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Chhabra S, Nardi L, Leukel P, Sommer CJ, Schmeisser MJ. Striatal increase of dopamine receptor 2 density in idiopathic and syndromic mouse models of autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1110525. [PMID: 36970280 PMCID: PMC10030619 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1110525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises a wide range of neurodevelopmental phenotypes united by impaired social interaction and repetitive behavior. Environmental and genetic factors are associated with the pathogenesis of ASD, while other cases are classified as idiopathic. The dopaminergic system has a profound impact in the modulation of motor and reward-motivated behaviors, and defects in dopaminergic circuits are implicated in ASD. In our study, we compare three well-established mouse models of ASD, one idiopathic, the BTBR strain, and two syndromic, Fmr1 and Shank3 mutants. In these models, and in humans with ASD, alterations in dopaminergic metabolism and neurotransmission were highlighted. Still, accurate knowledge about the distribution of dopamine receptor densities in the basal ganglia is lacking. Using receptor autoradiography, we describe the neuroanatomical distribution of D1 and D2 receptors in dorsal and ventral striatum at late infancy and adulthood in the above-mentioned models. We show that D1 receptor binding density is different among the models irrespective of the region. A significant convergence in increased D2 receptor binding density in the ventral striatum at adulthood becomes apparent in BTBR and Shank3 lines, and a similar trend was observed in the Fmr1 line. Altogether, our results confirm the involvement of the dopaminergic system, showing defined alterations in dopamine receptor binding density in three well-established ASD lines, which may provide a plausible explanation to some of the prevalent traits of ASD. Moreover, our study provides a neuroanatomical framework to explain the utilization of D2-acting drugs such as Risperidone and Aripiprazole in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuti Chhabra
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Leonardo Nardi
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Petra Leukel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Clemens J. Sommer
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael J. Schmeisser
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- *Correspondence: Michael J. Schmeisser,
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Tempio A, Boulksibat A, Bardoni B, Delhaye S. Fragile X Syndrome as an interneuronopathy: a lesson for future studies and treatments. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1171895. [PMID: 37188005 PMCID: PMC10176609 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1171895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability (ID) and a primary genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). FXS arises from the silencing of the FMR1 gene causing the lack of translation of its encoded protein, the Fragile X Messenger RibonucleoProtein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein involved in translational control and in RNA transport along dendrites. Although a large effort during the last 20 years has been made to investigate the cellular roles of FMRP, no effective and specific therapeutic intervention is available to treat FXS. Many studies revealed a role for FMRP in shaping sensory circuits during developmental critical periods to affect proper neurodevelopment. Dendritic spine stability, branching and density abnormalities are part of the developmental delay observed in various FXS brain areas. In particular, cortical neuronal networks in FXS are hyper-responsive and hyperexcitable, making these circuits highly synchronous. Overall, these data suggest that the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance in FXS neuronal circuitry is altered. However, not much is known about how interneuron populations contribute to the unbalanced E/I ratio in FXS even if their abnormal functioning has an impact on the behavioral deficits of patients and animal models affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. We revise here the key literature concerning the role of interneurons in FXS not only with the purpose to better understand the pathophysiology of this disorder, but also to explore new possible therapeutic applications to treat FXS and other forms of ASD or ID. Indeed, for instance, the re-introduction of functional interneurons in the diseased brains has been proposed as a promising therapeutic approach for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Tempio
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France
- Alessandra Tempio,
| | - Asma Boulksibat
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France
| | - Barbara Bardoni
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France
- Inserm, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France
- *Correspondence: Barbara Bardoni,
| | - Sébastien Delhaye
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France
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D’Elia A, Schiavi S, Manduca A, Rava A, Buzzelli V, Ascone F, Orsini T, Putti S, Soluri A, Galli F, Soluri A, Mattei M, Cicconi R, Massari R, Trezza V. FMR1 deletion in rats induces hyperactivity with no changes in striatal dopamine transporter availability. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22535. [PMID: 36581671 PMCID: PMC9800572 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26986-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder emerging in early life characterized by impairments in social interaction, poor verbal and non-verbal communication, and repetitive patterns of behaviors. Among the best-known genetic risk factors for ASD, there are mutations causing the loss of the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMRP) leading to Fragile X syndrome (FXS), a common form of inherited intellectual disability and the leading monogenic cause of ASD. Being a pivotal regulator of motor activity, motivation, attention, and reward processing, dopaminergic neurotransmission has a key role in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including ASD. Fmr1 Δexon 8 rats have been validated as a genetic model of ASD based on FMR1 deletion, and they are also a rat model of FXS. Here, we performed behavioral, biochemical and in vivo SPECT neuroimaging experiments to investigate whether Fmr1 Δexon 8 rats display ASD-like repetitive behaviors associated with changes in striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) availability assessed through in vivo SPECT neuroimaging. At the behavioral level, Fmr1 Δexon 8 rats displayed hyperactivity in the open field test in the absence of repetitive behaviors in the hole board test. However, these behavioral alterations were not associated with changes in striatal DAT availability as assessed by non-invasive in vivo SPECT and Western blot analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annunziata D’Elia
