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Bizzoca A, Jirillo E, Flace P, Gennarini G. Overall Role of Contactins Expression in Neurodevelopmental Events and Contribution to Neurological Disorders. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets 2022; 22:CNSNDDT-EPUB-128217. [PMID: 36515028 DOI: 10.2174/1871527322666221212160048] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegenerative disorders may depend upon a misregulation of the pathways which sustain neurodevelopmental control. In this context, this review article focuses on Friedreich ataxia (FA), a neurodegenerative disorder resulting from mutations within the gene encoding the Frataxin protein, which is involved in the control of mitochondrial function and oxidative metabolism. OBJECTIVE The specific aim of the present study concerns the FA molecular and cellular substrates, for which available transgenic mice models are proposed, including mutants undergoing misexpression of adhesive/morphoregulatory proteins, in particular belonging to the Contactin subset of the immunoglobulin supergene family. METHODS In both mutant and control mice, neurogenesis was explored by morphological/morphometric analysis through the expression of cell type-specific markers, including -tubulin, the Contactin-1 axonal adhesive glycoprotein, as well as the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP). RESULTS Specific consequences were found to arise from the chosen misexpression approach, consisting of a neuronal developmental delay associated with glial upregulation. Protective effects against the arising phenotype resulted from antioxidants (essentially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) administration, which was demonstrated through the profiles of neuronal (-tubulin and Contactin 1) as well as glial (GFAP) markers, in turn indicating the concomitant activation of neurodegeneration and neuro repair processes. The latter also implied activation of the Notch-1 signaling. CONCLUSION Overall, this study supports the significance of changes in morphoregulatory proteins expression in the FA pathogenesis and of antioxidant administration in counteracting it, which, in turn, allows to devise potential therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bizzoca
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences, and Sensory Organs. Medical School. University of Bari. Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11. I-70124 Bari. Italy
| | - Emilio Jirillo
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences, and Sensory Organs. Medical School. University of Bari. Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11. I-70124 Bari. Italy
| | - Paolo Flace
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences, and Sensory Organs. Medical School. University of Bari. Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11. I-70124 Bari. Italy
| | - Gianfranco Gennarini
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences, and Sensory Organs. Medical School. University of Bari. Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11. I-70124 Bari. Italy
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Zhang SQ, Fleischer J, Al-Kateb H, Mito Y, Amarillo I, Shinawi M. Intragenic CNTN4 copy number variants associated with a spectrum of neurobehavioral phenotypes. Eur J Med Genet 2019; 63:103736. [PMID: 31422286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2019.103736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Deletions and duplications involving the CNTN4 gene, which encodes for the contactin 4 protein, have been reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental phenotypes. In this study, we performed clinical and genetic characterization of three individuals from unrelated families with copy number variants (CNV) (one deletion and two duplications) within CNTN4. The patients exhibited cognitive delay (3/3), growth restriction (3/3), motor delay (2/3), and febrile seizure/epilepsy (2/3). In contrast to previous reports, all probands presented with speech apraxia or delay with no diagnosis of ASD. Parental studies for the proband with the deletion and one of the 2 probands with the duplication revealed paternal origin of the CNTN4 CNV. Interestingly, previously documented CNV involving this gene were mostly inherited from unaffected fathers, raising questions regarding reduced penetrance and potential parent-of-origin effect. Our findings are compared with previously reported patients and patients in the DECIPHER database. The speech impairment in the three probands suggests a role for CNTN4 in language development. We discuss potential factors contributing to phenotypic heterogeneity and reduced penetrance and attempt to find possible genotype-phenotype correlation. Larger cohorts are needed for comprehensive and unbiased phenotyping and molecular characterization that may lead to better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of reduced penetrance, variable expressivity, and potential parent-of-origin effect of copy number variants encompassing CNTN4.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julie Fleischer
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Hussam Al-Kateb
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Yoshiko Mito
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ina Amarillo
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marwan Shinawi
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Cressant A, Dubreuil V, Kong J, Kranz TM, Lazarini F, Launay JM, Callebert J, Sap J, Malaspina D, Granon S, Harroch S. Loss-of-function of PTPR γ and ζ, observed in sporadic schizophrenia, causes brain region-specific deregulation of monoamine levels and altered behavior in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:575-87. [PMID: 28025742 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4490-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase PTPRG has been genetically associated with psychiatric disorders and is a ligand for members of the contactin family, which are themselves linked to autism spectrum disorders. OBJECTIVE Based on our finding of a phosphatase-null de novo mutation in PTPRG associated with a case of sporadic schizophrenia, we used PTPRG knockout (KO) mice to model the effect of a loss-of-function mutation. We compared the results with loss-of-function in its close paralogue PTPRZ, previously associated with schizophrenia. We tested PTPRG -/- , PTPRZ -/- , and wild-type male mice for effects on social behavior, forced swim test, and anxiety, as well as on regional brain neurochemistry. RESULTS The most notable behavioral consequences of PTPRG gene inactivation were reduced immobilization in the forced swim test, suggestive of some negative symptoms of schizophrenia. By contrast, PTPRZ -/- mice demonstrated marked social alteration with increased aggressivity, reminiscent of some positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Both knockouts showed elevated dopamine levels in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and most particularly amygdala, but not striatum, accompanied by reduced dopamine beta hydroxylase activity only in amygdala. In addition, PTPRG KO elicited a distinct increase in hippocampal serotonin level not observed in PTPRZ KO. CONCLUSION PTPRG and PTPRZ gene loss therefore induces distinct patterns of behavioral change and region-specific alterations in neurotransmitters, highlighting their usefulness as models for neuropsychiatric disorder mechanisms and making these receptors attractive targets for therapy.
