scholarly journals Intranasal oxytocin administration ameliorates social behavioral deficits in a POGZWT/Q1038R mouse model of autism spectrum disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohei Kitagawa ◽  
Kensuke Matsumura ◽  
Masayuki Baba ◽  
Momoka Kondo ◽  
Tomoya Takemoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
De Novo Mutation ◽  
Behavioral Deficits

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by core symptoms of impaired social behavior and communication. Recent studies have suggested that the oxytocin system, which regulates social behavior in mammals, is potentially involved in ASD. Mouse models of ASD provide a useful system for understanding the associations between an impaired oxytocin system and social behavior deficits. However, limited studies have shown the involvement of the oxytocin system in the behavioral phenotypes in mouse models of ASD. We have previously demonstrated that a mouse model that carries the ASD patient-derived de novo mutation in the pogo transposable element derived with zinc finger domain (POGZWT/Q1038R mice), showed ASD-like social behavioral deficits. Here, we have explored whether oxytocin (OXT) administration improves impaired social behavior in POGZWT/Q1038R mice and found that intranasal oxytocin administration effectively restored the impaired social behavior in POGZWT/Q1038R mice. We also found that the expression level of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) was low in POGZWT/Q1038R mice. However, we did not detect significant changes in the number of OXT-expressing neurons between the paraventricular nucleus of POGZWT/Q1038R mice and that of WT mice. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that POGZ binds to the promoter region of OXTR and is involved in the transcriptional regulation of OXTR. In summary, our study demonstrate that the pathogenic mutation in the POGZ, a high-confidence ASD gene, impairs the oxytocin system and social behavior in mice, providing insights into the development of oxytocin-based therapeutics for ASD.

scholarly journals Mouse Model Systems of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Replicability and Informatics Signature

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Kabitzke ◽  
Diana Morales ◽  
Dansha He ◽  
Kimberly Cox ◽  
Jane Sutphen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Phenotypic Differences ◽  
Genetic Mouse Model ◽  
Unitary Concept

3.AbstractBackgroundPhenotyping mouse model systems of human disease has proven to be a difficult task, with frequent poor inter- and intra-laboratory replicability and translatability, particularly in behavioral domains such as social and verbal function. However, establishing robust animal model systems with strong construct validity is of fundamental importance as they are central tools for understanding disease pathophysiology and developing therapeutics. To complete our studies of mouse model systems relevant to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we present a replication of the main findings from our two published studies comprising five genetic mouse model systems of ASD.MethodsTo assess the robustness of our previous results, we chose the two model systems that showed the greatest phenotypic differences, the Shank3/F and Cntnap2, and repeated assessments of general health, activity, and social behavior. We additionally explored all five model systems in the same framework, comparing all results obtained in this three-yearlong effort using informatics techniques to look for commonalities and differences.ResultsResults in the current study were very similar to our previously published results. The informatics signatures of the two model systems chosen for the replication showed that they were most distinguished by activity levels. Although the two model systems were opposite in this regard, those aspects of their social behavior not confounded by activity (vocalizations) were similar.ConclusionsOur results showed high intra-laboratory replicability of results, even for those with effect sizes that were not particularly large, suggesting that discrepancies in the literature may be dependent on subtle differences in testing conditions, housing enrichment, or background strains and not so much on the variability of the behavioral phenotypes. The overall informatics analysis suggests two main classes of model systems that in some aspects lie on opposite ends of the behavioral spectrum, supporting the view that autism is not a unitary concept.

scholarly journals An autism spectrum disorder-related de novo mutation hotspot discovered in the GEF1 domain of Trio

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasiia Sadybekov ◽  
Chen Tian ◽  
Cosimo Arnesano ◽  
Vsevolod Katritch ◽  
Bruce E. Herring
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
De Novo Mutation

25. Identification of De novo, Deleterious Mutations through Exome Sequencing of Sporadic Autism Spectrum Disorder Trios

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shalandra Wood
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Exome Sequencing ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
De Novo Mutations ◽  
Genetic Etiology ◽  
Affected Child ◽  
Biological Relevance

  Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that has a strong genetic component consisting of many genes contributing to its cause. To help understand this complex genetic etiology, we are looking for novel genes that may be involved in the reason individuals develop ASD. We are doing this by using 5 sporadic ASD cases to determine de novo mutations (mutations new to the affected child that are not previously found in the family). These sporadic cases ensure that the disorder is not likely to arise through any inherited mutations, but through a new mutation found solely in the affected child. We use a trio analysis in which the genes of the affected child are compared to those of their mother and father, so pure de novo single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can be determined. These SNPs are then filtered based on predicted deleterious effect, quality and biological relevance. Using whole-exome sequencing on these 5 sporadic trios numerous deleterious, de novo mutations have been determined. These are being reviewed for biological relevance, and will be validated using Sanger Sequencing. Of these proposed SNPs being validated a few, such as SHANK3 and DVL1, have previously been linked to ASD. Whereas others, such as C11orf31, are novel candidate genes for the disorder. Through this experiment our understanding of the genetic etiology of ASD continues to grow and evolve, leading to greater insight into this disorder and new directions for possible treatments

scholarly journals Variants in PRKAR1B cause a neurodevelopmental disorder with autism spectrum disorder, apraxia, and insensitivity to pain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Marbach ◽  
◽  
Georgi Stoyanov ◽  
Florian Erger ◽  
Constantine A. Stratakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Global Developmental Delay ◽  
Missense Variants ◽  
Large Patient ◽  
Significant Enrichment

