Author
Christa Lese-Martin
Bio: Christa Lese-Martin is an academic researcher from Emory University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Epigenetics of autism & Heritability of autism. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 4 publications receiving 4013 citations.
Papers
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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory1, Emory University2, University of Washington3, National Institutes of Health4, North Shore-LIJ Health System5, University of Tampere6, Vanderbilt University7, Columbia University8, University College London9, University of California, Los Angeles10, University of Chicago11, Albert Einstein College of Medicine12
TL;DR: Findings establish de novo germline mutation as a more significant risk factor for ASD than previously recognized.
Abstract: We tested the hypothesis that de novo copy number variation (CNV) is associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). We performed comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) on the genomic DNA of patients and unaffected subjects to detect copy number variants not present in their respective parents. Candidate genomic regions were validated by higher-resolution CGH, paternity testing, cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and microsatellite genotyping. Confirmed de novo CNVs were significantly associated with autism (P = 0.0005). Such CNVs were identified in 12 out of 118 (10%) of patients with sporadic autism, in 2 out of 77 (3%) of patients with an affected first-degree relative, and in 2 out of 196 (1%) of controls. Most de novo CNVs were smaller than microscopic resolution. Affected genomic regions were highly heterogeneous and included mutations of single genes. These findings establish de novo germline mutation as a more significant risk factor for ASD than previously recognized.
2,770 citations
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McMaster University1, University of Toronto2, Dalhousie University3, Pennsylvania State University4, Nationwide Children's Hospital5, University of Iowa6, University of Miami7, University of South Carolina8, University of Paris9, Pasteur Institute10, University of Gothenburg11, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai12, Stanford University13, Vanderbilt University14, Johns Hopkins University15, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill16, University of California, Los Angeles17, University of Pennsylvania18, Washington University in St. Louis19, University of Chicago20, Harvard University21, Emory University22, George Washington University23, Yale University24, University of Utah25, University of Washington26, University of Pittsburgh27, University of California, Irvine28, Veterans Health Administration29, University of Rochester30, University of Toulouse31, German Cancer Research Center32, Goethe University Frankfurt33, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens34, University of Bologna35, Utrecht University36, Guy's Hospital37, King's College London38, University of Cambridge39, University of Manchester40, Newcastle University41, University of Oxford42, University of Illinois at Chicago43, University of Michigan44, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse45, McGill University46, Autism Speaks47
TL;DR: Linkage and copy number variation analyses implicate chromosome 11p12–p13 and neurexins, respectively, among other candidate loci, highlighting glutamate-related genes as promising candidates for contributing to ASDs.
Abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are common, heritable neurodevelopmental conditions. The genetic architecture of ASDs is complex, requiring large samples to overcome heterogeneity. Here we broaden coverage and sample size relative to other studies of ASDs by using Affymetrix 10K SNP arrays and 1,181 [corrected] families with at least two affected individuals, performing the largest linkage scan to date while also analyzing copy number variation in these families. Linkage and copy number variation analyses implicate chromosome 11p12-p13 and neurexins, respectively, among other candidate loci. Neurexins team with previously implicated neuroligins for glutamatergic synaptogenesis, highlighting glutamate-related genes as promising candidates for contributing to ASDs.
1,338 citations
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TL;DR: Support is provided for a distinct “15q overgrowth syndrome” caused by either trisomy or tetrasomy resulting in increased dosage of distal 15q and it is proposed that renal anomalies and a distinctive facial appearance be considered major features of this condition.
Abstract: Trisomy and tetrasomy of distal chromosome 15q have rarely been reported. Although most of the described patients have some learning difficulties and are overgrown, the phenotype associated with distal trisomy/tetrasomy 15q is uncertain due to the small numbers of reported cases and the common co-occurrence of additional chromosome deletions in many patients with trisomy 15q. We present five individuals with overgrowth, learning difficulties and increased dosage of distal 15q. Partial trisomy 15q was identified in four of these cases. Two were generated through recombination of a parental pericentric inversion and two were generated through malsegregation of a maternal balanced 14;15 reciprocal translocation. In all four cases the trisomy can be considered "pure" as the 14p and 15p monosomies will exert no phenotypic effect. Partial tetrasomy 15q, as the result of an analphoid supernumerary chromosome derived from an inverted duplication of distal 15q, was identified in the fifth patient. In addition to the overgrowth and learning difficulties, all five had a characteristic facial appearance and three had renal anomalies. The gestalt consists of a long, thin face with a prominent chin and nose. Renal anomalies included renal agenesis, horseshoe kidney, and hydronephrosis. We provide further support for a distinct "15q overgrowth syndrome" caused by either trisomy or tetrasomy resulting in increased dosage of distal 15q. In addition we propose that renal anomalies and a distinctive facial appearance be considered major features of this condition.
