Construction of the First ‘Multiome’ Atlas: Tracking Human Cerebral Cortex Cell Development from Birth to Adulthood
A “multiome” atlas revealing brain cell development from fetal to adult stages has been generated by a research team from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Yale University School of Medicine.
This atlas simultaneously examines various genetic information types in the same biological sample, including the genome, transcriptome, and epigenome. It helps categorize cell types at various developmental stages and provides insights into chromatin structural changes preceding gene expression, which is vital for processes such as neuron formation. This study was published in Science Advances.
First ‘multiome’ cortex atlas: chromatin regions
The analysis also identified chromatin regions responsible for regulating genes crucial in human brain development. These regulatory regions often contained genetic signals associated with a higher risk of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
As per Panos Roussos, a Professor of Psychiatry and Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and the Director of the Center for Disease Neurogenomics at Icahn Mount Sinai, the brain’s development spans from embryogenesis to young adulthood.
The atlas development has offered valuable insights into the complex regulatory mechanisms governing brain development and its relation to diseases, particularly considering the variable onset age of various neurodevelopmental disorders.
The study received support from the National Institutes of Health’s BRAIN Initiative®. The comprehensive atlas is available online for other researchers to use in their work. It’s part of the BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN), an initiative launched in 2017 to create detailed atlases of the human and non-human primate brain at the cell-type level.
The importance of alterations in brain cell composition
The study underscores how changes in brain cell composition during development impact neuropsychiatric diseases in adulthood. The research identified 152 risk genes associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders and mapped cell type-specific genetic loci implicated in these disorders.
For instance, the study revealed that oligodendrocytes are associated with Tourette syndrome, while astrocytes are associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder. These findings deepen our understanding of the connections between cell types and neuropsychiatric disorders.
The researchers emphasize the importance of tailoring therapeutic interventions to address deficiencies in gene function during specific developmental stages. This customization is crucial for minimizing further damage and improving outcomes for individuals affected by neuropsychiatric disorders.
With the successful creation of a cerebral cortex cell development atlas, the team is now expanding their research. They plan to analyze a larger sample cohort and include different brain regions in their study. This expansion seeks to improve resolution and enhance our understanding of regulatory mechanisms in brain development and neuropsychiatric conditions.
Read the original article on sciencedaily.
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