A chromosome 16p13.11 microduplication causes hyperactivity through dysregulation of miR-484/protocadherin-19 signaling

Mol Psychiatry. 2017 Mar;22(3):364-374. doi: 10.1038/mp.2016.106. Epub 2016 Jul 5.

Abstract

Chromosome 16p13.11 microduplication is a risk factor associated with various neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disabilities, developmental delay and autistic spectrum disorder. The underlying molecular mechanism of this genetic variation remained unknown, but its core genetic locus-conserved across mice and humans-contains seven genes. Here, we generated bacterial artificial chromosome-transgenic mice carrying a human 16p13.11 locus, and these mice showed the behavioral hyperactivity phenotype. We identified miR-484 as the responsible gene using a combination of expression and functional analyses. Mature miR-484 was expressed during active cortical neurogenesis, and overexpression of miR-484 decreased proliferation and increased neural progenitor differentiation in vivo. Luciferase screening identified the 3'-untranslated region of protocadherin-19 (Pcdh19) as a target of miR-484. The effect of miR-484 on neurogenesis was rescued by ectopic PCDH19 expression. These results demonstrate that miR-484 promotes neurogenesis by inhibiting PCDH19. Dysregulation of neurogenesis by imbalanced miR-484/PCDH19 expression contributes to the pathogenesis of 16p13.11 microduplication syndrome.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / genetics*
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 / genetics
  • Developmental Disabilities / genetics
  • Gene Duplication / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • Humans
  • Hyperkinesis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neurogenesis / genetics
  • Protocadherins
  • Risk Factors
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • MIRN484 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • PCDH19 protein, human
  • Protocadherins