Stochastic and imprinted monoallelically expressed genes influence cellular differentiation and development. Imprinted genes are expressed in a parent-of-origin manner, whereas in stochastic monoallelic expression either the maternal or paternal allele is active in a cell. Classically, imprinting is known to play a key role in the development of the neuropsychiatric disorders Prader-Willi Syndrome and Angelman Syndrome. In addition, parent-of-origin effects have also been found in a subset of families with schizophrenia (SZ), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and bipolar disorder (BD). Both stochastic monoallelic expression and imprinting of brain-expressed genes could help explain some interesting epidemiological features of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as discordance in monozygotic twins and reduced penetrance. Two experimental tools have emerged that provide the means to evaluate the role of monoallelic (also known as allele-biased) gene expression in neuronal differentiation and neuropsychiatric disorders; induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, and whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq). To identify monoallelically expressed genes, we carried out a preliminary RNA-Seq analysis of neurons derived from a control iPSC line and genotyped DNA using the Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0. Heterozygous SNPs were identified and RNA-Seq reads across them were analyzed. We found evidence for allele-biased expression in 801 genes. In addition, a statistically significant enrichment for SZ and ASD candidate genes was found, which included A2BP1 (RBFOX1), ERBB4, NLGN4X, NRG1, NRG3, NRXN1, and NLGN1. A2BP1 is particularly interesting because as a regulator of neuronal gene splicing disrupting its expression has the capacity to influence numerous downstream targets. In this current proposal, we will explore the mechanism of allele-biased expression and determine whether the phenomenon is caused by cis-acting genetic factors, or by an epigenetic process leading to either imprinting or stochastic monoallelic expression. The epigenetic basis underlying allele-biased expression in differentiating human neurons will be explored by carrying out genome-wide DNA methylation and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies. Upon completion of these studies we will be able to group a large number of SZ, ASD and BD candidate genes into a common functional umbrella: regulation by allele-biased expression, a finding that will provide the foundation for epigenetic-based treatment strategies.

Public Health Relevance

Using a new method for studying disease called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology we are now able to grow human neurons (nerve cells) in the laboratory. iPS cells are usually derived from skin and blood cells. They are capable of being turned into any other cell type, including neurons and other cell types found in the brain, such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. By making iPS cells from patients with schizophrenia, autism and other neuropsychiatric disorders, we can grow patient-specific neurons with relative ease. These neurons can be used to study the underlying molecular and genetic basis of these disorders and for testing new drugs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
6R01MH099427-07
Application #
9858647
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Arguello, Alexander
Project Start
2013-08-15
Project End
2019-05-31
Budget Start
2019-01-01
Budget End
2019-05-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Department
Type
DUNS #
081266487
City
Bronx
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10461
Zhao, Dejian; Zheng, Deyou (2018) SMARTcleaner: identify and clean off-target signals in SMART ChIP-seq analysis. BMC Bioinformatics 19:544
Wang, Ping; Zhao, Dejian; Lachman, Herbert M et al. (2018) Enriched expression of genes associated with autism spectrum disorders in human inhibitory neurons. Transl Psychiatry 8:13
Barnes, Jesse; Salas, Franklin; Mokhtari, Ryan et al. (2018) Modeling the neuropsychiatric manifestations of Lowe syndrome using induced pluripotent stem cells: defective F-actin polymerization and WAVE-1 expression in neuronal cells. Mol Autism 9:44
Wang, Ping; Mokhtari, Ryan; Pedrosa, Erika et al. (2017) CRISPR/Cas9-mediated heterozygous knockout of the autism gene CHD8 and characterization of its transcriptional networks in cerebral organoids derived from iPS cells. Mol Autism 8:11
Zhao, Dejian; Mokhtari, Ryan; Pedrosa, Erika et al. (2017) Transcriptome analysis of microglia in a mouse model of Rett syndrome: differential expression of genes associated with microglia/macrophage activation and cellular stress. Mol Autism 8:17
Lin, Mingyan; Pedrosa, Erika; Hrabovsky, Anastasia et al. (2016) Integrative transcriptome network analysis of iPSC-derived neurons from schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder patients with 22q11.2 deletion. BMC Syst Biol 10:105
Nebel, Rebecca A; Zhao, Dejian; Pedrosa, Erika et al. (2016) Reduced CYFIP1 in Human Neural Progenitors Results in Dysregulation of Schizophrenia and Epilepsy Gene Networks. PLoS One 11:e0148039
Mokhtari, Ryan; Lachman, Herbert M (2016) Neurons Derived From Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: a Promising Strategy Towards Developing Novel Pharmacotherapies for Autism Spectrum Disorders. EBioMedicine 9:21-22
Mokhtari, Ryan; Lachman, Herbert M (2016) The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) in Schizophrenia: A Review. J Clin Cell Immunol 7:
Lin, Mingyan; Lachman, Herbert M; Zheng, Deyou (2016) Transcriptomics analysis of iPSC-derived neurons and modeling of neuropsychiatric disorders. Mol Cell Neurosci 73:32-42

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