Prioritizing Genetic Contributors to Cortical Alterations in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Using Imaging Transcriptomics

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jennifer K. Forsyth - , University of California at Los Angeles (Author)
  • Eva Mennigen - , Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of California at Los Angeles, TUD Dresden University of Technology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Amy Lin - , University of California at Los Angeles (Author)
  • Daqiang Sun - , University of California at Los Angeles (Author)
  • Ariana Vajdi - , University of California at Los Angeles (Author)
  • Leila Kushan-Wells - , University of California at Los Angeles (Author)
  • Christopher R. K. Ching - , University of Southern California (Author)
  • Julio E. Villalon-Reina - , University of Southern California (Author)
  • Paul M. Thompson - , University of Southern California (Author)
  • Carrie E. Bearden - , University of California at Los Angeles (Author)

Abstract

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) results from a hemizygous deletion that typically spans 46 protein-coding genes and is associated with widespread alterations in brain morphology. The specific genetic mechanisms underlying these alterations remain unclear. In the 22q11.2 ENIGMA Working Group, we characterized cortical alterations in individuals with 22q11DS (n = 232) versus healthy individuals (n = 290) and conducted spatial convergence analyses using gene expression data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas to prioritize individual genes that may contribute to altered surface area (SA) and cortical thickness (CT) in 22q11DS. Total SA was reduced in 22q11DS (Z-score deviance = -1.04), with prominent reductions in midline posterior and lateral association regions. Mean CT was thicker in 22q11DS (Z-score deviance = +0.64), with focal thinning in a subset of regions. Regional expression of DGCR8 was robustly associated with regional severity of SA deviance in 22q11DS; AIFM3 was also associated with SA deviance. Conversely, P2RX6 was associated with CT deviance. Exploratory analysis of gene targets of microRNAs previously identified as down-regulated due to DGCR8 deficiency suggested that DGCR8 haploinsufficiency may contribute to altered corticogenesis in 22q11DS by disrupting cell cycle modulation. These findings demonstrate the utility of combining neuroanatomic and transcriptomic datasets to derive molecular insights into complex, multigene copy number variants.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3285-3298
Number of pages14
JournalCerebral cortex
Volume31
Issue number7
Early online dateFeb 2021
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 33638978
Scopus 85108304125
ORCID /0000-0001-5099-0274/work/142249110

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Copy number variant, Cortical thickness, Dgcr8, Gene expression, Surface area