Convergence and Divergence in the Genetics of Psychiatric Disorders From Pathways to Developmental Stages.

Biological Psychiatry
Shahar ShohatSagiv Shifman

Abstract

In the past decade, the identification of susceptibility genes for psychiatric disorders has become routine, but understanding the biology underlying these discoveries has proven extremely difficult. The large number of potential risk genes and the genetic overlap between disorders are major obstacles for studying the etiology of these conditions. Systems biology approaches relying on gene ontologies, gene coexpression, and protein-protein interactions are used to identify convergence of the genes in relation to biological processes, cell types, brain areas, and developmental stages. Across psychiatric disorders, there is a clear enrichment for genes expressed in the brain and especially in the cortex, but a higher resolution is vastly dependent on sample size and statistical power. There is indication that susceptibility genes tend to be expressed in the brain during periods preceding the typical onset of the disorders. Thus, the role of genes in prenatal brain development is more pronounced for childhood-onset disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, but is much less so for bipolar disorder and depression. One of the most consistent findings across multiple disorders and classe...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 3, 2021·Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology·Marine Jequier GygaxJulien Favre
Aug 14, 2021·Translational Psychiatry·Julian Cheron, Alban de Kerchove d'Exaerde

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