scholarly journals The critical role of ASD-related gene CNTNAP3 in regulating synaptic development and social behavior in mice

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Da-li Tong ◽  
Rui-guo Chen ◽  
Yu-lan Lu ◽  
Wei-ke Li ◽  
Yue-fang Zhang ◽  
...  

AbstractAccumulated genetic evidences indicate that the contactin associated protein-like (CNTNAP) family is implicated in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this study, we identified genetic mutations in the CNTNAP3 gene from Chinese Han ASD cohorts and Simons Simplex Collections. We found that CNTNAP3 interacted with synaptic adhesion proteins Neuroligin1 and Neuroligin2, as well as scaffolding proteins PSD95 and Gephyrin. Significantly, we found that CNTNAP3 played an opposite role in controlling the development of excitatory and inhibitory synapses in vitro and in vivo, in which ASD mutants exhibited loss-of-function effects. In this study, we showed that Cntnap3-null mice exhibited deficits in social interaction, spatial learning and prominent repetitive behaviors. These evidences elucidate the pivotal role of CNTNAP3 in synapse development and social behaviors, providing the mechanistic insights for ASD.

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 87
Author(s):  
A. E. Lin ◽  
A. Wakeham ◽  
A. You-Ten ◽  
G. Wood ◽  
T. W. Mak

Ubiquitination is a eukaryotic process of selective proteolysis, where a highly conserved ubiquitin protein is selectively added as a chain to the targeted to a protein for degradation. In recent years, the process of ubiquitination has been shown to be a critical mechanism that can affect essential signalling pathways, including apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and induction of the inflammatory response. Thus, alterations in the ubiquitination process can alter signalling pathways pivotal to numerous disease pathologies. This is clearly demonstrated in perturbations of ubiquitination in the NFκB giving rise to cancer and other immunological disease processes. To gain insight into pathways that require regulation by ubiquitination, our lab has directed focus on the highly conserved E3 ligase, Ariadne 2. Ariadne 2 is characterized as a putative RING finger E3 ligase and is part of the family of highly conserved RBR (RING-B-Box-RING) superfamily. The role of Ariadne 2 has been well studied in Drosophila melanogaster, however, little is known of the function of Ariadne 2 in mammalian systems. Therefore, the main objectives of the project are as follows: To determine the biological role of Ariadne 2, the role of Ariadne 2 in development and differentiation, and the consequences of in vivo loss of Ariadne 2 expression. We are currently investigating the role of Ariadne 2 as an E3 ligase and its involvement in the immune response. To date, we have shown that Ariadne 2 is ubiquitously expressed, especially in the brain, heart, spleen and thymus. For in vivo loss of function analysis, mice were generated by homologous recombination to be deficient for Ariadne 2. These deficient mice die prematurely soon after birth, suggesting a critical role for Ariadne 2 in development and survival. We are currently focusing on the role of Ariadne 2 in development and it’s role in immune pathologies, in particular, spontaneous autoimmunity, using both in vitro studies and in vivo models.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianbo Liu ◽  
Yujie Liang ◽  
Xing Jiang ◽  
Jianchang Xu ◽  
Yumeng Sun ◽  
...  

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired skills in social interaction and communication in addition to restricted and repetitive behaviors. Many different factors may contribute to ASD development; in particular, oxytocin receptor (OXTR) deficiency has been reported to be associated with ASD, although the detailed mechanism has remained largely unknown. Epidemiological study has shown that maternal diabetes is associated with ASD development. In this study, we aim to investigate the potential role of OXTR on maternal diabetes-mediated social deficits in offspring. Our in vitro study of human neuron progenitor cells showed that hyperglycemia induces OXTR suppression and that this suppression remains during subsequent normoglycemia. Further investigation showed that OXTR suppression is due to hyperglycemia-induced persistent oxidative stress and epigenetic methylation in addition to the subsequent dissociation of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) from the OXTR promoter. Furthermore, our in vivo mouse study showed that maternal diabetes induces OXTR suppression; prenatal OXTR deficiency mimics and potentiates maternal diabetes-mediated anxiety-like behaviors, while there is less of an effect on autism-like behaviors. Additionally, postnatal infusion of OXTR partly, while infusion of ERβ completely, reverses maternal diabetes-induced social deficits. We conclude that OXTR may be an important factor for ASD development and that maternal diabetes-induced suppression of oxytocin receptor contributes to social deficits in offspring.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna J. Klein ◽  
Anagha Deshpande ◽  
Khan L. Cox ◽  
Fan Xuan ◽  
Mohamad Zandian ◽  
...  

