Project description:To assess the clinical impact of splice-altering noncoding mutations in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we used a deep learning framework (SpliceAI) to predict the splice-altering potential of de novo mutations in 3,953 individuals with ASD from the Simons Simplex Collection. To validate these predictions, we selected 36 individuals that harbored predicted de-novo cryptic splice mutations; each individual represented the only case of autism within their immediate family. We obtained peripheral blood-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) and performed high-depth mRNA sequencing (approximately 350 million 150 bp single-end reads per sample). We used OLego to align the reads against a reference created from hg19 by substituting de novo variants of each individual with the corresponding alternate allele.
Project description:To determine if changes in Protein Disulfide Isomerase (PDIA1) expression in mice with a null Reelin allele were caused by accumulation of intracellular Reelin or were an effect of reduced Reelin protein, we examined expression of PDIA1 and other stress markers in heterozygous RELN +/- null allele mice. The levels of PDIA1 as well as PERK, BIP, phospho-eIF2alpha and total eIF2alpha were unchanged between wild-type and RELN +/- null allele mice. This suggested that there are phenotypic differences in the cerebella between mice that carry a RELN allele that fails to produce a protein (null allele) and those that make a protein that fails to be secreted (Orl allele). Each of the three major ER stress pathways ultimately leads to changes in gene transcription. Thus, we compared wild-type and heterozygous RELN Orl +/- mice cerebellum by RNAseq. Analysis was performed on 3 heterozygous (HET) and 3 wild-type (WT) cerebella, obtained from 6-week old male mice.
Project description:Individualized outcome prediction classifiers were successfully constructed through expression profiling of 91 up-regulated and 67 down-regulated miRNAs in 5 autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases and 5 controls. In the study presented here, a well-defined cohort of 5 autism spectrum disorder cases and 5 controls was used to acquire expression profiles of 91 up-regulated and 67 down-regulated miRNAs, leading to the first global miRNA expression profile of ASD in China.
Project description:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder that significantly jeopardizes the physical and mental well-being of children. Autism spectrum disorder results from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Hyperandrogenic exposure during pregnancy increases their risk of developing autism. Nevertheless, the prenatal exposure to androgens affects offspring neurodevelopment and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, administration of excessive dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to pregnant mice was found to impair neuronal development and dendritic spine formation in offspring, inducing autism-like behaviors. Furthermore, through mRNA transcriptome sequencing technology, the key molecule Nr4a2 was identified during this process of change. Overexpression of Nr4a2 and treatment with amodiaquine (AQ) significantly improved the abnormal phenotypes in offspring caused by prenatal exposure to androgens. Overall, Nr4a2 emerges as a crucial molecule involved in the impairment of offspring neurodevelopment due to prenatal androgen exposure, which provides a new perspective for the in-depth study of the influencing factors and underlying mechanisms.
Project description:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and mental retardation (MR) represent clinically distinct neurodevelopmental disorders with a complex genetic etiology. Using microarrays we identified de novo copy number variations in the SHANK2 synaptic scaffolding gene in two unrelated ASD and MR patients; DNA sequencing of SHANK2 revealed additional variants including a de novo nonsense mutation and 7 rare inherited changes. Our findings further link common genes between ASD and intellectual disability.
Project description:Disruption of Autism Spectrum Disorder-Susceptibility Genes Predominantly Reduces Functional Connectivity of Isogenic Human Neurons
