scholarly journals Genetic Associations between Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels and Psychiatric Disorders

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 3537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arturo Andrade ◽  
Ashton Brennecke ◽  
Shayna Mallat ◽  
Julian Brown ◽  
Juan Gomez-Rivadeneira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Genetic Associations ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels ◽  
Neuronal Processes ◽  
Function Expression

Psychiatric disorders are mental, behavioral or emotional disorders. These conditions are prevalent, one in four adults suffer from any type of psychiatric disorders world-wide. It has always been observed that psychiatric disorders have a genetic component, however, new methods to sequence full genomes of large cohorts have identified with high precision genetic risk loci for these conditions. Psychiatric disorders include, but are not limited to, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Several risk loci for psychiatric disorders fall within genes that encode for voltage-gated calcium channels (CaVs). Calcium entering through CaVs is crucial for multiple neuronal processes. In this review, we will summarize recent findings that link CaVs and their auxiliary subunits to psychiatric disorders. First, we will provide a general overview of CaVs structure, classification, function, expression and pharmacology. Next, we will summarize tools to study risk loci associated with psychiatric disorders. We will examine functional studies of risk variations in CaV genes when available. Finally, we will review pharmacological evidence of the use of CaV modulators to treat psychiatric disorders. Our review will be of interest for those studying pathophysiological aspects of CaVs.

scholarly journals Genetic Associations between Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels and Psychiatric Disorders

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arturo Andrade ◽  
Ashton Brennecke ◽  
Shayna Mallat ◽  
Julian Brown ◽  
Juan Gomez-Rivadeneira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Genetic Associations ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels ◽  
Neuronal Processes ◽  
Function Expression

Psychiatric disorders are mental, behavioral or emotional disorders. These conditions are prevalent, one in four adults suffer from any type of psychiatric disorders world-wide. It has always been observed that psychiatric disorders have a genetic component, however new methods to sequence full genomes of large cohorts have identified with high precision genetic risk loci for these conditions. Psychiatric disorders include, but are not limited to, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Several risk loci for psychiatric disorders fall within genes that encode for voltage-gated calcium channels (CaVs). Calcium entering through CaVs is key for multiple neuronal processes. In this review, we will summarize recent findings that link CaVs and their auxiliary subunits to psychiatric disorders. First, we will provide a general overview of CaVs structure, classification, function, expression and pharmacology. Next, we will summarize tools and databases to study risk loci associated with psychiatric disorders. We will examine functional studies of risk variations in CaV genes when available. We will review pharmacological evidence of the use of CaV modulators to treat psychiatric disorders. Our review will be of interest for those studying pathophysiological aspects of CaVs.

scholarly journals Voltage-gated calcium channel blockers for psychiatric disorders: genomic reappraisal

2019 ◽  
Vol 216 (5) ◽  
pp. 250-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Harrison ◽  
Elizabeth M. Tunbridge ◽  
Annette C. Dolphin ◽  
Jeremy Hall
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Calcium Channel ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Calcium Channel Blockers ◽  
Channel Blockers ◽  
Risk Genes ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channel ◽  
Second Use

SummaryWe reappraise the psychiatric potential of calcium channel blockers (CCBs). First, voltage-gated calcium channels are risk genes for several disorders. Second, use of CCBs is associated with altered psychiatric risks and outcomes. Third, research shows there is an opportunity for brain-selective CCBs, which are better suited to psychiatric indications.

scholarly journals A new homozygous CACNB2 mutation has functional relevance and supports a role for calcium channels in autism spectrum disorder

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Graziano ◽  
Patrick Despang ◽  
Flavia Palombo ◽  
Giulia Severi ◽  
Annio Posar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Calcium Channel ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Global Developmental Delay ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels

Abstract BackgroundDiagnostic yield in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has improved over the last years, thanks to the introduction of whole genome arrays and next generation sequencing, but etiology is still unknown for the majority of cases. Among distinct cellular pathways, evidence implicating dysregulation of cellular calcium homeostasis in ASD pathogenesis has been accumulating, and specific mutations in voltage-gated calcium channels found in patients with autism were shown to be functionally relevant.MethodsWhole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify and confirm variants in a girl with ASD, global developmental delay and precocious puberty, born of first-degree cousins. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate a human CaVβ2d calcium channel subunit carrying a CACNB2 mutation. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed to reveal functional effects of mutant CaVβ2d on Ba2+-currents mediated by L-type (CaV1.2) calcium channels in transiently transfected HEK-293 cells.ResultsIn an ASD patient, we identified a rare homozygous variant (p.Arg70Cys) in the CACNB2 gene coding for the auxiliary CaVβ2subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. In a recombinant system, the CaVβ2 variant, which was not previously associated to ASD, was found to alter CaV1.2 calcium channel function by significantly affecting activation and inactivation of whole-cell Ba2+-currents.LimitationsAlthough the evidence of CACNB2 involvement in ASD is slowly accumulating, the number of reported patients is very limited. Deep clinical phenotyping and functional studies in larger sets of subjects will be instrumental to fully understand the penetrance and outcome of CACNB2 variants.ConclusionsThe p.Arg70Cys variant in CACNB2 shows functional consequences similar to other ASD-associated CaVβ2 mutations. These results support the idea of CACNB2 variations contributing to the development of ASD and hint to a rare form of Mendelian recessive autism with possible specific comorbidities.

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