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Pierpont EI, Bennett AM, Schoyer L, Stronach B, Anschutz A, Borrie SC, Briggs B, Burkitt-Wright E, Castel P, Cirstea IC, Draaisma F, Ellis M, Fear VS, Frone MN, Flex E, Gelb BD, Green T, Gripp KW, Khoshkhoo S, Kieran MW, Kleemann K, Klein-Tasman BP, Kontaridis MI, Kruszka P, Leoni C, Liu CZ, Merchant N, Magoulas PL, Moertel C, Prada CE, Rauen KA, Roelofs R, Rossignol R, Sevilla C, Sevilla G, Sheedy R, Stieglitz E, Sun D, Tiemens D, White F, Wingbermühle E, Wolf C, Zenker M, Andelfinger G. The 8th International RASopathies Symposium: Expanding research and care practice through global collaboration and advocacy. Am J Med Genet A 2024; 194:e63477. [PMID: 37969032 PMCID: PMC10939912 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Germline pathogenic variants in the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway are the molecular cause of RASopathies, a group of clinically overlapping genetic syndromes. RASopathies constitute a wide clinical spectrum characterized by distinct facial features, short stature, predisposition to cancer, and variable anomalies in nearly all the major body systems. With increasing global recognition of these conditions, the 8th International RASopathies Symposium spotlighted global perspectives on clinical care and research, including strategies for building international collaborations and developing diverse patient cohorts in anticipation of interventional trials. This biannual meeting, organized by RASopathies Network, was held in a hybrid virtual/in-person format. The agenda featured emerging discoveries and case findings as well as progress in preclinical and therapeutic pipelines. Stakeholders including basic scientists, clinician-scientists, practitioners, industry representatives, patients, and family advocates gathered to discuss cutting edge science, recognize current gaps in knowledge, and hear from people with RASopathies about the experience of daily living. Presentations by RASopathy self-advocates and early-stage investigators were featured throughout the program to encourage a sustainable, diverse, long-term research and advocacy partnership focused on improving health and bringing treatments to people with RASopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sarah C Borrie
- KU Leuven, Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases
| | - Benjamin Briggs
- School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
| | - Emma Burkitt-Wright
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Pau Castel
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
| | - Ion C Cirstea
- Institute of Comparative Molecular Endocrinology, Ulm University
- Institute of Applied Physiology, Ulm University
| | - Fieke Draaisma
- Department of Pediatrics, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Amalia Children’s Hospital
| | | | - Vanessa S. Fear
- Translational Genetics, Precision Health, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia
| | - Megan N. Frone
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH
| | - Elisabetta Flex
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Instituo Superiore di Sanità
| | - Bruce D. Gelb
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute and the Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine
| | - Tamar Green
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Karen W. Gripp
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Nemours Children’s Hospital
| | - Sattar Khoshkhoo
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | | | - Karolin Kleemann
- Clinic for Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Göttingen
| | | | - Maria I Kontaridis
- Department of Biomedical Research and Translational Medicine, Masonic Medical Research Institute, Utica, New York, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Chiara Leoni
- Center for Rare Diseases and Birth Defects, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Clifford Z. Liu
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute and the Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine
| | | | - Pilar L. Magoulas
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital
| | | | - Carlos E. Prada
- Division of Genetics, Genomics, and Metabolism, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Katherine A. Rauen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genomic Medicine, University of California Davis
| | - Renée Roelofs
- Centre of Excellence for Neuropsychiatry, Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - Elliot Stieglitz
- Department of Pediatrics, Benioff Children’s Hospital, University of California
| | - Daochun Sun
- Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
| | - Dagmar Tiemens
- Department of Pediatrics, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Amalia Children’s Hospital
| | - Forest White
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
| | - Ellen Wingbermühle
- Centre of Excellence for Neuropsychiatry, Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, The Netherlands
| | - Cordula Wolf
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease, German Heart Center Munich, Technical University Munich
| | - Martin Zenker
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Magdeburg
| | - Gregor Andelfinger
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill School of Biomedical Sciences
