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Human dysbindin (DTNBP1) gene expression in normal brain and in schizophrenic prefrontal cortex and midbrain.

CONTEXT: The schizophrenia-susceptibility gene dysbindin (DTNBP1 on 6p22.3) encodes a neuronal protein that binds to beta-dystrobrevin and may be part of the dystrophin protein complex. Little is known about dysbindin expression in normal or schizophrenic brain. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether brain regions implicated in schizophrenia express dysbindin and whether abnormal levels of dysbindin messenger RNA (mRNA) may be found in this disorder and to test whether sequence variations in the dysbindin gene in the promoter region, 5' and 3' untranslated regions, or introns would affect dysbindin mRNA levels. METHODS: In patients with schizophrenia and controls, we compared dysbindin, synaptophysin, spinophilin, and cyclophilin mRNA levels in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and dysbindin mRNA levels in the midbrain by in situ hybridization. We genotyped brain DNA at 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms to determine whether genetic variation in the dysbindin gene affects cortical dysbindin mRNA levels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quantitative assessment of dysbindin mRNA levels across various brain regions and comparative studies of dysbindin mRNA levels in brains of patients with schizophrenia compared with normal controls. RESULTS: Dysbindin mRNA was detected in the frontal cortex, temporal cortex, hippocampus, caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, thalamus, and midbrain of the adult brain. Patients with schizophrenia had statistically significantly reduced dysbindin mRNA levels in multiple layers of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, whereas synaptophysin, spinophilin, and cyclophilin mRNA levels were unchanged. Dysbindin mRNA levels were quantitatively reduced in the midbrain of patients with schizophrenia, but not statistically significantly. Cortical dysbindin mRNA levels varied statistically significantly according to dysbindin genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Dysbindin mRNA is expressed widely in the brain, and its expression is reduced in schizophrenia. Variation in dysbindin mRNA levels may be determined in part by variation in the promoter and the 5' and 3' untranslated regions. These data add to the evidence that dysbindin is an etiologic factor in schizophrenia risk.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Evidence of novel neuronal functions of dysbindin, a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia.

Genetic variation in dysbindin (DTNBP1: dystrobrevin-binding protein 1) has recently been shown to be associated with schizophrenia. The dysbindin gene is located at chromosome 6p22.3, one of the most promising susceptibility loci in schizophrenia linkage studies. We attempted to replicate this association in a Japanese sample of 670 patients with schizophrenia and 588 controls. We found a nominally significant association with schizophrenia for four single nucleotide polymorphisms and stronger evidence for association in a multi-marker haplotype analysis (P = 0.00028). We then explored functions of dysbindin protein in primary cortical neuronal culture. Overexpression of dysbindin induced the expression of two pre-synaptic proteins, SNAP25 and synapsin I, and increased extracellular basal glutamate levels and release of glutamate evoked by high potassium. Conversely, knockdown of endogenous dysbindin protein by small interfering RNA (siRNA) resulted in the reduction of pre-synaptic protein expression and glutamate release, suggesting that dysbindin might influence exocytotic glutamate release via upregulation of the molecules in pre-synaptic machinery. The overexpression of dysbindin increased phosphorylation of Akt protein and protected cortical neurons against neuronal death due to serum deprivation and these effects were blocked by LY294002, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitor. SiRNA-mediated silencing of dysbindin protein diminished Akt phosphorylation and facilitated neuronal death induced by serum deprivation, suggesting that dysbindin promotes neuronal viability through PI3-kinase-Akt signaling. Genetic variants associated with impairments of these functions of dysbindin could play an important role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Adult↗

Myospryn is a novel binding partner for dysbindin in muscle.

Dysbindin is a coiled-coil-containing protein that was initially identified in a screen for dystrobrevin-interacting proteins. Recently, dysbindin has been shown to be involved in the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles and is also a major schizophrenia susceptibility factor. Although dysbindin has been implicated in a number of different cellular processes, little is known about its function. To determine the function of dysbindin in muscle, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify potential interacting proteins. Here we show that dysbindin binds to a novel 413-kDa protein, myospryn, which is expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscle. The transcript encoding myospryn encompasses genethonin-3, a transcript that is down-regulated in muscle from Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients and stretch-responsive protein 553, which is up-regulated in experimental muscle hypertrophy. The C terminus of myospryn contains BBC, FN3, and SPRY domains in a configuration reminiscent of the tripartite motif protein family, as well as the dysbindin-binding site and a region mediating self-association. Dysbindin and myospryn co-immunoprecipitate from muscle extracts and are extensively co-localized. These data demonstrate for the first time that there are tissue-specific ligands for dysbindin that may play important roles in the different disease states involving this protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Reinvestigation of the dysbindin subunit of BLOC-1 (biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1) as a dystrobrevin-binding protein.

