PLP1 and CNTN1 gene variation modulates the microstructure of human white matter in the corpus callosum

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Catrona Anderson - , University of Otago, Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Wanda M. Gerding - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Christoph Fraenz - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Caroline Schlüter - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Patrick Friedrich - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Maximilian Raane - , Witten/Herdecke University (Author)
  • Larissa Arning - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Jörg T. Epplen - , Ruhr University Bochum, Witten/Herdecke University (Author)
  • Onur Güntürkün - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Christian Beste - , Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, National Institute of Mental Health (Author)
  • Erhan Genç - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Sebastian Ocklenburg - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)

Abstract

The corpus callosum is the brain’s largest commissural fiber tract and is crucial for interhemispheric integration of neural information. Despite the high relevance of the corpus callosum for several cognitive systems, the molecular determinants of callosal microstructure are largely unknown. Recently, it was shown that genetic variations in the myelin-related proteolipid 1 gene PLP1 and the axon guidance related contactin 1 gene CNTN1 were associated with differences in interhemispheric integration at the behavioral level. Here, we used an innovative new diffusion neuroimaging technique called neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) to quantify axonal morphology in subsections of the corpus callosum and link them to genetic variation in PLP1 and CNTN1. In a cohort of 263 healthy human adults, we found that polymorphisms in both PLP1 and CNTN1 were significantly associated with callosal microstructure. Importantly, we found a double dissociation between gene function and neuroimaging variables. Our results suggest that genetic variation in the myelin-related gene PLP1 impacts white matter microstructure in the corpus callosum, possibly by affecting myelin structure. In contrast, genetic variation in the axon guidance related gene CNTN1 impacts axon density in the corpus callosum. These findings suggest that PLP1 and CNTN1 gene variations modulate specific aspects of callosal microstructure that are in line with their gene function.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3875-3887
Number of pages13
JournalBrain Structure and Function
Volume223
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2018
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 30094605
ORCID /0000-0002-2989-9561/work/160952643

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • CNTN1, Corpus callosum, Myelin, NODDI, PLP1, White matter