21 avril 2017

L'haploinsuffisence pour les gènes ANKRD11 fait la différence entre les syndromes de microdélétion de KBG et 16q24.3: 12 nouveaux cas

Aperçu: G.M.
La suppression 16q24 impliquant le gène ANKRD11, allant de 137 kb à 2 Mb, a été associée à un syndrome de microdélétion caractérisé par une déficience cognitive variable, un trouble du spectre de l'autisme, des dysmorphies faciales avec des anomalies dentaires, des anomalies cérébrales affectant essentiellement le corps calleux et une faible taille.
 

Eur J Hum Genet. 2017 Apr 19. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2017.49.

Haploinsufficiency for ANKRD11-flanking genes makes the difference between KBG and 16q24.3 microdeletion syndromes: 12 new cases

Author information

1
Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
2
Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
3
The Epilepsy Society, Chalfont-St-Peter, Bucks, UK.
4
Epilepsy Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
5
Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
6
Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences 'Mario Serio', Medical Genetics Unit, Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
7
Servizio di Consulenza Genetica, Centro Provinciale di Coordinamento della Rete delle Malattie Rare, Azienda Sanitaria dell'Alto-Adige, Bolzano, Italy.
8
Department of Clinical Genetics, St Michael's Hospital, Bristol, UK.
9
Institut de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, CHRU de Lille, France.
10
Genetic Health Service NZ-Northern Hub, Building 30 Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
11
Merseyside and Cheshire Clinical Genetics Service, Liverpool Women's (NHS) Foundation Hospital Trust, Liverpool, UK.
12
Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
13
Laboratory of Cytogenetics and Genome Research, Center of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
14
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
15
Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
16
INSERM, UMR 1141, Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France.
17
Cytogenetics Unit, AP-HP, Jean Verdier Hospital, Bondy, France.
18
Paris 13 University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UFR SMBH, Bobigny, France.
19
Department of Pediatrics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
20
Department of Clinical Genetics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
21
Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
22
CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Scarl, Naples, Italy.

Abstract

16q24 deletion involving the ANKRD11 gene, ranging from 137 kb to 2 Mb, have been associated with a microdeletion syndrome characterized by variable cognitive impairment, autism spectrum disorder, facial dysmorphisms with dental anomalies, brain abnormalities essentially affecting the corpus callosum and short stature. On the other hand, patients carrying either deletions encompassing solely ANKRD11 or its loss-of-function variants were reported in association with the KBG syndrome, characterized by a very similar phenotype, including mild-to-moderate intellectual disability, short stature and macrodontia of upper incisors, with inter and intrafamilial variability. To assess whether the haploinsufficiency of ANKRD11-flanking genes, such as ZFPM1, CDH15 and ZNF778, contributed to either the severity of the neurological impairment or was associated with other clinical features, we collected 12 new cases with a 16q24.2q24.3 deletion (de novo in 11 cases), ranging from 343 kb to 2.3 Mb. In 11 of them, the deletion involved the ANKRD11 gene, whereas in 1 case only flanking genes upstream to it were deleted. By comparing the clinical and genetic features of our patients with those previously reported, we show that the severity of the neurological phenotype and the frequency of congenital heart defects characterize the deletions that, besides ANKRD11, contain ZFPM1, CDH15 and ZNF778 as well. Moreover, the presence of thrombocytopenia and astigmatism should be taken into account to distinguish between 16q24 microdeletion syndrome and KBG syndrome. The single patient not deleted for ANKRD11, whose phenotype is characterized by milder psychomotor delay, cardiac congenital malformation, thrombocytopenia and astigmatism, confirms all this data.European Journal of Human Genetics advance online publication, 19 April 2017; doi:10.1038/ejhg.2017.49.
PMID: 28422132
DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2017.49

L'analyse des ensembles génétiques montre l'association entre les cibles FMRP et le trouble du spectre de l'autisme