Dysbindin was identified as a dystrobrevin-binding protein potentially involved in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy. Subsequently, genetic studies have implicated variants of the human dysbindin-encoding gene, DTNBP1, in the pathogeneses of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome and schizophrenia. The protein is a stable component of a multisubunit complex termed BLOC-1 (biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1). In the present study, the significance of the dystrobrevin-dysbindin interaction for BLOC-1 function was examined. Yeast two-hybrid analyses, and binding assays using recombinant proteins, demonstrated direct interaction involving coiled-coil-forming regions in both dysbindin and the dystrobrevins. However, recombinant proteins bearing the coiled-coil-forming regions of the dystrobrevins failed to bind endogenous BLOC-1 from HeLa cells or mouse brain or muscle, under conditions in which they bound the Dp71 isoform of dystrophin. Immunoprecipitation of endogenous dysbindin from brain or muscle resulted in robust co-immunoprecipitation of the pallidin subunit of BLOC-1 but no specific co-immunoprecipitation of dystrobrevin isoforms. Within BLOC-1, dysbindin is engaged in interactions with three other subunits, named pallidin, snapin and muted. We herein provide evidence that the same 69-residue region of dysbindin that is sufficient for dystrobrevin binding in vitro also contains the binding sites for pallidin and snapin, and at least part of the muted-binding interface. Functional, histological and immunohistochemical analyses failed to detect any sign of muscle pathology in BLOC-1-deficient, homozygous pallid mice. Taken together, these results suggest that dysbindin assembled into BLOC-1 is not a physiological binding partner of the dystrobrevins, likely due to engagement of its dystrobrevin-binding region in interactions with other subunits.

Animals↗

Dysbindin-1 is a synaptic and microtubular protein that binds brain snapin.

Variations in the gene encoding the novel protein dysbindin-1 (DTNBP1) are among the most commonly reported genetic variations associated with schizophrenia. Recent studies show that those variations are also associated with cognitive functioning in carriers with and without psychiatric diagnoses, suggesting a general role for dysbindin-1 in cognition. Such a role could stem from the protein's known ability to affect neuronal glutamate release. How dysbindin-1 might affect glutamate release nevertheless remains unknown without the discovery of the protein's neuronal binding partners and its subcellular locus of action. We demonstrate here that snapin is a binding partner of dysbindin-1 in vitro and in the brain. Tissue fractionation of whole mouse brains and human hippocampal formations revealed that both dysbindin-1 and snapin are concentrated in tissue enriched in synaptic vesicle membranes and less commonly in postsynaptic densities. It is not detected in presynaptic tissue fractions lacking synaptic vesicles. Consistent with that finding, immunoelectron microscopy showed that dysbindin-1 is located in (i) synaptic vesicles of axospinous terminals in the dentate gyrus inner molecular layer and CA1 stratum radiatum and in (ii) postsynaptic densities and microtubules of dentate hilus neurons and CA1 pyramidal cells. The labeled synapses are often asymmetric with thick postsynaptic densities suggestive of glutamatergic synapses, which are likely to be derived from dentate mossy cells and CA3 pyramidal cells. The function of dysbindin-1 in presynaptic, postsynaptic and microtubule locations may all be related to known functions of snapin.

Aged↗

Dysbindin, a novel coiled-coil-containing protein that interacts with the dystrobrevins in muscle and brain.

