Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amin Ravaei, Marco Emanuele, Giovanni Nazzaro, Luciano Fadiga, Michele Rubini
Summary: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects normal brain development and socio-cognitive abilities. The pathogenesis of ASD involves genetic and environmental factors during fetal development. The placenta, as the interface tissue between mother and fetus, plays a crucial role in providing nutrients to the fetus and exposing it to the maternal environment. This study reviews the current research on placental DNA methylation and its association with ASD. The findings suggest that differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in ASD-developing placenta are enriched in genes related to synaptogenesis, microtubule dynamics, neurogenesis, and neuritogenesis. Non-genic DMRs in ASD-placenta may also contribute to the development of ASD. The study emphasizes the importance of placental DNA methylation as a potential biomarker for predicting ASD.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lucas Hoffmann, Roland Coras, Katja Kobow, Javier A. Lopez-Rivera, Dennis Lal, Costin Leu, Imad Najm, Peter Nuernberg, Jochen Herms, Patrick N. Harter, Christian G. Bien, Thilo Kalbhenn, Markus Mueller, Tom Pieper, Till Hartlieb, Manfred Kudernatsch, Hajo Hamer, Sebastian Brandner, Karl Roessler, Ingmar Bluemcke, Samir Jabari
Summary: Exome-wide sequencing studies have identified PTPN11 as a novel brain somatic epilepsy gene, while germline mutations of PTPN11 cause Noonan syndrome. In this study, the authors analyzed ganglioglioma (GG) with PTPN11 alterations and compared them to GG with BRAFV600E mutations. They found that GG with PTPN11 alterations had adverse postsurgical outcome and distinct genetic characteristics.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Joseph Allison, Aleksandra Kaliszewska, Sara Uceda, Manuel Reiriz, Natalia Arias
Summary: Metabolism and nutrition play a significant role in epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, which can influence gene expression. Recently, it has been suggested that bioactive nutrients and gut microbiota can alter DNA methylation in the central nervous system (CNS) through the gut-brain axis, affecting CNS functions and behavior. This study focuses on how metabolic signals shape brain DNA methylation in adulthood and explores interactions among diet, gut microbiota, and epigenetic alterations on brain methylation and behavior.
Review
Cell Biology
Samareh Younesian, Amir-Mohammad Yousefi, Majid Momeny, Seyed H. Ghaffari, Davood Bashash
Summary: DNA methylation plays a critical role in the development and functioning of the human brain, and is strongly associated with clinical outcomes in neurological diseases, making it a potential novel clinical marker.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Helena Palma-Gudiel, Lei Yu, Zhiguang Huo, Jingyun Yang, Yanling Wang, Tongjun Gu, Cheng Gao, Philip L. De Jager, Peng Jin, David A. Bennett, Jinying Zhao
Summary: This study identified 130 CpG sites associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology, including 93 novel sites, through targeted sequencing. The DNA methylation at these sites was found to be associated with the expression of nearby genes.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Jonathan Bortz, Kevin C. Klatt, Taylor C. Wallace
Summary: This article discusses the factors influencing the risk of neurocognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, with a focus on the interplay between cognitive aging, sex hormones, the cholinergic system, and essential nutrient choline. It highlights the neuroprotective effects of estrogen, particularly in interactions with the cholinergic system, and the potential impact on hormone replacement therapy and nutrient metabolism. The critical window hypothesis regarding estrogen's effects on the cholinergic system may have implications for future research in both preclinical and clinical settings.
