Genetic variation is associated with RTN4R expression and working memory processing in healthy humans.

Genetic variation is associated with RTN4R expression and working memory processing in healthy humans.
Brain Res Bull. 2017 Jul 26;:
Authors: Lo Bianco L, Attrotto MT, Torretta S, Masellis R, Rampino A, D'Ambrosio E, Giorgio AD, Ferranti L, Fazio L, Gelao B, Blasi G, Bertolino A
Abstract
The Nogo receptor (NgR) is implicated in neurodevelopmental processes and it participates in inhibiting axonal growth. Consistent with its high levels of expression in the prefrontal cortex, animal studies indicate that NgR is relevant for prefrontal-related cognitive processing. Given that genetic variation may alter mechanisms of gene expression impacting molecular and systems-level phenotypes, we investigated the association of genetic variation with the expression of the NgR coding gene (RTN4R), as well as with prefrontal correlates at progressively greater biological distance from gene effects. First, we studied the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with RTN4R mRNA expression in postmortem prefrontal cortex of humans without psychiatric illnesses. Then, we probed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) the association that we found in prefrontal tissue. Thus, we investigated whether functional genetic variation affecting RTN4R expression is also associated with prefrontal activity during working memory. We found that rs696884 (A/G) predicted these phenotypes. Specifically, the AA genotype was associated with lower RTN4R...

Source: Brain Research Bulletin - July 26, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Lo Bianco L, Attrotto MT, Torretta S, Masellis R, Rampino A, D'Ambrosio E, Giorgio AD, Ferranti L, Fazio L, Gelao B, Blasi G, Bertolino A Tags: Brain Res Bull Source Type: research