50 citations
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TL;DR: The first patient with a deletion of 19p13.3, identified by subtelomeric FISH analysis, was presented, his features included a distinctive facial appearance, cleft palate, hearing impairment, congenital heart malformation, keloid scarring, immune dysregulation, and mild learning difficulties.
Abstract: Telomeres are gene rich regions with a high recombination rate. Cryptic subtelomeric rearrangements are estimated to account for 5% of mental retardation/malformation syndromes. Here we present the first patient with a deletion of 19p13.3, identified by subtelomeric FISH analysis. His features included a distinctive facial appearance, cleft palate, hearing impairment, congenital heart malformation, keloid scarring, immune dysregulation, and mild learning difficulties. Subtelomeric FISH analysis identified a deletion of 19p13.3-pter. The deletion size was determined to be 1.2 Mb by FISH analysis. It extended from within the chromosomal region covered by BAC RP11-50C6 to 19pter. The deleted area encompassed approximately 60 genes. Fifteen possible candidate genes were considered with respect to the phenotype, including follistatin-related precursor 3 (FSTL3) and serine-threonine kinase 11 (STK-11).
38 citations
Cited by
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National Institutes of Health1, University of Chicago2, Duke University3, Harvard University4, University of Oxford5, GlaxoSmithKline6, Johns Hopkins University7, Yale University8, deCODE genetics9, Princeton University10, Howard Hughes Medical Institute11, Washington University in St. Louis12, University of California, Berkeley13, Stanford University14, University of Michigan15, Cornell University16, University of Washington17, University of Queensland18, Vanderbilt University19, North Carolina State University20, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute21
TL;DR: This paper examined potential sources of missing heritability and proposed research strategies, including and extending beyond current genome-wide association approaches, to illuminate the genetics of complex diseases and enhance its potential to enable effective disease prevention or treatment.
Abstract: Genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of genetic variants associated with complex human diseases and traits, and have provided valuable insights into their genetic architecture. Most variants identified so far confer relatively small increments in risk, and explain only a small proportion of familial clustering, leading many to question how the remaining, 'missing' heritability can be explained. Here we examine potential sources of missing heritability and propose research strategies, including and extending beyond current genome-wide association approaches, to illuminate the genetics of complex diseases and enhance its potential to enable effective disease prevention or treatment.
7,797 citations
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Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai1, Carnegie Mellon University2, Harvard University3, University of Toronto4, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute5, University of Pittsburgh6, Nagoya University7, University of Freiburg8, King's College London9, Vanderbilt University10, King Abdulaziz University11, University of Santiago de Compostela12, University of Utah13, Duke University14, Memorial University of Newfoundland15, Trinity College, Dublin16, University of Pennsylvania17, University of Illinois at Chicago18, Boston Children's Hospital19, Columbia University20, German Cancer Research Center21, University College London22, Kaiser Permanente23, Broad Institute24, Cardiff University25, Complutense University of Madrid26, Newcastle University27, Baylor College of Medicine28, University of California, San Francisco29, RWTH Aachen University30, National Health Service31, McMaster University32, Saarland University33, Karolinska Institutet34, National Institutes of Health35, University of Helsinki36, Emory University37
TL;DR: Using exome sequencing, it is shown that analysis of rare coding variation in 3,871 autism cases and 9,937 ancestry-matched or parental controls implicates 22 autosomal genes at a false discovery rate of < 0.05, plus a set of 107 genes strongly enriched for those likely to affect risk (FDR < 0.30).
Abstract: The genetic architecture of autism spectrum disorder involves the interplay of common and rare variants and their impact on hundreds of genes. Using exome sequencing, here we show that analysis of rare coding variation in 3,871 autism cases and 9,937 ancestry-matched or parental controls implicates 22 autosomal genes at a false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05, plus a set of 107 autosomal genes strongly enriched for those likely to affect risk (FDR < 0.30). These 107 genes, which show unusual evolutionary constraint against mutations, incur de novo loss-of-function mutations in over 5% of autistic subjects. Many of the genes implicated encode proteins for synaptic formation, transcriptional regulation and chromatin-remodelling pathways. These include voltage-gated ion channels regulating the propagation of action potentials, pacemaking and excitability-transcription coupling, as well as histone-modifying enzymes and chromatin remodellers-most prominently those that mediate post-translational lysine methylation/demethylation modifications of histones.
2,228 citations
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TL;DR: It is estimated that LGD mutation in about 400 genes can contribute to the joint class of affected females and males of lower IQ, with an overlapping and similar number of genes vulnerable to contributory missense mutation.
