https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 Gene expression in the brain of mutant mouse models of human iron overload https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:14032 Wed 11 Apr 2018 16:55:30 AEST ]]> Brain iron accumulation affects myelin-related molecular systems implicated in a rare neurogenetic disease family with neuropsychiatric features https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:29981 0.05). Overlap (P<0.0001) of differentially expressed genes in Hfe -/- × Tfr2 mut brain with human gene co-expression networks suggests iron loading influences expression of NBIA-related and myelin-related genes co-expressed in normal human basal ganglia. There was overlap (P<0.0001) of genes differentially expressed in Hfe -/- × Tfr2 mut brain and post-mortem NBIA basal ganglia. Hfe -/- × Tfr2 mut mice were hyperactive (P<0.0112) without apparent cognitive impairment by IntelliCage testing (P>0.05). These results implicate myelin-related systems involved in NBIA neuropathogenesis in early responses to iron loading. This may contribute to behavioral symptoms in NBIA and hemochromatosis and is relevant to patients with abnormal iron status and psychiatric disorders involving myelin abnormalities or resistant to conventional treatments.]]> Wed 11 Apr 2018 13:26:01 AEST ]]> Pathological relationships involving iron and myelin may constitute a shared mechanism linking various rare and common brain diseases https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:30189 Hfe−/−xTfr2mut mouse model. This was accompanied by altered expression of a group of myelin-related genes, including a suite of genes causatively linked to the rare disease family ‘neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation’ (NBIA). Expanded data mining and ontological analyses have now identified additional myelin-related transcriptome changes in response to brain iron loading. Concordance between the mouse transcriptome changes and human myelin-related gene expression networks in normal and NBIA basal ganglia testifies to potential clinical relevance. These analyses implicate, among others, genes linked to various rare central hypomyelinating leukodystrophies and peripheral neuropathies including Pelizaeus-Merzbacher-like disease and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease as well as genes linked to other rare neurological diseases such as Niemann-Pick disease. The findings may help understand interrelationships of iron and myelin in more common conditions such as hemochromatosis, multiple sclerosis and various psychiatric disorders.]]> Tue 20 Aug 2024 11:20:08 AEST ]]> Molecular genetic approaches to understanding the roles and regulation of iron in brain health and disease https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:10036 Sat 24 Mar 2018 08:12:16 AEDT ]]> Changes in brain transcripts related to Alzheimer's disease in a model of HFE hemochromatosis are not consistent with increased Alzheimer's disease risk https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:20882 -/- mice, a model of hemochromatosis, relative to age- and gender-matched wildtype controls. Classification by functional pathway analysis revealed transcript changes for various genes important in AD. There were decreases of up to 9-fold in transcripts for amyloid-β protein precursor, tau, apolipoprotein E, presenilin 1, and various other γ-secretase components, as well as Notch signaling pathway molecules. This included decreased transcripts for 'hairy and enhancer of split' Hes1 and Hes5, downstream targets of Notch canonical signaling. The reductions in Hes1 and Hes5 transcripts provide evidence that the changes in levels of transcripts for γ-secretase components and Notch signaling genes have functional consequences. The effects appeared relatively specific for AD in that few genes pertaining to other important neurodegenerative diseases, notably Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, or to inflammation, oxidative stress, or apoptosis, showed altered transcript levels. The observed effects on AD-related gene transcripts do not appear to be consistent with increased AD risk in HFE hemochromatosis and might, if anything, be predicted to protect against AD to some extent. As Hfe-/- mice did not have higher brain iron levels than wildtype controls, these studies highlight the need for further research in models of more severe hemochromatosis with brain iron loading.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:57:56 AEDT ]]> Brain transcriptome perturbations in the Hfe<sup>-/-</sup> mouse model of genetic iron loading https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:21833 HFE gene. There is evidence from both human and animal studies that HFE gene variants may affect brain function and modify risks of brain disease. To investigate how disruption of HFE influences brain transcript levels, we used microarray and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to assess the brain transcriptome in Hfe−/− mice relative to wildtype AKR controls (age 10 weeks, n ≥ 4/group). The Hfe−/− mouse brain showed numerous significant changes in transcript levels (p < 0.05) although few of these related to proteins directly involved in iron homeostasis. There were robust changes of at least 2-fold in levels of transcripts for prominent genes relating to transcriptional regulation (FBJ osteosarcoma oncogene Fos, early growth response genes), neurotransmission (glutamate NMDA receptor Grin1, GABA receptor Gabbr1) and synaptic plasticity and memory (calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα Camk2a). As previously reported for dietary iron-supplemented mice, there were altered levels of transcripts for genes linked to neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, a disease characterized by excessive lipofuscin deposition. Labile iron is known to enhance lipofuscin generation which may accelerate brain aging. The findings provide evidence that iron loading disorders can considerably perturb levels of transcripts for genes essential for normal brain function and may help explain some of the neurologic signs and symptoms reported in hemochromatosis patients.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:52:17 AEDT ]]> Clinical perspectives on hereditary hemochromatosis https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:5556 Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:49:12 AEDT ]]> Brain transcriptome perturbations in the transferrin receptor 2 mutant mouse support the case for brain changes in iron loading disorders, including effects relating to long-term depression and long-term potentiation https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:23144 mut), a model of a rare type of hereditary hemochromatosis, relative to wildtype control mice. The results were compared with our previous findings in dietary iron-supplemented wildtype mice and Hfe−/− mice, a model of a common type of hereditary hemochromatosis. For transcripts showing significant changes relative to controls across all three models, there was perfect (100%) directional concordance (i.e. transcripts were increased in all models or decreased in all models). Comparison of the two models of hereditary hemochromatosis, which showed more pronounced changes than the dietary iron-supplemented mice, revealed numerous common molecular effects. Pathway analyses highlighted changes for genes relating to long-term depression (6.8-fold enrichment, p = 5.4 × 10−7) and, to a lesser extent, long-term potentiation (3.7-fold enrichment, p = 0.01), with generalized reductions in transcription of key genes from these pathways, which are involved in modulating synaptic strength and efficacy and are essential for memory and learning. The agreement across the models suggests the findings are robust and strengthens previous evidence that iron loading disorders affect the brain. Perturbations of brain phenomena such as long-term depression and long-term potentiation might partly explain neurologic symptoms reported for some hemochromatosis patients.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:10:33 AEDT ]]> Hemochromatosis mutations, brain iron imaging, and dementia in the UK Biobank cohort https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:39219 HFE p.C282Y variant can cause iron overload and hemochromatosis, mostly in homozygous males. Objective: To estimate p.C282Y associations with brain MRI features plus incident dementia diagnoses during follow-up in a large community cohort. Methods: UK Biobank participants with follow-up hospitalization records (mean 10.5 years). MRI in 206 p.C282Y homozygotes versus 23,349 without variants, including T2* measures (lower values indicating more iron). Results: European ancestry participants included 2,890 p.C282Y homozygotes. Male p.C282Y homozygotes had lower T2* measures in areas including the putamen, thalamus, and hippocampus, compared to no HFE mutations. Incident dementia was more common in p.C282Y homozygous men (Hazard Ratio HR = 1.83; 95% CI 1.23 to 2.72, p = 0.003), as was delirium. There were no associations in homozygote women or in heterozygotes. Conclusion: Studies are needed of whether early iron reduction prevents or slows related brain pathologies in male HFE p.C282Y homozygotes.]]> Fri 27 May 2022 11:37:31 AEST ]]>