AbstractChromosomal translocations of the AF10 (or MLLT10) gene are frequently found in acute leukemias. Here, we show that the PZP domain of AF10 (AF10PZP), which is consistently impaired or deleted in leukemogenic AF10 translocations, plays a critical role in blocking malignant transformation. Incorporation of functional AF10PZP into the leukemogenic CALM-AF10 fusion prevents the transforming activity of the fusion in bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo and abrogates CALM-AF10-mediated leukemogenesis in vivo. Crystallographic, biochemical and mutagenesis studies reveal that AF10PZP binds to the nucleosome core particle through multivalent contacts with the histone H3 tail and DNA and associates with chromatin in cells, colocalizing with active methylation marks and discriminating against the repressive H3K27me3 mark. AF10PZP promotes nuclear localization of CALM-AF10 and is required for association with chromatin. Our data indicate that the disruption of AF10PZP function in the CALM-AF10 fusion directly leads to transformation, whereas the inclusion of AF10PZP downregulates Hoxa genes and reverses cellular transformation. Our findings highlight the molecular mechanism by which AF10 targets chromatin and suggest a model for the AF10PZP-dependent CALM-AF10-mediated leukemogenesis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Memmert ◽  
A. Damanaki ◽  
A. V. B. Nogueira ◽  
S. Eick ◽  
M. Nokhbehsaim ◽  
...  

Cathepsin S is a cysteine protease and regulator of autophagy with possible involvement in periodontitis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether cathepsin S is involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Human periodontal fibroblasts were cultured under inflammatory and infectious conditions elicited by interleukin-1β and Fusobacterium nucleatum, respectively. An array-based approach was used to analyze differential expression of autophagy-associated genes. Cathepsin S was upregulated most strongly and thus further studied in vitro at gene and protein levels. In vivo, gingival tissue biopsies from rats with ligature-induced periodontitis and from periodontitis patients were also analyzed at transcriptional and protein levels. Multiple gene expression changes due to interleukin-1β and F. nucleatum were observed in vitro. Both stimulants caused a significant cathepsin S upregulation. A significantly elevated cathepsin S expression in gingival biopsies from rats with experimental periodontitis was found in vivo, as compared to that from control. Gingival biopsies from periodontitis patients showed a significantly higher cathepsin S expression than those from healthy gingiva. Our findings provide original evidence that cathepsin S is increased in periodontal cells and tissues under inflammatory and infectious conditions, suggesting a critical role of this autophagy-associated molecule in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.


2014 ◽  
Vol 307 (3) ◽  
pp. H337-H345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Gotha ◽  
Sang Yup Lim ◽  
Azriel B. Osherov ◽  
Rafael Wolff ◽  
Beiping Qiang ◽  
...  

Perlecan is a proteoglycan composed of a 470-kDa core protein linked to three heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycan chains. The intact proteoglycan inhibits the smooth muscle cell (SMC) response to vascular injury. Hspg2Δ3/Δ3 (MΔ3/Δ3) mice produce a mutant perlecan lacking the HS side chains. The objective of this study was to determine differences between these two types of perlecan in modifying SMC activities to the arterial injury response, in order to define the specific role of the HS side chains. In vitro proliferative and migratory activities were compared in SMC isolated from MΔ3/Δ3 and wild-type mice. Proliferation of MΔ3/Δ3 SMC was 1.5× greater than in wild type ( P < 0.001), increased by addition of growth factors, and showed a 42% greater migratory response than wild-type cells to PDGF-BB ( P < 0.001). In MΔ3/Δ3 SMC adhesion to fibronectin, and collagen types I and IV was significantly greater than wild type. Addition of DRL-12582, an inducer of perlecan expression, decreased proliferation and migratory response to PDGF-BB stimulation in wild-type SMC compared with MΔ3/Δ3. In an in vivo carotid artery wire injury model, the medial thickness, medial area/lumen ratio, and macrophage infiltration were significantly increased in the MΔ3/Δ3 mice, indicating a prominent role of the HS side chain in limiting vascular injury response. Mutant perlecan that lacks HS side chains had a marked reduction in the inhibition of in vitro SMC function and the in vivo arterial response to injury, indicating the critical role of HS side chains in perlecan function in the vessel wall.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1357
Author(s):  
Andreea-Mariana Negrescu ◽  
Anisoara Cimpean

