Drugs to increase insulin signaling may be effective for treating autism, according to Lancaster University scientists who have discovered how a genetic change impacts insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in the brain.
In the human genome, small sections of DNA have been found to be duplicated or deleted in some people (copy number variation). Some of these genetic changes cause neurodevelopmental problems. For example, people with a DNA deletion at chromosome 2p16.3, which results in deletion of the Neurexin1 gene, commonly experience neurodevelopmental delay and cognitive issues. People with the 2p16.3 deletion are also around 14- to 20-times more likely to develop neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, and Tourette’s syndrome than people without the deletion.
There are an estimated two to three million people worldwide who have this type of DNA deletion but there are currently no effective drug treatments for their resulting cognitive problems, said the Lancaster team, which demonstrated that the Neurexin1 gene deletion reduces glucose metabolism in the prefrontal cortex, a key brain region involved in higher-level cognitive functions including cognitive flexibility and paying attention. Neurexin1 deletion was also found to reduce insulin receptor signaling in the prefrontal cortex, which likely underlies the reduced glucose metabolism seen in this region.
The researchers’ study (“Altered medial prefrontal cortex and dorsal raphé activity predict genotype and correlate with abnormal learning behavior in a mouse model of autism-associated 2p16.3 deletion”), published in Autism Research, provides new insight into how this leads to cognitive deficits, behavioral changes, and dramatically increases the risk of developing a range of neurodevelopmental disorders.
“2p16.3 deletion, involving NEUREXIN1 (NRXN1) heterozygous deletion, substantially increases the risk of developing autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. We have a poor understanding of how NRXN1 heterozygosity impacts on brain function and cognition to increase the risk of developing the disorder,” the investigators wrote.
“Here we characterize the impact of Nrxn1α heterozygosity on cerebral metabolism, in mice, using 14C-2-deoxyglucose imaging. We also assess performance in an olfactory-based discrimination and reversal learning (OB-DaRL) task and locomotor activity. We use decision tree classifiers to test the predictive relationship between cerebral metabolism and Nrxn1α genotype.
“Our data show that Nrxn1α heterozygosity induces prefrontal cortex (medial prelimbic cortex, mPrL) hypometabolism and a contrasting dorsal raphé nucleus (DRN) hypermetabolism. Metabolism in these regions allows for the predictive classification of Nrxn1α genotype. Consistent with reduced mPrL glucose utilization, prefrontal cortex insulin receptor signaling is decreased in Nrxn1α+/− mice. “Behaviorally, Nrxn1α+/− mice show enhanced learning of a novel discrimination, impaired reversal learning, and an increased latency to make correct choices. In addition, male Nrxn1α+/− mice show hyperlocomotor activity. Correlative analysis suggests that mPrL hypometabolism contributes to the enhanced novel odor discrimination seen in Nrxn1α+/− mice, while DRN hypermetabolism contributes to their increased latency in making correct choices.
“The data show that Nrxn1α heterozygosity impacts on prefrontal cortex and serotonin system function, which contribute to the cognitive alterations seen in these animals. The data [also] suggest that Nrxn1α+/− mice provide a translational model for the cognitive and behavioral alterations seen in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders associated with 2p16.3 deletion.”
Key finding
The key finding that Neurexin1 deletion impacts on insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in the prefrontal cortex suggests that using drugs to increase insulin signaling may be an effective therapeutic strategy.
“There is an urgent need to further understand the underlying neurobiology of neurodevelopmental disorders in order to develop new treatments,” noted Neil Dawson, PhD, lead researcher at Lancaster University. “Drugs to help people with their cognitive and social problems are particularly urgently needed, as these symptoms dramatically impact on their quality of life.”
In addition, the scientists also showed that Neurexin1 deletion causes deficits in cognitive functions that depend on the prefrontal cortex, including a deficit in the ability to be flexible. In addition, the research found that the reduced glucose metabolism in the prefrontal cortex that results from Neurexin1 deletion was linked with being hyperactive when experiencing novel situations.
A second brain region identified as being impacted by Neurexin1 deletion was the dorsal raphé, which showed increased activity. This region is the origin of serotonin neurons that project throughout the brain, suggesting that Neurexin1 deletion also makes the serotonin neurotransmitter system dysfunctional.
“In addition, the observation that the serotonin system may be dysfunctional requires further research, and suggests that drugs targeting this neurotransmitter system may also be useful,” continued Dawson. “We can now test the ability of drugs that target these mechanisms to restore these translational changes seen as part of ongoing research to develop better treatments for people with 2p16.3 deletion, autism, schizophrenia, and Tourette’s syndrome.”