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Mariano V, Kanellopoulos AK, Ricci C, Di Marino D, Borrie SC, Dupraz S, Bradke F, Achsel T, Legius E, Odent S, Billuart P, Bienvenu T, Bagni C. Intellectual Disability and Behavioral Deficits Linked to CYFIP1 Missense Variants Disrupting Actin Polymerization. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:161-174. [PMID: 37704042 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 15q11.2 deletions and duplications have been linked to autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and intellectual disability. Recent evidence suggests that dysfunctional CYFIP1 (cytoplasmic FMR1 interacting protein 1) contributes to the clinical phenotypes observed in individuals with 15q11.2 deletion/duplication syndrome. CYFIP1 plays crucial roles in neuronal development and brain connectivity, promoting actin polymerization and regulating local protein synthesis. However, information about the impact of single nucleotide variants in CYFIP1 on neurodevelopmental disorders is limited. METHODS Here, we report a family with 2 probands exhibiting intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, spastic tetraparesis, and brain morphology defects and who carry biallelic missense point mutations in the CYFIP1 gene. We used skin fibroblasts from one of the probands, the parents, and typically developing individuals to investigate the effect of the variants on the functionality of CYFIP1. In addition, we generated Drosophila knockin mutants to address the effect of the variants in vivo and gain insight into the molecular mechanism that underlies the clinical phenotype. RESULTS Our study revealed that the 2 missense variants are in protein domains responsible for maintaining the interaction within the wave regulatory complex. Molecular and cellular analyses in skin fibroblasts from one proband showed deficits in actin polymerization. The fly model for these mutations exhibited abnormal brain morphology and F-actin loss and recapitulated the core behavioral symptoms, such as deficits in social interaction and motor coordination. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the 2 CYFIP1 variants contribute to the clinical phenotype in the probands that reflects deficits in actin-mediated brain development processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Mariano
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Carlotta Ricci
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Di Marino
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, New York-Marche Structural Biology Center, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Neuronal Death and Neuroprotection Unit, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research-IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Sebastian Dupraz
- Axonal Growth and Regeneration Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Frank Bradke
- Axonal Growth and Regeneration Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Tilmann Achsel
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eric Legius
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Odent
- Service de Génétique Clinique, Centre Labellisé pour les Anomalies du Développement Ouest, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France; Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS, UMR 6290, Université de Rennes, ERN-ITHACA, France
| | - Pierre Billuart
- Institut de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences de Paris, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1266, Université de Paris Cité (UPC), Paris, France
| | - Thierry Bienvenu
- Institut de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences de Paris, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1266, Université de Paris Cité (UPC), Paris, France
| | - Claudia Bagni
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
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Borrie SC, Plasschaert E, Callaerts-Vegh Z, Yoshimura A, D'Hooge R, Elgersma Y, Kushner SA, Legius E, Brems H. MEK inhibition ameliorates social behavior phenotypes in a Spred1 knockout mouse model for RASopathy disorders. Mol Autism 2021; 12:53. [PMID: 34311771 PMCID: PMC8314535 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00458-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RASopathies are a group of disorders that result from mutations in genes coding for proteins involved in regulating the Ras-MAPK signaling pathway, and have an increased incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Legius syndrome is a rare RASopathy caused by loss-of-function mutations in the SPRED1 gene. The patient phenotype is similar to, but milder than, Neurofibromatosis type 1-another RASopathy caused by loss-of-function mutations in the NF1 gene. RASopathies exhibit increased activation of Ras-MAPK signaling and commonly manifest with cognitive impairments and ASD. Here, we investigated if a Spred1-/- mouse model for Legius syndrome recapitulates ASD-like symptoms, and whether targeting the Ras-MAPK pathway has therapeutic potential in this RASopathy mouse model. METHODS We investigated social and communicative behaviors in Spred1-/- mice and probed therapeutic mechanisms underlying the observed behavioral phenotypes by pharmacological targeting of the Ras-MAPK pathway with the MEK inhibitor PD325901. RESULTS Spred1-/- mice have robust increases in social dominance in the automated tube test and reduced adult ultrasonic vocalizations during social communication. Neonatal ultrasonic vocalization was also altered, with significant differences in spectral properties. Spred1-/- mice also exhibit impaired nesting behavior. Acute MEK inhibitor treatment in adulthood with PD325901 reversed the enhanced social dominance in Spred1-/- mice to normal levels, and improved nesting behavior in adult Spred1-/- mice. LIMITATIONS This study used an acute treatment protocol to administer the drug. It is not known what the effects of longer-term treatment would be on behavior. Further studies titrating the lowest dose of this drug that is required to alter Spred1-/- social behavior are still required. Finally, our findings are in a homozygous mouse model, whereas patients carry heterozygous mutations. These factors should be considered before any translational conclusions are drawn. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate for the first time that social behavior phenotypes in a mouse model for RASopathies (Spred1-/-) can be acutely reversed. This highlights a key role for Ras-MAPK dysregulation in mediating social behavior phenotypes in mouse models for ASD, suggesting that proper regulation of Ras-MAPK signaling is important for social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Borrie