The critical role of the immune system in host defense against foreign bodies and pathogens has been long recognized. With the introduction of a new field of research called osteoimmunology, the crosstalk between the immune and bone-forming cells has been studied more thoroughly, leading to the conclusion that the two systems are intimately connected through various cytokines, signaling molecules, transcription factors and receptors. The host immune reaction triggered by biomaterial implantation determines the in vivo fate of the implant, either in new bone formation or in fibrous tissue encapsulation. The traditional biomaterial design consisted in fabricating inert biomaterials capable of stimulating osteogenesis; however, inconsistencies between the in vitro and in vivo results were reported. This led to a shift in the development of biomaterials towards implants with osteoimmunomodulatory properties. By endowing the orthopedic biomaterials with favorable osteoimmunomodulatory properties, a desired immune response can be triggered in order to obtain a proper bone regeneration process. In this context, various approaches, such as the modification of chemical/structural characteristics or the incorporation of bioactive molecules, have been employed in order to modulate the crosstalk with the immune cells. The current review provides an overview of recent developments in such applied strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e000622
Author(s):  
Lydia Meziani ◽  
Marine Gerbé de Thoré ◽  
Pauline Hamon ◽  
Sophie Bockel ◽  
Ruy Andrade Louzada ◽  
...  

BackgroundMacrophages play pivotal roles in tumor progression and the response to anticancer therapies, including radiotherapy (RT). Dual oxidase (DUOX) 1 is a transmembrane enzyme that plays a critical role in oxidant generation.MethodsSince we found DUOX1 expression in macrophages from human lung samples exposed to ionizing radiation, we aimed to assess the involvement of DUOX1 in macrophage activation and the role of these macrophages in tumor development.ResultsUsing Duox1−/− mice, we demonstrated that the lack of DUOX1 in proinflammatory macrophages improved the antitumor effect of these cells. Furthermore, intratumoral injection of Duox1−/− proinflammatory macrophages significantly enhanced the antitumor effect of RT. Mechanistically, DUOX1 deficiency increased the production of proinflammatory cytokines (IFNγ, CXCL9, CCL3 and TNFα) by activated macrophages in vitro and the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II in the membranes of macrophages. We also demonstrated that DUOX1 was involved in the phagocytotic function of macrophages in vitro and in vivo. The antitumor effect of Duox1−/− macrophages was associated with a significant increase in IFNγ production by both lymphoid and myeloid immune cells.ConclusionsOur data indicate that DUOX1 is a new target for macrophage reprogramming and suggest that DUOX1 inhibition in macrophages combined with RT is a new therapeutic strategy for the management of cancers.


2006 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Sogorb ◽  
Carlos Álvarez-Escalante ◽  
Victoria Carrera ◽  
Eugenio Vilanova
Keyword(s):  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Guo ◽  
Jianping Zou ◽  
Ling Zhou ◽  
Yan He ◽  
Miao Feng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:Nucleolar and spindle associated protein (NUSAP1) is involved in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. However, there are limited studies regarding the role of NUSAP1 in gastric cancer (GC). Methods: The expression profile and clinical significance of NUSAP1 in GC were analysed in online database using GEPIA, Oncomine and KM plotter, which was further confirmed in clinical specimens.The functional role of NUSAP1 were detected utilizing in vitro and in vivo assays. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, the cycloheximide-chase, immunofluorescence staining and Co-immunoprecipitaion (Co-IP) assays were performed to explore the possible molecular mechanism by which NUSAP1 stabilizes YAP protein. Results:In this study, we found that the expression of NUSAP1 was upregulated in GC tissues and correlates closely with progression and prognosis. Additionally, abnormal NUSAP1 expression promoted malignant behaviors of GC cells in vitro and in a xenograft model. Mechanistically, we discovered that NUSAP1 physically interacts with YAP and furthermore stabilizes YAP protein expression, which induces the transcription of Hippo pathway downstream target genes. Furthermore, the effects of NUSAP1 on GC cell growth, migration and invasion were mainly mediated by YAP. Conclusions:Our data demonstrates that the novel NUSAP1-YAP axis exerts an critical role in GC tumorigenesis and progression, and therefore could provide a novel therapeutic target for GC treatment.


2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 387-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinan Wang ◽  
Xueling Cui ◽  
Guixiang Tai ◽  
Jingyan Ge ◽  
Nan Li ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document