The dystrophin-associated protein complex (DPC) is required for the maintenance of muscle integrity during the mechanical stresses of contraction and relaxation. In addition to providing a membrane scaffold, members of the DPC such as the alpha-dystrobrevin protein family are thought to play an important role in intracellular signal transduction. To gain additional insights into the function of the DPC, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen for dystrobrevin-interacting proteins. Here we describe the identification of a dysbindin, a novel dystrobrevin-binding protein. Dysbindin is an evolutionary conserved 40-kDa coiled-coil-containing protein that binds to alpha- and beta-dystrobrevin in muscle and brain. Dystrophin and alpha-dystrobrevin are co-immunoprecipitated with dysbindin, indicating that dysbindin is DPC-associated in muscle. Dysbindin co-localizes with alpha-dystrobrevin at the sarcolemma and is up-regulated in dystrophin-deficient muscle. In the brain, dysbindin is found primarily in axon bundles and especially in certain axon terminals, notably mossy fiber synaptic terminals in the cerebellum and hippocampus. These findings have implications for the molecular pathology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and may provide an alternative route for anchoring dystrobrevin and the DPC to the muscle membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Abnormal dysbindin expression in cerebellar mossy fiber synapses in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The dystrophin-associated protein complex (DPC), comprising sarcoglycans, dystroglycans, dystrobrevins, and syntrophins, is a component of synapses both in muscle and brain. Dysbindin is a novel component of the DPC, which binds to beta-dystrobrevin and may serve as an adaptor protein that links the DPC to an intracellular signaling cascade. Disruption of the DPC results in muscular dystrophy, and mutations in the human ortholog of dysbindin have been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In both cases, patients also present with neurological symptoms reminiscent of cerebellar problems. In the mouse cerebellum, dysbindin immunoreactivity is expressed at high levels in a subset of mossy fiber synaptic glomeruli in the granular layer. Lower levels of dysbindin immunoreactivity are also detected in Purkinje cell dendrites. In the cerebellar vermis, dysbindin-immunoreactive glomeruli are restricted to an array of parasagittal stripes that bears a consistent relationship to Purkinje cell parasagittal band boundaries as defined by the expression of the respiratory isoenzyme zebrin II/aldolase c. In a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the mdx mutant, in which dystrophin is not expressed, there is a dramatic increase in the number of dysbindin-immunoreactive glomeruli in the posterior cerebellar vermis. Moreover, the topography of the terminal fields is disrupted, replacing the stripes by a homogeneous distribution. Abnormal synaptic organization in the cerebellum may contribute to the neurological problems associated with muscular dystrophy and schizophrenia.

Animals↗

The dysbindin gene in major depression: an association study.

The pathophysiological mechanisms, as well as the molecular loci of antidepressant drug action have not yet been established, but recent models proposed that several adaptive mechanisms in signal transduction cascades beyond the receptor and reuptake systems are involved in antidepressant action and play an important role in the etiology of affective disorders. In this context, the dysbindin gene (dystrobrevin-binding-protein 1, DTNBP1), which was recently reported to be associated with schizophrenia seems to be an interesting candidate gene for affective disorders. Dysbindin is widely expressed in the human brain and binds to the dystrophin-associated protein complex (DPC) which appears to be involved in signal transduction pathways, which have been repeatedly investigated and described as altered or disturbed in affective disorders [McLeod et al. [2003: Psychopharmacol Bull 35:24-41]; Brambilla et al. [2003: Mol Psychiatry 8:721-737]]. Therefore, we investigated whether five SNPs in the dysbindin gene could be susceptibility factors in the ethiology of major depression or for the response to antidepressant treatment in a sample of 293 patients compared to 220 healthy controls. Applying single SNP evaluation, as well as haplotype analysis we could not detect an association between the dysbindin polymorphisms and major depression or the response to antidepressant treatment. In conclusion, our results suggest that SNPs in the dysbindin gene are unlikely to play a major role in the pathophysiology of major depression or are in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with a neighboring mutation or gene. Further analysis are needed to confirm these results.

Adult↗

Hyperactivation of midbrain dopaminergic system in schizophrenia could be attributed to the down-regulation of dysbindin.

Extraordinal activation of nigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic systems (midbrain dopaminergic system) is thought to be one of the most important etiologies for schizophrenia, though the reason why unusual hyperactivation of the dopaminergic system occurs in the schizophrenic brain is quite obscure. Dysbindin, one of the most susceptible genes for schizophrenia, has been reported to be reduced in the schizophrenic brain. In situ hybridization analysis showed the mRNA expression of dysbindin in the mouse substantia nigra. Furthermore, suppression of dysbindin expression in PC12 cells resulted in an increase of the expression of SNAP25, which plays an important role in neurotransmitter release, and increased the release of dopamine. On the other hand, up-regulation of dysbindin expression in PC12 cells showed a tendency to decrease the expression of SNAP25. These data suggest that dysbindin might regulate the dopamine release of the dopaminergic system via modulation of the expression of SNAP25.

Animals↗

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 7 (HPS-7) results from mutant dysbindin, a member of the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex 1 (BLOC-1).

