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Pharmacological validation of candidate causal sleep genes identified in an N2 cross.

ABSTRACT: Despite the substantial impact of sleep disturbances on human health and the many years of study dedicated to understanding sleep pathologies, the underlying genetic mechanisms that govern sleep and wake largely remain unknown. Recently, the authors completed large-scale genetic and gene expression analyses in a segregating inbred mouse cross and identified candidate causal genes that regulate the mammalian sleep-wake cycle, across multiple traits including total sleep time, amounts of rapid eye movement (REM), non-REM, sleep bout duration, and sleep fragmentation. Here the authors describe a novel approach toward validating candidate causal genes, while also identifying potential targets for sleep-related indications. Select small-molecule antagonists and agonists were used to interrogate candidate causal gene function in rodent sleep polysomnography assays to determine impact on overall sleep architecture and to evaluate alignment with associated sleep-wake traits. Significant effects on sleep architecture were observed in validation studies using compounds targeting the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3 subunit (Chrm3) (wake promotion), nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha4 subunit (Chrna4) (wake promotion), dopamine receptor D5 subunit (Drd5) (sleep induction), serotonin 1D receptor (Htr1d) (altered REM fragmentation), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (Glp1r) (light sleep promotion and reduction of deep sleep), and calcium channel, voltage-dependent, T type, alpha 1I subunit (Cacna1i) (increased bout duration of slow wave sleep). Taken together, these results show the complexity of genetic components that regulate sleep-wake traits and highlight the importance of evaluating this complex behavior at a systems level. Pharmacological validation of genetically identified putative targets provides a rapid alternative to generating knock out or transgenic animal models, and may ultimately lead towards new therapeutic opportunities.

SUBMITTER: Brunner JI

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3568991 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Pharmacological validation of candidate causal sleep genes identified in an N2 cross.

Brunner Joseph I JI Gotter Anthony L AL Millstein Joshua J Garson Susan S Binns Jacquelyn J Fox Steven V SV Savitz Alan T AT Yang He S HS Fitzpatrick Karrie K Zhou Lili L Owens Joseph R JR Webber Andrea L AL Vitaterna Martha H MH Kasarskis Andrew A Uebele Victor N VN Turek Fred F Renger John J JJ Winrow Christopher J CJ

Journal of neurogenetics 20111201 4

Despite the substantial impact of sleep disturbances on human health and the many years of study dedicated to understanding sleep pathologies, the underlying genetic mechanisms that govern sleep and wake largely remain unknown. Recently, the authors completed large-scale genetic and gene expression analyses in a segregating inbred mouse cross and identified candidate causal genes that regulate the mammalian sleep-wake cycle, across multiple traits including total sleep time, amounts of rapid eye ...[more]

PMID: 22091728

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Project description:Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and most lethal primary malignant brain tumor, correlated with survival rates of less than one year from the time of diagnosis. Current surgical procedure attempts to remove the bulk of the tumor mass, whereas GBM frequently recurs within 1-3cm from the primary tumor resection site. Molecular mechanisms involved in the recurrence of the tumor are still poorly understood. The aim of the study was to define the molecular signature of GBM surrounding white matter (WM) in order to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved with tumor relapse. Material & Methods: Human GBM tumor bulk and surrounding tissue (1-3cm from the border of the tumor) were obtained from five patients who underwent total tumour resection, while normal white matter was harvested from patients who underwent surgical procedure for nonmalignant pathologies. Samples were processed for hybridization on the Affymetrix Human U133A arrays and data were examined with the GeneSpring analysis software. Results: Gene expression analysis of the samples was done in 2 independent steps. First, molecular profiling comparison of GBM surrounding WM and normal WM resulted in 59 genes differentially expressed between both tissues. Among these, numerous genes expressed by mature neural cells were down-regulated in GBM surrounding WM, while gene products supporting invasion were overexpressed. Moreover, KLRC1, a specific natural killer receptor naturally involved in the activation of antitumoral cells was drastically repressed in GBM surrounding WM, suggesting that the antitumoral immune surveillance is compromised in this tissue. Second, we focused our study on genes specifically regulated in GBM periphery respectively to GBM core. The highest up-regulated gene in GBM surrounding tissue encodes for DTX4, a regulator of NOTCH signalling pathway described for its key role in maintaining neural progenitors in an uncommitted state. Conclusion: This study revealed unique molecular characteristics of GBM surrounding tissue, showing the dysregulation of genes involved in immune surveillance along with genes associated to stemness maintenance. All together, these data may help to understand the molecular mechanisms associated with GBM recurrence This study attempted to define the molecular characteristics of the GBM surrounding tissue. To this end, GBM tumor samples were obtained from 5 patients who underwent total tumor resection. Surrounding tumor mass tissue was retrieved in all cases from not infiltrated white matter sited at 2 cm from the macroscopic tumor border. Furthermore, control white matter biopsies were harvested from patients operated on for deep intracerebral cavernomas. Each sample was hybridized onto Affymetrix human U133 arrays. For each patient, tumor core sample and surrounding tissue were harvested and are identified with the same suffix number. In 2 cases, (patients 3 and 4), two tumor peripheral tissue samples were harvested and are identified with the same number followed by "R" (replicate).

Dataset Information

Pharmacological validation of candidate causal sleep genes identified in an N2 cross.

Publications

Pharmacological validation of candidate causal sleep genes identified in an N2 cross.

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