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Gennarini G, Bizzoca A, Picocci S, Puzzo D, Corsi P, Furley AJW. The role of Gpi-anchored axonal glycoproteins in neural development and neurological disorders. Mol Cell Neurosci 2016; 81:49-63. [PMID: 27871938 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2016.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This review article focuses on the Contactin (CNTN) subset of the Immunoglobulin supergene family (IgC2/FNIII molecules), whose components share structural properties (the association of Immunoglobulin type C2 with Fibronectin type III domains), as well as a general role in cell contact formation and axonal growth control. IgC2/FNIII molecules include 6 highly related components (CNTN 1-6), associated with the cell membrane via a Glycosyl Phosphatidyl Inositol (GPI)-containing lipid tail. Contactin 1 and Contactin 2 share ~50 (49.38)% identity at the aminoacid level. They are components of the cell surface, from which they may be released in soluble forms. They bind heterophilically to multiple partners in cis and in trans, including members of the related L1CAM family and of the Neurexin family Contactin-associated proteins (CNTNAPs or Casprs). Such interactions are important for organising the neuronal membrane, as well as for modulating the growth and pathfinding of axon tracts. In addition, they also mediate the functional maturation of axons by promoting their interactions with myelinating cells at the nodal, paranodal and juxtaparanodal regions. Such interactions also mediate differential ionic channels (both Na+ and K+) distribution, which is of critical relevance in the generation of the peak-shaped action potential. Indeed, thanks to their interactions with Ankyrin G, Na+ channels map within the nodal regions, where they drive axonal depolarization. However, no ionic channels are found in the flanking Contactin1-containing paranodal regions, where CNTN1 interactions with Caspr1 and with the Ig superfamily component Neurofascin 155 in cis and in trans, respectively, build a molecular barrier between the node and the juxtaparanode. In this region K+ channels are clustered, depending upon molecular interactions with Contactin 2 and with Caspr2. In addition to these functions, the Contactins appear to have also a role in degenerative and inflammatory disorders: indeed Contactin 2 is involved in neurodegenerative disorders with a special reference to the Alzheimer disease, given its ability to work as a ligand of the Alzheimer Precursor Protein (APP), which results in increased Alzheimer Intracellular Domain (AICD) release in a γ-secretase-dependent manner. On the other hand Contactin 1 drives Notch signalling activation via the Hes pathway, which could be consistent with its ability to modulate neuroinflammation events, and with the possibility that Contactin 1-dependent interactions may participate to the pathogenesis of the Multiple Sclerosis and of other inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Gennarini
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, Medical School, University of Bari Policlinico. Piazza Giulio Cesare. I-70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Antonella Bizzoca
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, Medical School, University of Bari Policlinico. Piazza Giulio Cesare. I-70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Sabrina Picocci
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, Medical School, University of Bari Policlinico. Piazza Giulio Cesare. I-70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Daniela Puzzo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Patrizia Corsi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, Medical School, University of Bari Policlinico. Piazza Giulio Cesare. I-70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Andrew J W Furley
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2NT, UK
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Zuko A, Kleijer KTE, Oguro-Ando A, Kas MJH, van Daalen E, van der Zwaag B, Burbach JPH. Contactins in the neurobiology of autism. Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 719:63-74. [PMID: 23872404 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Revised: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a disease of brain plasticity. Inspiring work of Willem Hendrik Gispen on neuronal plasticity has stimulated us to investigate gene defects in autism and the consequences for brain development. The central process in the pathogenesis of autism is local dendritic mRNA translation which is dependent on axodendritic communication. Hence, most autism-related gene products (i) are part of the protein synthesis machinery itself, (ii) are components of the mTOR signal transduction pathway, or (iii) shape synaptic activity and plasticity. Accordingly, prototype drugs have been recognized that interfere with these pathways. The contactin (CNTN) family of Ig cell adhesion molecules (IgCAMs) harbours at least three members that have genetically been implicated in autism: CNTN4, CNTN5, and CNTN6. In this chapter we review the genetic and neurobiological data underpinning their role in normal and abnormal development of brain systems, and the consequences for behavior. Although data on each of these CNTNs are far from complete, we tentatively conclude that these three contactins play roles in brain development in a critical phase of establishing brain systems and their plasticity. They modulate neuronal activities, such as neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, survival, guidance of projections and terminal branching of axons in forming neural circuits. Current research on these CNTNs concentrate on the neurobiological mechanism of their developmental functions. A future task will be to establish if proposed pharmacological strategies to counteract ASD-related symptomes can also be applied to reversal of phenotypes caused by genetic defects in these CNTN genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amila Zuko
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, UMC Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kristel T E Kleijer
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, UMC Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Asami Oguro-Ando
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, UMC Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martien J H Kas
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, UMC Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Emma van Daalen
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, UMC Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bert van der Zwaag
- Department of Medical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - J Peter H Burbach
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, UMC Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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