Dataset Information

Sex-specific gene-environment interactions underlying ASD-like behaviors.

ABSTRACT: The male bias in the incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is one of the most notable characteristics of this group of neurodevelopmental disorders. The etiology of this sex bias is far from known, but pivotal for understanding the etiology of ASDs in general. Here we investigate whether a "three-hit" (genetic load × environmental factor × sex) theory of autism may help explain the male predominance. We found that LPS-induced maternal immune activation caused male-specific deficits in certain social responses in the contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2) mouse model for ASD. The three "hits" had cumulative effects on ultrasonic vocalizations at postnatal day 3. Hits synergistically affected social recognition in adulthood: only mice exposed to all three hits showed deficits in this aspect of social behavior. In brains of the same mice we found a significant three-way interaction on corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor-1 (Crhr1) gene expression, in the left hippocampus specifically, which co-occurred with epigenetic alterations in histone H3 N-terminal lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) over the Crhr1 promoter. Although it is highly likely that multiple (synergistic) interactions may be at work, change in the expression of genes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal/stress system (e.g., Crhr1) is one of them. The data provide proof-of-principle that genetic and environmental factors interact to cause sex-specific effects that may help explain the male bias in ASD incidence.

SUBMITTER: Schaafsma SM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5307430 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Sex-specific gene-environment interactions underlying ASD-like behaviors.

Schaafsma Sara M SM Gagnidze Khatuna K Reyes Anny A Norstedt Natalie N Månsson Karl K Francis Kerel K Pfaff Donald W DW

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20170123 6

The male bias in the incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is one of the most notable characteristics of this group of neurodevelopmental disorders. The etiology of this sex bias is far from known, but pivotal for understanding the etiology of ASDs in general. Here we investigate whether a "three-hit" (genetic load × environmental factor × sex) theory of autism may help explain the male predominance. We found that LPS-induced maternal immune activation caused male-specific deficits in ce ...[more]

PMID: 28115688

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Project description:Background:"Quantile-dependent expressivity" occurs when the effect size of a genetic variant depends upon whether the phenotype (e.g. adiponectin) is high or low relative to its distribution. We have previously shown that the heritability (h2 ) of adiposity, lipoproteins, postprandial lipemia, pulmonary function, and coffee and alcohol consumption are quantile-specific. Whether adiponectin heritability is quantile specific remains to be determined. Methods:Plasma adiponectin concentrations from 4,182 offspring-parent pairs and 1,662 sibships from the Framingham Heart Study were analyzed. Quantile-specific heritability from offspring-parent (? OP,h2 = 2? OP/(1 + rspouse)) and full-sib regression slopes (? FS, h2 = {(1 + 8rspouse ? FS)0.05-1}/(2rspouse)) were robustly estimated by quantile regression with nonparametric significance assigned from 1,000 bootstrap samples. Results:Quantile-specific h2 (± SE) increased with increasing percentiles of the offspring's age- and sex-adjusted adiponectin distribution when estimated from ? OP (P trend = 2.2 × 10-6): 0.30 ± 0.03 at the 10th, 0.33 ± 0.04 at the 25th, 0.43 ± 0.04 at the 50th, 0.55 ± 0.05 at the 75th, and 0.57 ± 0.08 at the 90th percentile, and when estimated from ? FS (P trend = 7.6 × 10-7): 0.42 ± 0.03 at the 10th, 0.44 ± 0.04 at the 25th, 0.56 ± 0.05 at the 50th, 0.73 ± 0.08 at the 75th, and 0.79 ± 0.11 at the 90th percentile. Consistent with quantile-dependent expressivity, adiponectin's: (1) heritability was greater in women in accordance with their higher adiponection concentrations; (2) relationships to ADIPOQ polymorphisms were modified by adiposity in accordance with its adiponectin-lowering effect; (3) response to rosiglitazone was predicted by the 45T> G ADIPOQ polymorphism; (4) difference by ADIPOQ haplotypes increased linearly with increasing postprandial adiponectin concentrations. Conclusion:Adiponectin heritability is quantile dependent, which may explain sex-specific heritability, gene-environment and gene-drug interactions, and postprandial response by haplotypes.

Dataset Information

Sex-specific gene-environment interactions underlying ASD-like behaviors.

Publications

Sex-specific gene-environment interactions underlying ASD-like behaviors.

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