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), c/o International Campus “A. Buzzati-Traverso”, Via E. Ramarini, 32, 00015 Monterotondo Scalo (Rome), Italy ,grid.8509.40000000121622106Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Schiavi
- grid.8509.40000000121622106Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonia Manduca
- grid.8509.40000000121622106Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy ,grid.417778.a0000 0001 0692 3437Neuroendocrinology, Metabolism and Neuropharmacology Unit, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rava
- grid.8509.40000000121622106Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Buzzelli
- grid.8509.40000000121622106Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Ascone
- grid.8509.40000000121622106Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Orsini
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), c/o International Campus “A. Buzzati-Traverso”, Via E. Ramarini, 32, 00015 Monterotondo Scalo (Rome), Italy
| | - Sabrina Putti
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), c/o International Campus “A. Buzzati-Traverso”, Via E. Ramarini, 32, 00015 Monterotondo Scalo (Rome), Italy
| | - Andrea Soluri
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), c/o International Campus “A. Buzzati-Traverso”, Via E. Ramarini, 32, 00015 Monterotondo Scalo (Rome), Italy ,grid.9657.d0000 0004 1757 5329Unit of Molecular Neurosciences, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Galli
- grid.7841.aNuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Soluri
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), c/o International Campus “A. Buzzati-Traverso”, Via E. Ramarini, 32, 00015 Monterotondo Scalo (Rome), Italy
| | - Maurizio Mattei
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Biology and Centro di Servizi Interdipartimentale-Stazione per la Tecnologia Animale, “Tor Vergata” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosella Cicconi
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Biology and Centro di Servizi Interdipartimentale-Stazione per la Tecnologia Animale, “Tor Vergata” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Massari
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), c/o International Campus “A. Buzzati-Traverso”, Via E. Ramarini, 32, 00015 Monterotondo Scalo (Rome), Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- grid.8509.40000000121622106Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
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D’Incal C, Broos J, Torfs T, Kooy RF, Vanden Berghe W. Towards Kinase Inhibitor Therapies for Fragile X Syndrome: Tweaking Twists in the Autism Spectrum Kinase Signaling Network. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081325. [PMID: 35456004 PMCID: PMC9029738 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Absence of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) causes autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability, commonly referred to as the Fragile X syndrome. FMRP is a negative regulator of protein translation and is essential for neuronal development and synapse formation. FMRP is a target for several post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation and methylation, which tightly regulate its cellular functions. Studies have indicated the involvement of FMRP in a multitude of cellular pathways, and an absence of FMRP was shown to affect several neurotransmitter receptors, for example, the GABA receptor and intracellular signaling molecules such as Akt, ERK, mTOR, and GSK3. Interestingly, many of these molecules function as protein kinases or phosphatases and thus are potentially amendable by pharmacological treatment. Several treatments acting on these kinase-phosphatase systems have been shown to be successful in preclinical models; however, they have failed to convincingly show any improvements in clinical trials. In this review, we highlight the different protein kinase and phosphatase studies that have been performed in the Fragile X syndrome. In our opinion, some of the paradoxical study conclusions are potentially due to the lack of insight into integrative kinase signaling networks in the disease. Quantitative proteome analyses have been performed in several models for the FXS to determine global molecular processes in FXS. However, only one phosphoproteomics study has been carried out in Fmr1 knock-out mouse embryonic fibroblasts, and it showed dysfunctional protein kinase and phosphatase signaling hubs in the brain. This suggests that the further use of phosphoproteomics approaches in Fragile X syndrome holds promise for identifying novel targets for kinase inhibitor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio D’Incal
- Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.D.); (J.B.); (T.T.)
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Jitse Broos
- Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.D.); (J.B.); (T.T.)
| | - Thierry Torfs
- Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.D.); (J.B.); (T.T.)
| | - R. Frank Kooy
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Wim Vanden Berghe
- Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.D.); (J.B.); (T.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +0032-(0)-32-652-657
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