Aperçu: G.M.
Malgré sa haute héritabilité et les progrès substantiels réalisés dans l'élucidation des associations génétiques, les mécanismes biologiques du TSA sont largement inconnus. L'objectif de la recherche est d'étudier la contribution de la variation génétique commune aux voies biologiques fonctionnellement impliquées dans les TSA.
La sélection des ensembles de gènes a été basée sur des associations de troubles psychiatriques précédemment rapportées et a permis de tester des ensembles synaptiques et gliales spécifiques, un ensemble de gènes de la voie glutamate, des ensembles de gènes mitochondriaux et des ensembles de gènes constitués de protéines fragiles , de protéines de retardement X (FMRP) .  
Au total, 32 ensembles de gènes ont été testés. 
Les résultats indiquent l'implication des transcriptions ciblées par FMRP dans les TSA dans les variations génétiques communes. Cette nouvelle découverte est conforme à la littérature, car le FMRP a été lié au syndrome du X fragile, au développement des troubles musculo-squelettiques et au développement cognitif dans des études de séquençage intégral et de variantes numériques. Cet ensemble de gènes a également été lié à la schizophrénie, ce qui suggère que les transcrits ciblés par le FMRP pourraient être impliqués dans un mécanisme général avec une étiologie génétique partagée entre les troubles psychiatriques.  

Eur J Hum Genet. 2017 Apr 19. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2017.55.

Gene-set analysis shows association between FMRP targets and autism spectrum disorder

Author information

1
Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
3
Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
4
Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by problems with social interaction, communication, and repetitive and restricted behavior. Despite its high heritability and the substantial progress made in elucidating genetic associations, the corresponding biological mechanisms are largely unknown. Our objective is to investigate the contribution of common genetic variation to biological pathways functionally involved in ASD. We conducted gene-set analyses to identify ASD-associated functional biological pathways using the statistical tools MAGMA and INRICH. Gene-set selection was based on previously reported associations with psychiatric disorders and resulted in testing of specific synaptic and glial sets, a glutamate pathway gene-set, mitochondrial gene-sets and gene-sets consisting of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) targets. In total 32 gene-sets were tested. We used Psychiatric Genomics Consortium genome-wide association studies summary statistics of ASD. The study is based on the largest ASD sample to date (N=5305). We found one significantly associated gene-set consisting of FMRP-targeting transcripts (MAGMA: p corr.=0.014, INRICH: p corr.=0.031; all competitive P-values). The results indicate the involvement of FMRP-targeted transcripts in ASD in common genetic variation. This novel finding is in line with the literature as FMRP has been linked to fragile X syndrome, ASD and cognitive development in whole-exome sequencing and copy number variant studies. This gene-set has also been linked to Schizophrenia suggesting that FMRP-targeted transcripts might be involved in a general mechanism with shared genetic etiology between psychiatric disorders.European Journal of Human Genetics advance online publication, 19 April 2017; doi:10.1038/ejhg.2017.55.
PMID: 28422133
DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2017.55

L'exposition prénatale aux agonistes β2-adrénergiques et le risque de trouble du spectre de l'autisme chez les descendants

Aperçu: G.M.
L'étude a à examiner le risque de troubles du spectre de l'autisme (TSA) dans la progéniture qui ont été exposés à une utilisation maternelle de l'agoniste β2-adrénergique (β2AA) pendant la grossesse.
Les résultats montrent un risque accru de TSA chez les enfants exposés (IRR = 1.28, 1.11-1.47), en particulier pour ceux qui ont été exposés au cours de la deuxième période (IRR = 1.38, 1.14-1.67). Toutefois, lorsqu'on a prolongé la durée du temps d'exposition à 1 an avant la grossesse, l'étude montre une association similaire chez les enfants nés de femmes qui ont reçu un traitement β2AA pendant la grossesse (IRR = 1.33, 1.11-1.59) à celui des enfants nés chez les femmes qui ont reçu un traitement β2AA, 1 an avant la grossesse
Notre constat a suggéré que les enfants nés de femmes qui ont utilisé β2AA pendant la grossesse ont un risque accru de TSA plus tard, ce qui est plus susceptible d'être dû aux maladies maternelles sous-jacentes que l'exposition à β2AA elle-même.

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2017 Apr 19. doi: 10.1002/pds.4214.

Prenatal exposure to β2-adrenoreceptor agonists and the risk of autism spectrum disorders in offspring

Author information

1
Department of Women and Children's Health Care, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
2
Key Lab of Reproductive Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR; IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
3
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark.
4
Department of Clinical Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

We aimed to examine the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the offspring who were exposed to maternal use of β2-adrenoreceptor agonist (β2AA) during pregnancy.