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, O&N1 Herestraat 49, Box 607, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen Plasschaert
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, O&N1 Herestraat 49, Box 607, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rudi D'Hooge
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ype Elgersma
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Steven A Kushner
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eric Legius
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, O&N1 Herestraat 49, Box 607, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hilde Brems
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, O&N1 Herestraat 49, Box 607, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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Borrie SC, Horner AE, Yoshimura A, Legius E, Kopanitsa MV, Brems H. Impaired instrumental learning in Spred1 -/- mice, a model for a rare RASopathy. Genes Brain Behav 2021; 20:e12727. [PMID: 33624414 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
RASopathies are neuro-cardio-facio-cutaneous disorders stemming from mutations in genes regulating the RAS-MAPK pathway. Legius syndrome is a rare RASopathy disorder caused by mutations in the SPRED1 gene. SPRED1 protein negatively regulates activation of Ras by inhibiting RAS/RAF and by its interaction with neurofibromin, a Ras GTPase-activating protein (RAS-GAP). Cognitive impairments have been reported in Legius syndrome as well as in other RASopathy disorders. Modelling these cognitive deficits in a Spred1 mouse model for Legius syndrome has demonstrated spatial learning and memory deficits, but other cognitive domains remained unexplored. Here, we attempted to utilize a cognitive touchscreen battery to investigate if Spred1-/- mice exhibit deficits in other cognitive domains. We show that Spred1-/- mice had heterogeneous performance in instrumental operant learning, with a large subgroup (n = 9/20) failing to reach the standard criterion on touchscreen operant pretraining, precluding further cognitive testing. To examine whether targeting the RAS-MAPK signalling pathway could rescue these cognitive impairments, Spred1-/- mice were acutely treated with the clinically relevant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD325901. However, MEK inhibition did not improve their instrumental learning. We conclude that Spred1-/- mice can model severe cognitive impairments that cannot be reversed in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Borrie
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eric Legius
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Hilde Brems
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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5
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Comhair J, Devoght J, Morelli G, Harvey RJ, Briz V, Borrie SC, Bagni C, Rigo JM, Schiffmann SN, Gall D, Brône B, Molchanova SM. Alpha2-Containing Glycine Receptors Promote Neonatal Spontaneous Activity of Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons and Support Maturation of Glutamatergic Inputs. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:380. [PMID: 30374290 PMCID: PMC6196267 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycine receptors (GlyRs) containing the α2 subunit are highly expressed in the developing brain, where they regulate neuronal migration and maturation, promote spontaneous network activity and subsequent development of synaptic connections. Mutations in GLRA2 are associated with autism spectrum disorder, but the underlying pathophysiology is not described yet. Here, using Glra2-knockout mice, we found a GlyR-dependent effect on neonatal spontaneous activity of dorsal striatum medium spiny neurons (MSNs) and maturation of the incoming glutamatergic innervation. Our data demonstrate that functional GlyRs are highly expressed in MSNs of one-week-old mice, but they do not generate endogenous chloride-mediated tonic or phasic current. Despite of that, knocking out the Glra2 severely affects the shape of action potentials and impairs spontaneous activity and the frequency of miniature AMPA receptor-mediated currents in MSNs. This reduction in spontaneous activity and glutamatergic signaling can attribute to the observed changes in neonatal behavioral phenotypes as seen in ultrasonic vocalizations and righting reflex. In adult Glra2-knockout animals, the glutamatergic synapses in MSNs remain functionally underdeveloped. The number of glutamatergic synapses and release probability at presynaptic site remain unaffected, but the amount of postsynaptic AMPA receptors is decreased. This deficit is a consequence of impaired development of the neuronal circuitry since acute inhibition of GlyRs by strychnine in adult MSNs does not affect the properties of glutamatergic synapses. Altogether, these results demonstrate that GlyR-mediated signaling supports neonatal spontaneous MSN activity and, in consequence, promotes the functional maturation of glutamatergic synapses on MSNs. The described mechanism might shed light on the pathophysiological mechanisms in GLRA2-linked autism spectrum disorder cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris Comhair
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB-Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,BIOMED Research Institute, University of Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Jens Devoght
- BIOMED Research Institute, University of Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Giovanni Morelli
- BIOMED Research Institute, University of Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Robert J Harvey
