci. NEGR1 is involved in both energy balance and behaviour regulation. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between placental DNAm at the NEGR1 gene locus and childhood anthropometric and neurodevelopmental profiles in preschoolers. We analysed 276 mother-child dyads from Gen3G, a prospective birth cohort from Sherbrooke. At 3yo (40.4 ± 3.0 months), we measured body mass index (BMI) and the mothers reported on offspring neurobehavior using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). We quantified DNAm levels at 30 CpGs at the NEGR1 locus using the MethylationEPIC Array in placental biopsies. DNAm at four CpGs located before NEGR1 second exon predicted child's BMI z-score (cg26153364: β=-0.16 ± 0.04; p=0.008, cg23166710: β=0.14 ± 0.08; p=0.03) and SDQ total score (cg04932878: β=0.22 ± 1.0; p= 3.0x10^-4, cg16525738: β=-0.14 ± 0.18; p=0.01, cg23166710: β=-0.13 ± 0.36; p= 0.04), explaining 4.2% (p=0.003) and 7.3% (p= 1.3 x 10^-4) of BMI-z and SDQ variances. cg23166710 was associated with both childhood phenotypes and correlated with NEGR1 placental expression (r=-0.22, p=0.04), suggesting its possible functional role. Together, maternal metabolic characteristics during pregnancy with NEGR1 DNAm levels explained 7.4% (p=4.2 x 10^-4) of BMI-z and 14.2% (p=2.8 x 10^-7) of SDQ variance at 3yo. This longitudinal study suggests that placental NEGR1 DNAm is associated with adiposity and neurodevelopment in preschool children and highlights its potential role in their comorbidity.

NEGR1 and FGFR2 cooperatively regulate cortical development and core behaviours related to autism disorders in mice

Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental conditions with diverse aetiologies, all characterized by common core symptoms such as impaired social skills and communication, as well as repetitive behaviour. Cell adhesion molecules, receptor tyrosine kinases and associated downstream signalling have been strongly implicated in both neurodevelopment and autism spectrum disorders. We found that downregulation of the cell adhesion molecule NEGR1 or the receptor tyrosine kinase fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) similarly affects neuronal migration and spine density during mouse cortical development in vivo and results in impaired core behaviours related to autism spectrum disorders. Mechanistically, NEGR1 physically interacts with FGFR2 and modulates FGFR2-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (AKT) signalling by decreasing FGFR2 degradation from the plasma membrane. Accordingly, FGFR2 overexpression rescues all defects due to Negr1 knockdown in vivo. Negr1 knockout mice present phenotypes similar to Negr1-downregulated animals. These data indicate that NEGR1 and FGFR2 cooperatively regulate cortical development and suggest a role for defective NEGR1-FGFR2 complex and convergent downstream ERK and AKT signalling in autism spectrum disorders.

A Proteomic Screen of Neuronal Cell-Surface Molecules Reveals IgLONs as Structurally Conserved Interaction Modules at the Synapse

In the developing brain, cell-surface proteins play crucial roles, but their protein-protein interaction network remains largely unknown. A proteomic screen identified 200 interactions, 89 of which were not previously published. Among these interactions, we find that the IgLONs, a family of five cell-surface neuronal proteins implicated in various human disorders, interact as homo- and heterodimers. We reveal their interaction patterns and report the dimeric crystal structures of Neurotrimin (NTRI), IgLON5, and the neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1)/IgLON5 complex. We show that IgLONs maintain an extended conformation and that their dimerization occurs through the first Ig domain of each monomer and is Ca²⁺ independent. Cell aggregation shows that NTRI and NEGR1 homo- and heterodimerize in trans. Taken together, we report 89 unpublished cell-surface ligand-receptor pairs and describe structural models of trans interactions of IgLONs, showing that their structures are compatible with a model of interaction across the synaptic cleft.