METHODS:

This is a population-based cohort study including all live singleton births in Denmark from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2008. Children born to mothers who used β2AA during pregnancy were categorized as exposed, and all other children were included in the unexposed group. Cases of ASDs were identified from the Danish Psychiatric Central Register and the Danish Patient Register. Incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% confidence interval were estimated by Poisson regression models.

RESULTS:

Among 751 888 children in the cohort, 9098 (1.21%) received a diagnosis of ASDs. We observed an increased risk of ASDs in the exposed children (IRR = 1.28, 1.11-1.47), especially for those who were exposed during the second trimester period (IRR = 1.38, 1.14-1.67). However, when extending the exposure time window to 1 year prior to pregnancy, we observed a similar association in children born to women who received β2AA treatment during pregnancy (IRR = 1.33, 1.11-1.59) to that in children born to women who received β2AA treatment 1 year prior to pregnancy (IRR = 1.35, 1.17-1.56).

CONCLUSION:

Our finding suggested that children born to women who used β2AA during pregnancy have an increased risk of ASDs in later life, which is more likely due to underlying maternal diseases rather than the exposure to β2AA itself. However, further study, which would better differentiate the effects between indication and medicine, is needed to corroborate the finding. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PMID: 28422339
DOI: 10.1002/pds.4214

Caractéristiques des étudiants recevant des services de thérapie professionnelle en transition et facteurs liés au succès postsecondaire

Aperçu: G.M.
L'autisme, la paralysie cérébrale et le handicap intellectuel étaient les troubles les plus fréquemment signalées.  
La participation à l'enseignement postsecondaire était significativement associée à l'utilisation fonctionnelle des bras et des mains.  
L'emploi au postsecondaire était significativement associé à la compréhension verbale.  
La participation aux activités communautaires était significativement liée à l'état de santé des élèves.
La participation aux services communautaires était significativement liée à l'utilisation fonctionnelle des bras et des mains par les élèves.
Les praticiens de la thérapie computationnelle, activités de groupe (ateliers, clubs, etc) et ergothérapie, peuvent contribuer aux équipes de transition en intervenant pour améliorer les capacités fonctionnelles et l'état de santé.

Am J Occup Ther. 2017 May/Jun;71(3):7103100010p1-7103100010p8. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2017.024927.

Characteristics of Students Receiving Occupational Therapy Services in Transition and Factors Related to Postsecondary Success

Author information

1
Maria M. Eismann, BS, is Student Research Assistant, Transition, Employment, and Technology Lab, The Ohio State University, Columbus.
2
Rebecca Weisshaar, BS, is Student Research Assistant, Transition, Employment, and Technology Lab, The Ohio State University, Columbus.
3
Cristina Capretta, MOT, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Englewood Schools, Englewood, CO.
4
Dennis S. Cleary, MS, OTD, OTR/L, is Co-Director, Transition, Employment, and Technology Lab, and Assistant Professor and Director of Doctoral and Experiential Learning, Division of Occupational Therapy, The Ohio State University, Columbus.
5
Anne V. Kirby, PhD, OTR/L, is Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
6
Andrew C. Persch, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, is Director, Transition, Employment, and Technology Lab, and Assistant Professor, Division of Occupational Therapy, The Ohio State University, Columbus; andrew.persch@osumc.edu.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study had a twofold purpose: (1) identify the characteristics of people with disabilities who received occupational therapy services during their transition to adulthood and (2) determine factors associated with their successful postsecondary transition.

METHOD:

This study was a secondary analysis of National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 data. Data analyses include descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and simple linear regression.

RESULTS:

Autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disability were the most commonly reported disability classifications. Participation in postsecondary education was significantly associated with functional use of arms and hands. Postsecondary employment was significantly associated with verbal comprehension. Participation in community activities was significantly related to students' health status, and participation in community service was significantly related to students' functional use of arms and hands.

CONCLUSION:

Providing transition services to students with disabilities remains an emerging area of practice. Occupational therapy practitioners may contribute to transition teams by intervening to improve functional abilities and health status.
PMID: 28422625
DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2017.024927

Propriétés acoustiques des pleurs des nourrissons âgés de 12 mois à haut risque de troubles du spectre de l'autisme

Traduction: G.M.