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS; MIM 203300) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism, prolonged bleeding and pulmonary fibrosis due to abnormal vesicle trafficking to lysosomes and related organelles, such as melanosomes and platelet dense granules. In mice, at least 16 loci are associated with HPS, including sandy (sdy; ref. 7). Here we show that the sdy mutant mouse expresses no dysbindin protein owing to a deletion in the gene Dtnbp1 (encoding dysbindin) and that mutation of the human ortholog DTNBP1 causes a novel form of HPS called HPS-7. Dysbindin is a ubiquitously expressed protein that binds to alpha- and beta-dystrobrevins, components of the dystrophin-associated protein complex (DPC) in both muscle and nonmuscle cells. We also show that dysbindin is a component of the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex 1 (BLOC-1; refs. 9-11), which regulates trafficking to lysosome-related organelles and includes the proteins pallidin, muted and cappuccino, which are associated with HPS in mice. These findings show that BLOC-1 is important in producing the HPS phenotype in humans, indicate that dysbindin has a role in the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles and identify unexpected interactions between components of DPC and BLOC-1.

Animals↗

Dysbindin-1 is reduced in intrinsic, glutamatergic terminals of the hippocampal formation in schizophrenia.

Eleven studies now report significant associations between schizophrenia and certain haplotypes of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene encoding dysbindin-1 at 6p22.3. Dysbindin-1 is best known as dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 (DTNBP1) and may thus be associated with the dystrophin glycoprotein complex found at certain postsynaptic sites in the brain. Contrary to expectations, however, we found that when compared to matched, nonpsychiatric controls, 73-93% of cases in two schizophrenia populations displayed presynaptic dysbindin-1 reductions averaging 18-42% (P = 0.027-0.0001) at hippocampal formation sites lacking neuronal dystrobrevin (i.e., beta-dystrobrevin). The reductions, which were not observed in the anterior cingulate of the same schizophrenia cases, occurred specifically in terminal fields of intrinsic, glutamatergic afferents of the subiculum, the hippocampus proper, and especially the inner molecular layer of the dentate gyrus (DGiml). An inversely correlated increase in vesicular glutamate transporter-1 (VGluT-1) occurred in DGiml of the same schizophrenia cases. Those changes occurred without evidence of axon terminal loss or neuroleptic effects on dysbindin-1 or VGluT-1. Our findings indicate that presynaptic dysbindin-1 reductions independent of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex are frequent in schizophrenia and are related to glutamatergic alterations in intrinsic hippocampal formation connections. Such changes may contribute to the cognitive deficits common in schizophrenia.

Adult↗

Association study of the dysbindin (DTNBP1) gene in schizophrenia from the Japanese population.

Dysbindin (DTNBP1: dystrobrevin binding protein 1), located on 6p22.3, is a candidate susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. Several studies, mostly in Caucasians, have provided evidence for an association between schizophrenia and the gene, although no common polymorphism or haploytpe has been established. In Asian populations, two studies investigated a limited number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of dysbindin and observed support for the association. In the present study, we investigated 12 SNPs of dysbindin, including those examined in previous Asian studies, and the corresponding haplotypes in a Japanese people with schizophrenia. As a result, no significant difference was observed between patients and controls in allelic frequencies or genotypic distributions of the 12 SNPs. Permutation test however showed significant differences in frequencies of the estimated 10-marker haplotypes between patients and controls (global p = 0.006). The present study may provide further support for an association between dysbindin and schizophrenia in Asian populations. The results might be similar to a previous Asian study, but specific haplotypes suggested for the association differed between the studies. Studies with more markers and subjects may be required before firm conclusions can be reached.

Adult↗

Variance in neurocognitive performance is associated with dysbindin-1 in schizophrenia: a preliminary study.

Susceptibility genes for schizophrenia have been hypothesised to mediate liability for the disorder at least partly by influencing cognitive performance. We investigated the association between genotype and cognitive performance for a Dysbindin risk haplotype which is associated with schizophrenia in our sample. Fifty-two patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (24 risk haplotypes carriers versus 28 non-risk haplotype carriers) were assessed in areas of cognition showing evidence of familial deficits in schizophrenia. Verbal and spatial memory, working memory, and attentional control was assessed using selected measures from the Weschler memory scale (WMS), Cambridge automated test battery (CANTAB), continuous performance test (CPT), and a simple go/no-go task. Pre-morbid IQ was also assessed using the Weschler Test of Adult Reading (WTAR). Patients carrying the Dysbindin risk haplotype showed significantly lower spatial working memory performance than patients who were non-risk carriers, with genotype explaining 12% of variance in performance. Our study suggests that the increased risk for schizophrenia associated with dysbindin may be partly mediated by its influence on pre-frontal function.