Abstract: Whole exome sequencing has proven to be a powerful tool for understanding the genetic architecture of human disease. Here we apply it to more than 2,500 simplex families, each having a child with an autistic spectrum disorder. By comparing affected to unaffected siblings, we show that 13% of de novo missense mutations and 43% of de novo likely gene-disrupting (LGD) mutations contribute to 12% and 9% of diagnoses, respectively. Including copy number variants, coding de novo mutations contribute to about 30% of all simplex and 45% of female diagnoses. Almost all LGD mutations occur opposite wild-type alleles. LGD targets in affected females significantly overlap the targets in males of lower intelligence quotient (IQ), but neither overlaps significantly with targets in males of higher IQ. We estimate that LGD mutation in about 400 genes can contribute to the joint class of affected females and males of lower IQ, with an overlapping and similar number of genes vulnerable to contributory missense mutation. LGD targets in the joint class overlap with published targets for intellectual disability and schizophrenia, and are enriched for chromatin modifiers, FMRP-associated genes and embryonically expressed genes. Most of the significance for the latter comes from affected females.
2,124 citations
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New York University1, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research2, MIND Institute3, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven4, University of Utah5, Yale University6, University of California, Los Angeles7, Massachusetts Institute of Technology8, Trinity College, Dublin9, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev10, Carnegie Mellon University11, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich12, Oregon Health & Science University13, California Institute of Technology14, Indiana University15, San Diego State University16, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience17, University of Groningen18, University of Wisconsin-Madison19, Cornell University20, University of Pittsburgh21, Stanford University22, University of Michigan23, Kennedy Krieger Institute24, Johns Hopkins University25
TL;DR: W Whole-brain analyses reconciled seemingly disparate themes of both hypo- and hyperconnectivity in the ASD literature; both were detected, although hypoconnectivity dominated, particularly for corticocortical and interhemispheric functional connectivity.
Abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) represent a formidable challenge for psychiatry and neuroscience because of their high prevalence, lifelong nature, complexity and substantial heterogeneity. Facing these obstacles requires large-scale multidisciplinary efforts. Although the field of genetics has pioneered data sharing for these reasons, neuroimaging had not kept pace. In response, we introduce the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE)-a grassroots consortium aggregating and openly sharing 1112 existing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) data sets with corresponding structural MRI and phenotypic information from 539 individuals with ASDs and 573 age-matched typical controls (TCs; 7-64 years) (http://fcon_1000.projects.nitrc.org/indi/abide/). Here, we present this resource and demonstrate its suitability for advancing knowledge of ASD neurobiology based on analyses of 360 male subjects with ASDs and 403 male age-matched TCs. We focused on whole-brain intrinsic functional connectivity and also survey a range of voxel-wise measures of intrinsic functional brain architecture. Whole-brain analyses reconciled seemingly disparate themes of both hypo- and hyperconnectivity in the ASD literature; both were detected, although hypoconnectivity dominated, particularly for corticocortical and interhemispheric functional connectivity. Exploratory analyses using an array of regional metrics of intrinsic brain function converged on common loci of dysfunction in ASDs (mid- and posterior insula and posterior cingulate cortex), and highlighted less commonly explored regions such as the thalamus. The survey of the ABIDE R-fMRI data sets provides unprecedented demonstrations of both replication and novel discovery. By pooling multiple international data sets, ABIDE is expected to accelerate the pace of discovery setting the stage for the next generation of ASD studies.
1,939 citations
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TL;DR: It is shown, using whole-exome sequencing of 928 individuals, including 200 phenotypically discordant sibling pairs, that highly disruptive (nonsense and splice-site) de novo mutations in brain-expressed genes are associated with autism spectrum disorders and carry large effects.
Abstract: Multiple studies have confirmed the contribution of rare de novo copy number variations to the risk for autism spectrum disorders. But whereas de novo single nucleotide variants have been identified in affected individuals, their contribution to risk has yet to be clarified. Specifically, the frequency and distribution of these mutations have not been well characterized in matched unaffected controls, and such data are vital to the interpretation of de novo coding mutations observed in probands. Here we show, using whole-exome sequencing of 928 individuals, including 200 phenotypically discordant sibling pairs, that highly disruptive (nonsense and splice-site) de novo mutations in brain-expressed genes are associated with autism spectrum disorders and carry large effects. On the basis of mutation rates in unaffected individuals, we demonstrate that multiple independent de novo single nucleotide variants in the same gene among unrelated probands reliably identifies risk alleles, providing a clear path forward for gene discovery. Among a total of 279 identified de novo coding mutations, there is a single instance in probands, and none in siblings, in which two independent nonsense variants disrupt the same gene, SCN2A (sodium channel, voltage-gated, type II, α subunit), a result that is highly unlikely by chance.
1,930 citations