J Autism Dev Disord. 2017 Apr 19. doi: 10.1007/s10803-017-3119-z.

Acoustic Properties of Cries in 12-Month Old Infants at High-Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Author information

1
Telethon Kids Institute & School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. lisa.unwin@research.uwa.edu.au
2
School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. lisa.unwin@research.uwa.edu.au.
3
School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.
4
School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
5
School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
6
School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
7
Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
8
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
9
Telethon Kids Institute & School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

Abstract

Il existe des preuves préliminaires que les frères et sœurs infantiles des enfants atteints d'un trouble du spectre autistique (ASD) ont un schéma de cries atypique, caractérisé par une fréquence fondamentale plus élevée et une dysphonation accrue. Cette étude prospective a recueilli plusieurs échantillons pleurs de frères et sœurs de 12 mois d'enfants atteints de TSA (n = 22, groupe «à haut risque») et âgés de 12 mois sans antécédents familiaux de TSA (n = 27, groupe «à faible risque» ). Bien qu'il n'y ait pas de différence entre les groupes dans la fréquence fondamentale ou le degré de phonation des échantillons cry, la durée de chaque unité cry est significativement plus courte chez les frères et sœurs à haut risque (p <0,05). Les six frères et sœurs infantiles qui ont reçu un diagnostic de TSA à l'âge de deux ans ont eu une durée de gravité enregistrée la plus courte.
There is preliminary evidence that infant siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have an atypical pattern of cry, characterized by higher fundamental frequency and increased dysphonation. This prospective study collected multiple cry samples of 12-month old siblings of children with ASD (n = 22, 'high-risk' group) and 12-month olds with no family history of ASD (n = 27, 'low risk' group). While there was no difference between groups in the fundamental frequency or degree of phonation of the cry samples, the duration of each cry unit was significantly shorter in the high-risk siblings (p < .05). The six infant siblings who received a diagnosis of ASD at age two had amongst the shortest recorded cry durations.
PMID: 28425020
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3119-z

Une revue systématique des interventions langagières pragmatiques pour les enfants avec un diagnostic de trouble du spectre de l'autisme

Aperçu: G.M.
Il existe un besoin d'interventions fondées sur des données probantes pour les enfants avecv un diagnostic de trouble du spectre de l'autisme (TSA) afin de limiter l'impact psychosocial de longue durée de la déficience linguistique pragmatique. Cet examen systématique a permis d'identifier 22 études faisant état de 20 interventions linguistiques pragmatiques pour les enfants avec un diagnostic de TSA, âgés de 0 à 18 ans.
Les résultats ont révélé des approches prometteuses, indiquant que l'inclusion active de l'enfant et des parents dans l'intervention était un médiateur important de l'effet d'intervention.
L'âge du participant, l'établissement thérapeutique ou la modalité n'étaient pas des médiateurs importants entre les interventions et les mesures du langage pragmatique.  
Les effets à long terme de ces interventions et la généralisation de l'apprentissage vers de nouveaux contextes sont en grande partie inconnus.  

PLoS One. 2017 Apr 20;12(4):e0172242. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172242. eCollection 2017.

A systematic review of pragmatic language interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder

Author information

1
School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
2
Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
3
College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

Abstract

There is a need for evidence based interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to limit the life-long, psychosocial impact of pragmatic language impairments. This systematic review identified 22 studies reporting on 20 pragmatic language interventions for children with ASD aged 0-18 years. The characteristics of each study, components of the interventions, and the methodological quality of each study were reviewed. Meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of 15 interventions. Results revealed some promising approaches, indicating that active inclusion of the child and parent in the intervention was a significant mediator of intervention effect. Participant age, therapy setting or modality were not significant mediators between the interventions and measures of pragmatic language. The long-term effects of these interventions and the generalisation of learning to new contexts is largely unknown. Implications for clinical practice and directions for future research are discussed.
PMID: 28426832
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172242

Associations entre les fonctions exécutives et les résultats de la santé mentale chez les adultes avec un diagnostic de trouble du spectre de l'autisme

