{"id":111560,"date":"2024-10-07T22:19:58","date_gmt":"2024-10-07T15:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=111560"},"modified":"2024-10-07T22:19:58","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T15:19:58","slug":"uncovering-genetic-links-to-psychiatric-disorders-in-the-brain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=111560","title":{"rendered":"Uncovering Genetic Links to Psychiatric Disorders in the Brain"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Summary: <\/strong>Scientists have identified how genetic variants influence the risk of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and autism. Using live neural cells and DNA sequencing, researchers discovered thousands of \u201cnon-coding\u201d genetic variants with context-dependent functions, activated during brain development.<\/p>\n<p>These variants act like switches, turning genes on or off depending on cellular pathways. This research offers new insights into the biological mechanisms behind psychiatric disorders and could lead to personalized treatments based on genetic profiles.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key Facts<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Researchers found thousands of context-dependent genetic variants linked to psychiatric risk.<\/li>\n<li>Non-coding variants act like \u201cswitches\u201d that regulate brain development genes.<\/li>\n<li>Future research may tailor psychiatric treatments based on individual genetic data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong>UNC Health Care<\/p>\n<p><strong>For many years, scientists have known that genetic variants, or differences in DNA code across people, play some role in neurological and psychiatric disorders. But the details were murky. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Now, researchers at the UNC School of Medicine are using a combination of cell lines and DNA sequencing approaches to look closely at our genomes and identify which genetic variants and genes play roles in influencing one\u2019s risk for neurological and psychiatric disorders.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><picture fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-105155\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-300x200.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-770x513.jpg.webp 770w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-1155x770.jpg.webp 1155w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-370x247.jpg.webp 370w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-293x195.jpg.webp 293w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-150x100.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience.jpg\" alt=\"This shows a head and DNA.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-1155x770.jpg 1155w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-293x195.jpg 293w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/genetics-psychiatry-neuroscience-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/> <\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In other words, the downstream effects of these genetic variants can only be observed when brain cells are alive and responding to stimulation. Credit: Neuroscience News<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A research team led by\u00a0Jason Stein, PhD, associate professor of genetics and member of the\u00a0UNC Neuroscience Center, has used a live-cell model system of the human brain to identify the function of genetic variants important for increasing the risk of developing schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n<p>The results\u00a0were published\u00a0in\u00a0<em>Nature Neuroscience<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are hundreds of different locations on our genome that are associated with psychiatric disorders,\u201d said Stein, who is also a member of\u00a0UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut these locations are in regions of the genome where the function is not well understood. We supposed that some genetic variants function only when stimulated by certain neural pathways important for brain development.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Out of our entire genome, just 3% is responsible for creating codes that lead to the formation of proteins \u2013 the \u201cmachines\u201d that perform needed tasks in our bodies. The other 97% of the genome does not code for proteins. It is in these \u201cnon-coding\u201d regions where most genetic variants implicated in psychiatric illness can be found.<\/p>\n<p>Non-coding variants are expected to be similar to light switches. They can \u201cturn on\u201d and \u201cturn off\u201d genes that code for proteins. But finding the precise function of these non-coding genetic variants has proven difficult for researchers.<\/p>\n<p>This is because \u201cnon-coding\u201d genetic variants can have a \u201ccontext dependent\u201d function, which means they only work when specific cellular pathways are stimulated. In other words, the downstream effects of these genetic variants can only be observed when brain cells are alive and responding to stimulation.<\/p>\n<p>The Stein lab decided to study the function of these genetic variants in neural progenitor cells, which are cells involved in brain development. Every cell line has a different genetic background, which allows researchers to compare and contrast genetic variants in both active and inactive states.<\/p>\n<p>Stein\u2019s lab members exposed the stem cells to different chemical compounds and controls to measure the differences in response.<\/p>\n<p>These compounds stimulate the Wnt pathway, a cascade of proteins that play important roles in brain development. Using the living model, researchers found thousands of non-coding genetic variants that have a context-dependent function.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThrough the activation of Wnt-responsive genes, we found variants with context-dependent function that are implicated in schizophrenia risk,\u201d said Stein.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFinding these genetic variants represents an important step forward in our understanding of the mechanisms that cause someone to be at greater risk of developing a neuropsychiatric disorder.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stein said that a similar study design using this live-cell model system of the human brain could be helpful for testing how genetic variation influences risk for environmental exposures, like lead exposure, and their impacts on the brain.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, future applications of this approach could be used to\u00a0prescribe psychiatric treatments based on an individual\u2019s genetics.<\/p>\n<p>Co-first authors on the study were research associate Nana Matoba, post-doctoral fellow Brandon D. Le, and graduate student Jordan M. Valone.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About this genetics and mental health research news<\/h2>\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ffffe8\"><strong>Author: <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#69020c070d080505470d0807000c051a291c070a010c08051d01471c070a470c0d1c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kendall Daniels<\/a><br \/><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/unchealth.unc.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UNC Health Care<\/a><br \/><strong>Contact: <\/strong>Kendall Daniels \u2013 UNC Health Care<br \/><strong>Image: <\/strong>The image is credited to Neuroscience News<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ffffe8\"><strong>Original Research: <\/strong>Open access.<br \/>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41593-024-01773-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stimulating Wnt signaling reveals context-dependent genetic effects on gene regulation in primary human neural progenitors<\/a>\u201d by Jason Stein et al. <em>Nature Neuroscience<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-pale-cyan-blue-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background\"\/>\n<p><strong>Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Stimulating Wnt signaling reveals context-dependent genetic effects on gene regulation in primary human neural progenitors<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gene regulatory effects have been difficult to detect at many non-coding loci associated with brain-related traits, likely because some genetic variants have distinct functions in specific contexts.<\/p>\n<p>To explore context-dependent gene regulation, we measured chromatin accessibility and gene expression after activation of the canonical Wnt pathway in primary human neural progenitors (<em>n<\/em>\u2009=\u200982 donors).<\/p>\n<p>We found that TCF\/LEF motifs and brain-structure-associated and neuropsychiatric-disorder-associated variants were enriched within Wnt-responsive regulatory elements. Genetically influenced regulatory elements were enriched in genomic regions under positive selection along the human lineage.<\/p>\n<p>Wnt pathway stimulation increased detection of genetically influenced regulatory elements\/genes by 66%\/53% and enabled identification of 397 regulatory elements primed to regulate gene expression.<\/p>\n<p>Stimulation also increased identification of shared genetic effects on molecular and complex brain traits by up to 70%, suggesting that genetic variant function during neurodevelopmental patterning can lead to differences in adult brain and behavioral traits.<\/p>\n<p> <!-- Form created by Optin Forms plugin by WPKube: create beautiful optin forms with ease! --> <!-- https:\/\/wpkube.com\/ --><!--optinforms-form5-container--> <!-- \/ Optin Forms --> <\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/psychiatric-genetics-brain-2776\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary: Scientists have identified how genetic variants influence the risk of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and autism. Using live neural cells and DNA sequencing, researchers discovered thousands of &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=111560\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-111560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=111560"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111560\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=111560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=111560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=111560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}