Neural cell adhesion molecule Negr1 deficiency in mouse results in structural brain endophenotypes and behavioral deviations related to psychiatric disorders

Neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) belongs to the immunoglobulin (IgLON) superfamily of cell adhesion molecules involved in cortical layering. Recent functional and genomic studies implicate the role of NEGR1 in a wide spectrum of psychiatric disorders, such as major depression, schizophrenia and autism. Here, we investigated the impact of Negr1 deficiency on brain morphology, neuronal properties and social behavior of mice. In situ hybridization shows Negr1 expression in the brain nuclei which are central modulators of cortical-subcortical connectivity such as the island of Calleja and the reticular nucleus of thalamus. Brain morphological analysis revealed neuroanatomical abnormalities in Negr1^−/− mice, including enlargement of ventricles and decrease in the volume of the whole brain, corpus callosum, globus pallidus and hippocampus. Furthermore, decreased number of parvalbumin-positive inhibitory interneurons was evident in Negr1^−/− hippocampi. Behaviorally, Negr1^−/− mice displayed hyperactivity in social interactions and impairments in social hierarchy. Finally, Negr1 deficiency resulted in disrupted neurite sprouting during neuritogenesis. Our results provide evidence that NEGR1 is required for balancing the ratio of excitatory/inhibitory neurons and proper formation of brain structures, which is prerequisite for adaptive behavioral profiles. Therefore, Negr1^−/− mice have a high potential to provide new insights into the neural mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Molecular Evolution and Functional Divergence of the IgLON Family

IgLON family is a subgroup of cell adhesion molecules which is known to have diverse roles in neuronal development. IgLONs are characterized by possessing 3 Ig-like C2 domains, which play a part in mediating various cellular interactions. Recently, IgLONs have been shown to be expressed at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, our understanding of the genetic divergence patterns and evolutionary rates of these proteins in relation to their functions, in general, and at the BBB, in particular, remains inadequate. In this study, 12 species were explored to shed more light on the phylogenetic origins, structure, functional specificity, and divergence of this family. A total of 40 IgLON genes were identified from vertebrates and invertebrates. The absence of IgLON family genes in Hydra vulgaris and Nematostella vectensis but not in Drosophila melanogaster suggests that this family appeared during the time of divergence of Arthropoda 455 Mya. In general, IgLON genes have been subject to strong positive selection in vertebrates. Our study, based on IgLONs’ structural similarity, suggests that they may play a role in the evolutionary changes in the brain anatomy towards complexity including regulating neural growth and BBB permeability. IgLONs’ functions seem to be performed through complex interactions on the level of motifs as well as single residues. We identified several IgLON motifs that could be influencing cellular migration and proliferation as well as BBB integrity through interactions with SH3 or integrin. Our motif analysis also revealed that NEGR1 might be involved in MAPK pathway as a form of a signal transmitting receptor through its motif (KKVRVVVNF). We found several residues that were both positively selected and with highly functional specificity. We also located functional divergent residues that could act as drug targets to regulate BBB permeability. Furthermore, we identified several putative metalloproteinase cleavage sites that support the ectodomain shedding hypothesis of the IgLONs. In conclusion, our results present a bridge between IgLONs’ molecular evolution and their functions.

The combined impact of IgLON family proteins Lsamp and Neurotrimin on developing neurons and behavioral profiles in mouse

Cell surface neural adhesion proteins are critical components in the complex orchestration of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and neuritogenesis essential for proper brain construction and behavior. We focused on the impact of two plasticity-associated IgLON family neural adhesion molecules, Neurotrimin (Ntm) and Limbic system associated membrane protein (Lsamp), on mouse behavior and its underlying neural development. Phenotyping neurons derived from the hippocampi of Lsamp^-/-, Ntm^-/- and Lsamp^-/-Ntm^-/- mice was performed in parallel with behavioral testing. While the anatomy of mutant brains revealed no gross changes, the Ntm^-/- hippocampal neurons exhibited premature sprouting of neurites and manifested accelerated neurite elongation and branching. We propose that Ntm exerts an inhibitory impact on neurite outgrowth, whereas Lsamp appears to be an enhancer of the said process as premature neuritogenesis in Ntm^-/- neurons is apparent only in the presence of Lsamp. We also show interplay between Lsamp and Ntm in regulating tissue homeostasis: the impact of Ntm on cellular proliferation was dependent on Lsamp, and Lsamp appeared to be a positive regulator of apoptosis in the presence of Ntm. Behavioral phenotyping indicated test-specific interactions between Lsamp and Ntm. The phenotypes of single mutant lines, such as reduced swimming speed in Morris water maze and increased activity in the elevated plus maze, were magnified in Lsamp^-/-Ntm^-/- mice. Altogether, evidence both from behavioral experiments and cultured hippocampal cells show combined and differential interactions between Ntm and Lsamp in the formation of hippocampal circuits and behavioral profiles. We demonstrate that mutual interactions between IgLON molecules regulate the initiation of neurite sprouting at very early ages, and even cell-autonomously, independent of their regulation of cell-cell adhesion.