Adolescent↗

Schizophrenia genetics: dysbindin under the microscope.

It is well established that genetic factors strongly contribute to the susceptibility of an individual to schizophrenia. Straub, Kendler and colleagues have published the first of several articles demonstrating a genetic association between schizophrenia and the gene encoding the dystrobrevin-binding protein dysbindin. Although no mutations in the dysbindin gene have been found, the recent identification of a specific risk haplotype in independent samples provides further evidence that dysbindin is a possible schizophrenia susceptibility gene.

Animals↗

Genetic variation in the 6p22.3 gene DTNBP1, the human ortholog of the mouse dysbindin gene, is associated with schizophrenia.

Prior evidence has supported the existence of multiple susceptibility genes for schizophrenia. Multipoint linkage analysis of the 270 Irish high-density pedigrees that we have studied, as well as results from several other samples, suggest that at least one such gene is located in region 6p24-21. In the present study, family-based association analysis of 36 simple sequence-length-polymorphism markers and of 17 SNP markers implicated two regions, separated by approximately 7 Mb. The first region, and the focus of this report, is 6p22.3. In this region, single-nucleotide polymorphisms within the 140-kb gene DTNBP1 (dystrobrevin-binding protein 1, or dysbindin) are strongly associated with schizophrenia. Uncorrected, empirical P values produced by the program TRANSMIT were significant (P<.01) for a number of individual SNP markers, and most remained significant when the data were restricted to include only one affected offspring per nuclear family per extended pedigree; multiple three-marker haplotypes were highly significant (P=.008-.0001) under the restricted conditions. The pattern of linkage disequilibrium is consistent with the presence of more than one susceptibility allele, but this important issue is unresolved. The number of markers tested in the adjacent genes, all of which are negative, is not sufficient to rule out the possibility that the dysbindin gene is not the actual susceptibility gene, but this possibility appears to be very unlikely. We conclude that further investigation of dysbindin is warranted.

Animals↗

Dysbindin-1 and schizophrenia: from genetics to neuropathology.

The gene encoding dysbindin-1 has recently been implicated in susceptibility to schizophrenia. In this issue of the JCI, Talbot et al. show that, contrary to expectations, dysbindin-1 is located presynaptically in glutamatergic neurons and is reduced at these locations in schizophrenia. Further studies of dysbindin-1 and the proteins with which it interacts can be expected to throw light on the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Brain↗

Association of the dysbindin gene with bipolar affective disorder.

OBJECTIVE: In the study of bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia, there is some evidence suggesting a phenotypic and genetic overlap between the two disorders. A possible link between bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia remains arguable, however. The authors hypothesized that dysbindin, which is a probable susceptibility gene for schizophrenia, was associated with bipolar affective disorder and tested this hypothesis using a case-control design study. METHOD: Participants included 213 patients with bipolar I disorder and 197 comparison subjects. In each subject, 10 polymorphisms in the dysbindin gene were genotyped and assessed. RESULTS: Two polymorphisms showed individual genotypic association with bipolar I disorder. Multiple marker haplotypes were more strongly associated, with the rarer of the two common haplotypes being overrepresented in the patients with bipolar affective disorder. A similar finding was reported in patients with schizophrenia in a previous study. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the human dysbindin gene may play a role in the susceptibility to bipolar affective disorder, which underscores a potentially important area of etiological overlap with schizophrenia. The existence of shared genetic risk factors will, in time, lead to changes in the current nosology of major psychoses.

Bipolar Disorder↗

Effect of antipsychotic drugs on DISC1 and dysbindin expression in mouse frontal cortex and hippocampus.

Altered expression of Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) and dysbindin (DTNBP1), susceptibility genes for schizophrenia, in schizophrenic brain has been reported; however, the possible effect of antipsychotics on the expression levels of these genes has not yet been studied. We measured the mRNA expression levels of these genes in frontal cortex and hippocampus of mice chronically treated with typical and atypical antipsychotics by a real-time quantitative RT-PCR method. We found that atypical antipsychotics, olanzapine and risperidone, in a clinically relevant dose increased DISC1 expression levels in frontal cortex, while a typical antipsychotic, haloperidol, did not. No significant effect on dysbindin expression levels was observed in either brain region. These data suggest that prior evidence of decreased expression of dysbindin in postmortem brain of schizophrenics is not likely to be a simple artifact of antemortem drug treatment. Our results also suggest a potential role of DISC1 in the therapeutic mechanisms of certain atypical antipsychotics.

Actins↗