- School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia.,Sunshine Coast Health Institute, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
| | - Victor Briz
- Center for Human Genetics and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah C Borrie
- Center for Human Genetics and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Claudia Bagni
- Center for Human Genetics and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean-Michel Rigo
- BIOMED Research Institute, University of Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Serge N Schiffmann
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB-Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - David Gall
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB-Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bert Brône
- BIOMED Research Institute, University of Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Svetlana M Molchanova
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB-Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Borrie SC, Brems H, Legius E, Bagni C. Cognitive Dysfunctions in Intellectual Disabilities: The Contributions of the Ras-MAPK and PI3K-AKT-mTOR Pathways. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2017; 18:115-142. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-091416-035332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C. Borrie
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hilde Brems
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eric Legius
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Claudia Bagni
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy
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Pasciuto E, Borrie SC, Kanellopoulos AK, Santos AR, Cappuyns E, D'Andrea L, Pacini L, Bagni C. Autism Spectrum Disorders: Translating human deficits into mouse behavior. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2015. [PMID: 26220900 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2015.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders, with rising incidence but little effective therapeutic intervention available. Currently two main clinical features are described to diagnose ASDs: impaired social interaction and communication, and repetitive behaviors. Much work has focused on understanding underlying causes of ASD by generating animal models of the disease, in the hope of discovering signaling pathways and cellular targets for drug intervention. Here we review how ASD behavioral phenotypes can be modeled in the mouse, the most common animal model currently in use in this field, and discuss examples of genetic mouse models of ASD with behavioral features that recapitulate various symptoms of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Pasciuto
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S C Borrie
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - A K Kanellopoulos
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - A R Santos
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - E Cappuyns
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - L D'Andrea
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Rome, Italy
| | - L Pacini
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Rome, Italy
| | - C Bagni
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Rome, Italy.
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8
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Borrie SC, Sartori SB, Lehmann J, Sah A, Singewald N, Bandtlow CE. Loss of Nogo receptor homolog NgR2 alters spine morphology of CA1 neurons and emotionality in adult mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:175. [PMID: 24860456 PMCID: PMC4030173 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2014] [Accepted: 04/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular mechanisms which stabilize dendrites and dendritic spines are essential for regulation of neuronal plasticity in development and adulthood. The class of Nogo receptor proteins, which are critical for restricting neurite outgrowth inhibition signaling, have been shown to have roles in developmental, experience and activity induced plasticity. Here we investigated the role of the Nogo receptor homolog NgR2 in structural plasticity in a transgenic null mutant for NgR2. Using Golgi-Cox staining to analyze morphology, we show that loss of NgR2 alters spine morphology in adult CA1 pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus, significantly increasing mushroom-type spines, without altering dendritic tree complexity. Furthermore, this shift is specific to apical dendrites in distal CA1 stratum radiatum (SR). Behavioral alterations in NgR2(-/-) mice were investigated using a battery of standardized tests and showed that whilst there were no alterations in learning and memory in NgR2(-/-) mice compared to littermate controls, NgR2(-/-) displayed reduced fear expression in the contextual conditioned fear test, and exhibited reduced anxiety- and depression-related behaviors. This suggests that the loss of NgR2 results in a specific phenotype of reduced emotionality. We conclude that NgR2 has role in maintenance of mature spines and may also regulate fear and anxiety-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Borrie
- Division of Neurobiochemistry, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Simone B Sartori
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and Centre for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Julian Lehmann
- Division of Neurobiochemistry, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anupam Sah
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and Centre for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nicolas Singewald
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and Centre for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christine E Bandtlow
- Division of Neurobiochemistry, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
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