ADVANCES IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Fan-Cheng Kong, Li-Qin Lang, Jie Hu, Xia-Ling Zhang, Ming-Kang Zhong, Chun-Lai Ma
Summary: This study quantified and localized the expression of TET1, TET2, and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in the temporal lobe cortex of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) patients. It was found that TET2 expression was significantly increased in DRE patients compared to controls, and had a specific regulatory effect on ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1). These findings suggest that TET2 may serve as a potential mechanism and target in DRE.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Jing Yuan, Xue Liu, Chunyu Liu, Alvin F. A. Ang, Joseph Massaro, Sherral A. Devine, Sanford H. Auerbach, Jan Krzysztof Blusztajn, Rhoda Au, Paul F. Jacques
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary choline intake and the risks of incident dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The analysis of the data revealed that low choline intake was associated with increased risks of incident dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Emma Derbyshire, Michael Maes
Summary: Neurodevelopmental disorders are increasing in prevalence, possibly due to deficits in choline intake during critical periods of neurodevelopment. Choline is a crucial micronutrient for optimal brain functioning and neurodevelopment. Research has shown low choline intakes and altered choline status in various population subgroups, including pregnant women, children with autism spectrum disorders, individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and those with dyslexia. Optimal choline provision may offer neuronal protection in early life and mitigate cognitive effects associated with neurodevelopmental conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
ZhanDong Li, Wei Guo, Tao Zeng, Jie Yin, KaiYan Feng, Tao Huang, Yu-Dong Cai
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between DNA methylation in different brain structures and Alzheimer's disease. The findings show that methylation alterations in different brain regions have varying contributions to the progression of the disease, shedding light on the complex pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Ricardo Martins-Ferreira, Barbara Leal, Joao Chaves, Laura Ciudad, Raquel Samoes, Antonio Martins da Silva, Paulo Pinho Costa, Esteban Ballestar
Summary: DNA methylation profiling can be used as a non-invasive and reproducible approach to identify biomarkers for epilepsy.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Ricardo Martins-Ferreira, Barbara Leal, Joao Chaves, Tianlu Li, Laura Ciudad, Rui Rangel, Agostinho Santos, Antonio Martins da Silva, Paulo Pinho Costa, Esteban Ballestar
Summary: Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS) is a common focal epilepsy in adults, characterized by high rates of drug resistance. Epileptogenesis in MTLE-HS is associated with epigenetic alterations, with previous studies mainly focused on the hippocampus. This study examines DNA methylation profiles in both the hippocampus and anterior temporal neocortex of MTLE-HS patients, showing altered DNA methylation patterns in multiple pathways related to epileptogenesis. The neocortex, which has less histopathological damage, also shows significant DNA methylation changes, suggesting its involvement in epilepsy development. These findings suggest a progressive wave of epigenetic dysregulation associated with inflammation-related genes in MTLE-HS.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Juliet Richetto, Ramona A. J. Zwamborn, Roderick C. Slieker, Urs Meyer
Summary: Prenatal exposure to infectious and/or inflammatory insults is increasingly recognized to contribute to the etiology of psychiatric disorders with neurodevelopmental components. Recent research using animal models suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA) can induce transgenerational effects on brain and behavior, possibly through epigenetic mechanisms. From a mouse model study, it was found that MIA had the potential to modify dopaminergic functions across multiple generations with opposite effects in the direct descendants and their progeny, indicating a potential role of epigenetic processes in the male germline in the transgenerational effects of MIA.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Delphine Fradin, Jorg Tost, Florence Busato, Clemence Mille, Fanny Lachaux, Jean-Francois Deleuze, Gisele Apter, Alexandra Benachi
Summary: This study investigated the methylation changes in maternal blood during pregnancy and found an increase in methylation of genes related to morphogenesis (ezrin) and a decrease in methylation of genes promoting maternal-infant bonding (AVP and PPP1R1B). These findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms underlying physiological adaptations during pregnancy.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Janos Jablonski, Lucas Hoffmann, Ingmar Blumcke, Anna Fejtova, Steffen Uebe, Arif B. Ekici, Vadym Gnatkovsky, Katja Kobow
Summary: Understanding seizure development requires integrated knowledge of epileptic networks at different scales. A model of epilepsy-in-a-dish using dissociated primary neuronal cells from neonatal rat hippocampus was developed, demonstrating how excess glutamate induced a cascade of events from molecule- to network-level. This study identified strong similarities between in vitro neuronal activity and intracranial EEG data from epilepsy patients, establishing a link between neurophysiological changes, network composition, and molecular alterations.