Aperçu: G.M.
Quarante-deux adultes avec un diagnostic de TSA ont complété les mesures de l'EF, de l'humeur et de concept de soi. Une meilleure formation de concept et des compétences d'inférence sociale ont été significativement associées à moins de symptômes d'anxiété.  
À l'inverse, les participants ayant un meilleur raisonnement non verbal, flexibilité cognitive et la cognition sociale ont signalé un concept de soi plus négatif et une auto-estime inférieure.  
Dans l'ensemble, les individus avec des EF altérées sont plus sujets à l'anxiété, alors que ceux qui ont une EF plus forte sont plus susceptibles d'avoir un concept de soi négatif.  
On recommande de dépister et de surveiller les problèmes de santé mentale chez les personnes avec un diagnostic de TSA, quel que soit leur niveau d'EF. 


Psychiatry Res. 2017 Apr 12;253:360-363. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.04.023.

Associations between executive functions and mental health outcomes for adults with autism spectrum disorder

Author information

1
School of Applied Psychology and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Behavioural Basis of Health, Griffith University, Australia. Electronic address: david.zimmerman@griffithuni.edu.au
2
School of Applied Psychology and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Behavioural Basis of Health, Griffith University, Australia.
3
School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University, Australia.
4
Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research (CYSAR), University of Queensland, Australia.

Abstract

Associations between executive functions (EF) and mental-health in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were examined. Forty-two adults with ASD completed measures of EF, mood and self-concept. Better concept formation and social inference skills were significantly associated with fewer anxiety symptoms. Conversely, participants with better non-verbal reasoning, cognitive flexibility and social cognition reported more negative self-concept and lower self-esteem. Overall, individuals with impaired EF are more prone to anxiety, whereas those with stronger EF are more likely to experience negative self-concept. Screening for and monitoring mental-health concerns in people with ASD regardless of their level of EF is recommended.
PMID: 28427035
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.04.023

L'ocytocine intranasale améliore la connectivité fonctionnelle corticostriatale intrinsèque chez les femmes

Aperçu: G.M.
L'ocytocine peut influencer divers comportements humains et la connectivité à travers les réseaux sous-corticaux et corticaux.  
Une analyse indépendante de l'expression du gène du récepteur de l'ocytocine (OXTR) dans les zones subcorticales et corticales humaines a été réalisée pour déterminer la plausibilité des effets directs de l'ocytocine sur l'OXTR. 
Chez les femmes, l'OXTR a été fortement exprimé dans les régions striatées et autres sous-corticales, mais a montré une expression modeste dans les zones corticales. L'ocytocine a augmenté la connectivité entre les circuits corticostriatals généralement impliqués dans la récompense, l'émotion, la communication sociale, le traitement de la langue et de la douleur. Cet effet a été de 1,39 écart-type au-dessus de l'effet nul d'une différence entre l'ocytocine et le placebo. Cet effet lié à l'ocytocine sur la connectivité corticostriatale covalente avec des traits autistiques, de sorte que l'augmentation de la connectivité associée à l'ocytocine était plus forte chez les personnes ayant des caractères autistiques plus élevés. En résumé, l'ocytocine a renforcé la connectivité corticostriatale chez les femmes, en particulier avec les réseaux corticaux impliqués dans les processus social-communicatifs, motivants et affectifs.  

Transl Psychiatry. 2017 Apr 18;7(4):e1099. doi: 10.1038/tp.2017.72.

Intranasal oxytocin enhances intrinsic corticostriatal functional connectivity in women

Author information

1
Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
2
Department of Psychology, Center for Applied Neuroscience, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
3
Department of Psychiatry, Child and Youth Mental Health Collaborative at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
4
Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
5
Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
6
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
7
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
8
Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
9
Brain Imaging Center, Icahn Institute of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
10
Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Icahn Institute of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
11
National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Council, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
12
CLASS Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.

