Convergent lines of evidence supporting involvement of NFKB1 in schizophrenia. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Long, Jing; Tian, Lin; Baranova, Ancha; Cao, Hongbao; Yao, Yao; Rao, Shuquan; Zhang, Fuquan
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 312(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Schizophrenia -- NFKB1 -- miRNA -- Network -- IL6 -- miR-155-5p -- let-7a-5p -- GSK3B; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114588
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlight: rs230529 was significantly associated with regional gray matter density and NFKB1 expression in multiple brain regions, including cerebellum. Regulatory targets of NFKB1 (108/305) are enriched in SZ susceptibility genes, including DRD2, AKT1, GSK3B, and IL6. A substantial proportion of NFKB1 target genes were subject to combinatorial regulation by NFKB1 and miRNAs, constituting a hybrid NFKB1 -miRNA-gene regulatory network, which showed a disease status-dependent pattern. Multiple NFKB1 -related molecules are shown to be implicated in the treatment of SZ, making NFKB1 a potential new target for anti-SZ drug development. Abstract: Objectives: NFKB1 was associated with treatment-refractory schizophrenia (SZ) and response to antipsychotics; however, the underlying mechanisms through which NFKB1 confers its risk for SZ are largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the potential role of NFKB1 in SZ. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the association of the risk SNP rs230529 of NFKB1 with gray matter density and with NFKB1 mRNA levels in various human brain regions. The spatiotemporal expression pattern of NFKB1 in human brains was explored. We constructed a miRNA- NFKB1 -target gene regulatory network and analyzed its druggability through targeting NFKB1 for SZ treatment. Results: NFKB1 showed the highest expression levels in the cerebellum, in which these levels were stratified by genotypes of rs230529. Interestingly, the allelic state of rs230529 was significantly associated with regional gray matter density in multiple brain regions (including the cerebellum), which also differed between patients with schizophrenia and controls. Furthermore, regulatory targets of NFKB1 were enriched among SZ susceptibility genes. A substantial proportion of NFKB1 target genes were subject to combinatorial regulation by NFKB1 and miRNAs, constituting a hybrid NFKB1- miRNA-gene regulatory network. Some components of this network showed expression changes relevant to both the disease and the treatment. Finally, we detected the dynamic changes of NFKB1-miR-155-5p-GSK3B and NFKB1-miR-155-5p/let-7a-5p-IL6 networks in course of the treatment of SZ. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings support the involvement of NFKB1 -mediated dysregulation in the development of SZ.