Angelman syndrome: insights into genomic imprinting and neurodevelopmental phenotypes

Mabb, Angela M.; Judson, Matthew C.; Zylka, Mark J.; Philpot, Benjamin D.

doi:10.1016/j.tins.2011.04.001

Cited by 224 publications

(178 citation statements)

References 103 publications

(177 reference statements)

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“…Mutations in Ube3a that lead to AS in humans have been successfully modeled in mice, thus providing a means to study the behavioral, neural circuit, synaptic, and molecular defects that underlie this complex disorder (37,38). A key step toward understanding this disorder is to define in mice the behavioral abnormalities that parallel the deficits observed in humans, and then to attempt to understand the neural circuit and molecular underpinnings of these abnormalities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seizure-like activity in a juvenile Angelman syndrome mouse model is attenuated by reducing Arc expression

Mandel‐Brehm

Salogiannis

Dhamne

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder arising from loss-of-function mutations in the maternally inherited copy of the UBE3A gene, and is characterized by an absence of speech, excessive laughter, cognitive delay, motor deficits, and seizures. Despite the fact that the symptoms of AS occur in early childhood, behavioral characterization of AS mouse models has focused primarily on adult phenotypes. In this report we describe juvenile behaviors in AS mice that are strain-independent and clinically relevant. We find that young AS mice, compared with their wild-type littermates, produce an increased number of ultrasonic vocalizations. In addition, young AS mice have defects in motor coordination, as well as abnormal brain activity that results in an enhanced seizure-like response to an audiogenic challenge. The enhanced seizure-like activity, but not the increased ultrasonic vocalizations or motor deficits, is rescued in juvenile AS mice by genetically reducing the expression level of the activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein, Arc. These findings suggest that therapeutic interventions that reduce the level of Arc expression have the potential to reverse the seizures associated with AS. In addition, the identification of aberrant behaviors in young AS mice may provide clues regarding the neural circuit defects that occur in AS and ultimately allow new approaches for treating this disorder.Angelman syndrome | ARC | EPHEXIN5 | ultrasonic vocalizations | EEG

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seizure-like activity in a juvenile Angelman syndrome mouse model is attenuated by reducing Arc expression

Mandel‐Brehm

Salogiannis

Dhamne

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Moreover, within the brain there appears to be some regional or tissuespecific developmental control of Ube3a imprinting in neurons and restriction of imprinting to neurons (and not glia) in the central nervous system [17]. The mechanism of this brain region-specific imprinting of Ube3a has just begun to be explored (as reviewed in [18,19]). Recent evidence indicates that an antisense RNA transcript (ATS), Ube3a-ATS, is necessary for this brain-specific imprinting of Ube3a [20,21].…”

Section: Genetic Etiology and Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Angelman Syndrome

et al. 2015

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In this review we summarize the clinical and genetic aspects of Angelman syndrome (AS), its molecular and cellular underpinnings, and current treatment strategies. AS is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe cognitive disability, motor dysfunction, speech impairment, hyperactivity, and frequent seizures. AS is caused by disruption of the maternally expressed and paternally imprinted UBE3A, which encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Four mechanisms that render the maternally inherited UBE3A nonfunctional are recognized, the most common of which is deletion of the maternal chromosomal region 15q11-q13. Remarkably, duplication of the same chromosomal region is one of the few characterized persistent genetic abnormalities associated with autistic spectrum disorder, occurring in >1-2 % of all cases of autism spectrum disorder. While the overall morphology of the brain and connectivity of neural projections appear largely normal in AS mouse models, major functional defects are detected at the level of context-dependent learning, as well as impaired maturation of hippocampal and neocortical circuits. While these findings demonstrate a crucial role for ubiquitin protein ligase E3A in synaptic development, the mechanisms by which deficiency of ubiquitin protein ligase E3A leads to AS pathophysiology in humans remain poorly understood. However, recent efforts have shown promise in restoring functions disrupted in AS mice, renewing hope that an effective treatment strategy can be found.Key Words Angelman syndrome . neurodevelopmental disorders . autism . ubiquitin ligase . Ube3a . Imprinting. Clinical OverviewIn 1965, the English physician Harry Angelman described 3 patients who presented with a stiff, jerky gait, absence of speech, excessive laughter, and seizures. The disorder that came to bear his name [Angelman syndrome (AS)] is now recognized to affect approximately 1 in 15,000 individuals and is characterized by motor dysfunction, severe intellectual disability, speech impairment, seizures, hyperactivity, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a common comorbidity [1].Developmental delay in individuals with AS is usually observed within the first year of life. Though most individuals lack speech entirely, some who are mildly affected can acquire a few words. Receptive language is less impaired. Seizures occur in >80 % of patients, and onset is usually before the age of 3 years. Movement disorders include tremors, jerkiness, and ataxia. The characteristic behaviors of AS include mouthing of objects, happy demeanor with easily provoked laughter, attraction to water, hyperactivity, short attention span, and decreased sleeping (see recent reviews for more detailed description of the clinical phenotype [2][3][4]). These features of AS can be seen in other neurodevelopmental disorders, leading to a broad differential diagnosis [5], which has recently been reviewed (Table 1) [6]. Overlapping clinical features may indicate common neurophysiological pathways,

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“…The majority of imprinted genes in mammals has a critical role in the development and function of the placenta [40] and brain [41], have been linked to cancer development and are associated with growth disorders, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann and Silver-Russel syndromes [42], and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Angelman [43] and PraderWilli syndromes [44].…”

Section: Imprinted Genes: Regulation and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%