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An Integrative Genomic Study Implicates the Postsynaptic Density in the Pathogenesis of Bipolar Disorder.

ABSTRACT: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several common variants associated with bipolar disorder (BD), but the biological meaning of these findings remains unclear. Integrative genomics-the integration of GWAS signals with gene expression data-may illuminate genes and gene networks that have key roles in the pathogenesis of BD. We applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), which exploits patterns of co-expression among genes, to brain transcriptome data obtained by sequencing of poly-A RNA derived from postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex from people with BD, along with age- and sex-matched controls. WGCNA identified 33 gene modules. Many of the modules corresponded closely to those previously reported in human cortex. Three modules were associated with BD, enriched for genes differentially expressed in BD, and also enriched for signals in prior GWAS of BD. Functional analysis of genes within these modules revealed significant enrichment of several functionally related sets of genes, especially those involved in the postsynaptic density (PSD). These results provide convergent support for the hypothesis that dysregulation of genes involved in the PSD is a key factor in the pathogenesis of BD. If replicated in larger samples, these findings could point toward new therapeutic targets for BD.

SUBMITTER: Akula N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4707835 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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An Integrative Genomic Study Implicates the Postsynaptic Density in the Pathogenesis of Bipolar Disorder.

Akula Nirmala N Wendland Jens R JR Choi Kwang H KH McMahon Francis J FJ

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology 20150727 3

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several common variants associated with bipolar disorder (BD), but the biological meaning of these findings remains unclear. Integrative genomics-the integration of GWAS signals with gene expression data-may illuminate genes and gene networks that have key roles in the pathogenesis of BD. We applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), which exploits patterns of co-expression among genes, to brain transcriptome data obtained ...[more]

PMID: 26211730

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Project description:A small number of rare, recurrent genomic copy number variants (CNVs) are known to substantially increase susceptibility to schizophrenia. As a consequence of the low fecundity in people with schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental phenotypes to which these CNVs contribute, CNVs with large effects on risk are likely to be rapidly removed from the population by natural selection. Accordingly, such CNVs must frequently occur as recurrent de novo mutations. In a sample of 662 schizophrenia proband-parent trios, we found that rare de novo CNV mutations were significantly more frequent in cases (5.1% all cases, 5.5% family history negative) compared with 2.2% among 2623 controls, confirming the involvement of de novo CNVs in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Eight de novo CNVs occurred at four known schizophrenia loci (3q29, 15q11.2, 15q13.3 and 16p11.2). De novo CNVs of known pathogenic significance in other genomic disorders were also observed, including deletion at the TAR (thrombocytopenia absent radius) region on 1q21.1 and duplication at the WBS (Williams-Beuren syndrome) region at 7q11.23. Multiple de novos spanned genes encoding members of the DLG (discs large) family of membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs) that are components of the postsynaptic density (PSD). Two de novos also affected EHMT1, a histone methyl transferase known to directly regulate DLG family members. Using a systems biology approach and merging novel CNV and proteomics data sets, systematic analysis of synaptic protein complexes showed that, compared with control CNVs, case de novos were significantly enriched for the PSD proteome (P=1.72 × 10??. This was largely explained by enrichment for members of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) (P=4.24 × 10??) and neuronal activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (ARC) (P=3.78 × 10??) postsynaptic signalling complexes. In an analysis of 18?492 subjects (7907 cases and 10?585 controls), case CNVs were enriched for members of the NMDAR complex (P=0.0015) but not ARC (P=0.14). Our data indicate that defects in NMDAR postsynaptic signalling and, possibly, ARC complexes, which are known to be important in synaptic plasticity and cognition, play a significant role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Dataset Information

An Integrative Genomic Study Implicates the Postsynaptic Density in the Pathogenesis of Bipolar Disorder.

Publications

An Integrative Genomic Study Implicates the Postsynaptic Density in the Pathogenesis of Bipolar Disorder.

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