Abstract Purpose We characterize the clinical and molecular phenotypes of six unrelated individuals with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder who carry heterozygous missense variants of the PRKAR1B gene, which encodes the R1β subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA). Methods Variants of PRKAR1B were identified by single- or trio-exome analysis. We contacted the families and physicians of the six individuals to collect phenotypic information, performed in vitro analyses of the identified PRKAR1B-variants, and investigated PRKAR1B expression during embryonic development. Results Recent studies of large patient cohorts with neurodevelopmental disorders found significant enrichment of de novo missense variants in PRKAR1B. In our cohort, de novo origin of the PRKAR1B variants could be confirmed in five of six individuals, and four carried the same heterozygous de novo variant c.1003C>T (p.Arg335Trp; NM_001164760). Global developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, and apraxia/dyspraxia have been reported in all six, and reduced pain sensitivity was found in three individuals carrying the c.1003C>T variant. PRKAR1B expression in the brain was demonstrated during human embryonal development. Additionally, in vitro analyses revealed altered basal PKA activity in cells transfected with variant-harboring PRKAR1B expression constructs. Conclusion Our study provides strong evidence for a PRKAR1B-related neurodevelopmental disorder.

scholarly journals Effects of gene by microbiome interactions on behavioral and neurobiological phenotypes in a mouse model for autism spectrum disorder

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aya Osman ◽  
Nicholas L. Mervosh ◽  
Ana N. Strat ◽  
Katherine R. Meckel ◽  
Tanner J. Euston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Translational Research ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Research Strategies ◽  
Stage Of Development

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder with a very high prevalence rate and a chronic disease course beginning in early childhood. Despite the tremendous burden of ASD, there are currently no disease-modifying treatments. Like many neuropsychiatric illnesses ASD has a complex pathophysiology driven by genetic and environmental factors. There is interest in identifying modifiable environmental factors as potential translational research strategies for development of therapeutics for ASD. A rapidly growing body of research demonstrates that the resident bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract, collectively the gut microbiome, have profound influence on brain and behavior. This gut-brain signaling pathway is highly relevant to ASD as the microbiome begins to form at birth, is heavily influenced by environmental factors throughout early life, and begins to stabilize at the same stage of development that symptoms of ASD begin to develop. To investigate potential gene x microbiome interactions in a model of ASD, we utilized mutant mice carrying a deletion of the ASD-associated Shank3 gene (Shank3KO), which clinically manifests as Phelan-McDermid syndrome, as a model for genetic risk of ASD. Analysis of the gut microbiome of Shank3KO mice demonstrated genotype effects on both microbiome composition and metabolite production. Behaviorally, Shank3KO mice demonstrate decreased social interactions and have altered anxiety and compulsive-like behaviors. Disruption of the microbiome with broad spectrum antibiotics lead to an exacerbation of all behavioral phenotypes in Shank3KO mice. Additionally, we found that Shank3KO mice had markedly increased changes in gene expression in the prefrontal cortex following microbiome depletion. Taken together, our results suggest a gene x microbiome interaction in this mouse model for ASD and raise the possibility that targeting the microbiome may be a valid translational research strategy in developing therapeutics for ASD.

Single administration of resveratrol improves social behavior in adult mouse models of autism spectrum disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 2207-2214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shizu Hidema ◽  
Shohei Kikuchi ◽  
Ryoji Takata ◽  
Takaaki Yanai ◽  
Kenju Shimomura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
Adult Mouse ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Single Administration

scholarly journals An Overview of Genetic and Environmental Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder

2019 ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianjun Ou ◽  
Ruiting Liu ◽  
Yidong Shen ◽  
Kun Xia ◽  
Jingping Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Rare Variants ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Copy Number Variations ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder typically diagnosed in children in the first few years of life. Genetic studies have demonstrated a moderate to high heritability of ASD, but only a limited number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified. Meanwhile, numerous single de novo rare variants and copy number variations have been detected in patients with ASD, which are likely caused by environmental factors. Here we provide an overview of genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to the risk of ASD and we recommend that further study should be focused on both genes and environmental factors, as well as their interactions with the expectation that epigenetic studies will lead to understanding the link between the environment and risk of ASD.

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