Candidate CSPG4 mutations and induced pluripotent stem cell modeling implicate oligodendrocyte progenitor cell dysfunction in familial schizophrenia

Mol Psychiatry. 2019 May;24(5):757-771. doi: 10.1038/s41380-017-0004-2. Epub 2018 Jan 4.

Abstract

Schizophrenia is highly heritable, yet its underlying pathophysiology remains largely unknown. Among the most well-replicated findings in neurobiological studies of schizophrenia are deficits in myelination and white matter integrity; however, direct etiological genetic and cellular evidence has thus far been lacking. Here, we implement a family-based approach for genetic discovery in schizophrenia combined with functional analysis using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We observed familial segregation of two rare missense mutations in Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4) (c.391G > A [p.A131T], MAF 7.79 × 10-5 and c.2702T > G [p.V901G], MAF 2.51 × 10-3). The CSPG4A131T mutation was absent from the Swedish Schizophrenia Exome Sequencing Study (2536 cases, 2543 controls), while the CSPG4V901G mutation was nominally enriched in cases (11 cases vs. 3 controls, P = 0.026, OR 3.77, 95% CI 1.05-13.52). CSPG4/NG2 is a hallmark protein of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). iPSC-derived OPCs from CSPG4A131T mutation carriers exhibited abnormal post-translational processing (P = 0.029), subcellular localization of mutant NG2 (P = 0.007), as well as aberrant cellular morphology (P = 3.0 × 10-8), viability (P = 8.9 × 10-7), and myelination potential (P = 0.038). Moreover, transfection of healthy non-carrier sibling OPCs confirmed a pathogenic effect on cell survival of both the CSPG4A131T (P = 0.006) and CSPG4V901G (P = 3.4 × 10-4) mutations. Finally, in vivo diffusion tensor imaging of CSPG4A131T mutation carriers demonstrated a reduction of brain white matter integrity compared to unaffected sibling and matched general population controls (P = 2.2 × 10-5). Together, our findings provide a convergence of genetic and functional evidence to implicate OPC dysfunction as a candidate pathophysiological mechanism of familial schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / genetics*
  • Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / metabolism
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging
  • Family
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells / metabolism*
  • Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells / physiology
  • Oligodendroglia / metabolism
  • Pedigree
  • Proteoglycans / genetics
  • Schizophrenia / genetics*
  • Schizophrenia / metabolism
  • White Matter / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens
  • CSPG4 protein, human
  • Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proteoglycans
  • chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4