Abstract

Oxytocin may influence various human behaviors and the connectivity across subcortical and cortical networks. Previous oxytocin studies are male biased and often constrained by task-based inferences. Here, we investigate the impact of oxytocin on resting-state connectivity between subcortical and cortical networks in women. We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data on 26 typically developing women 40 min following intranasal oxytocin administration using a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design. Independent components analysis (ICA) was applied to examine connectivity between networks. An independent analysis of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene expression in human subcortical and cortical areas was carried out to determine plausibility of direct oxytocin effects on OXTR. In women, OXTR was highly expressed in striatal and other subcortical regions, but showed modest expression in cortical areas. Oxytocin increased connectivity between corticostriatal circuitry typically involved in reward, emotion, social communication, language and pain processing. This effect was 1.39 standard deviations above the null effect of no difference between oxytocin and placebo. This oxytocin-related effect on corticostriatal connectivity covaried with autistic traits, such that oxytocin-related increase in connectivity was stronger in individuals with higher autistic traits. In sum, oxytocin strengthened corticostriatal connectivity in women, particularly with cortical networks that are involved in social-communicative, motivational and affective processes. This effect may be important for future work on neurological and psychiatric conditions (for example, autism), particularly through highlighting how oxytocin may operate differently for subsets of individuals.
PMID: 28418398
DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.72

Rétablissement des effets de l'ocytocine sur la préférence attentionnelle pour les visages chez l'autisme

Aperçu: G.M.
La réduction de la préférence attentionnelle pour les visages et les symptômes de l'anxiété sociale est fréquente dans les troubles du spectre de l'autisme.
L'ocytocine neuropéptique déclenche des fonctions anxiolytiques et améliore le regard, la reconnaissance de l'émotion du visage et les corrélations neuronales du traitement des visages dans le TSA. 
L'étude vérifie  si une dose unique d'oxytocine augmente l'attention sur les faces dans les TSA.  
Une dose unique d'ocytocine à 24 IU a été administrée dans un système randomisé, en double aveugle et contrôlé par placebo.
Sous placebo, les personnes avec diagnostic de TSA ont accordé moins d'attention aux visages présentés pendant 500 ms que les témoins.  
L'administration d'oxytocine a augmenté la répartition de l'attention sur les visages dans les TSA à un niveau observé dans les témoins.  
Des analyses secondaires ont révélé que ces effets d'ocytocine se sont produits principalement chez des personnes avec TSA ayant des niveaux élevés d'anxiété sociale qui ont été caractérisés par une évitement attentionnel des visage sous placebo.  
Ces résultats confirment une influence positive de l'ocytocine intranasale sur les processus d'attention sociale dans les TSA. En outre, ils suggèrent que l'ocytocine peut en particulier restaurer la préférence attentionnelle pour l'information faciale chez les personnes avec un diagnostic de TSA présentant une forte anxiété sociale.  
En  conclusion, les propriétés anxiolytiques de l'ocytocine peuvent expliquer en partie leurs effets positifs sur le fonctionnement socio-cognitif dans les TSA, comme l'amélioration du regard et la reconnaissance de l'émotion du visage. 


Transl Psychiatry. 2017 Apr 18;7(4):e1097. doi: 10.1038/tp.2017.67.

Restoring effects of oxytocin on the attentional preference for faces in autism

Author information

1
Department of Psychology, Laboratory for Biological and Personality Psychology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
2
Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
3
Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
4
Department of Psychiatry, Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, University Medical School Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Abstract

Reduced attentional preference for faces and symptoms of social anxiety are common in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The neuropeptide oxytocin triggers anxiolytic functions and enhances eye gaze, facial emotion recognition and neural correlates of face processing in ASD. Here we investigated whether a single dose of oxytocin increases attention to faces in ASD. As a secondary question, we explored the influence of social anxiety on these effects. We tested for oxytocin's effects on attention to neutral faces as compared to houses in a sample of 29 autistic individuals and 30 control participants using a dot-probe paradigm with two different presentation times (100 or 500 ms). A single dose of 24 IU oxytocin was administered in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Under placebo, ASD individuals paid less attention to faces presented for 500 ms than did controls. Oxytocin administration increased the allocation of attention toward faces in ASD to a level observed in controls. Secondary analyses revealed that these oxytocin effects primarily occurred in ASD individuals with high levels of social anxiety who were characterized by attentional avoidance of faces under placebo. Our results confirm a positive influence of intranasal oxytocin on social attention processes in ASD. Further, they suggest that oxytocin may in particular restore the attentional preference for facial information in ASD individuals with high social anxiety. We conclude that oxytocin's anxiolytic properties may partially account for its positive effects on socio-cognitive functioning in ASD, such as enhanced eye gaze and facial emotion recognition.
PMID: 28418399
DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.67