Featured Publications
Synergistic effects of common schizophrenia risk variants
Schrode N, Ho SM, Yamamuro K, Dobbyn A, Huckins L, Matos MR, Cheng E, Deans PJM, Flaherty E, Barretto N, Topol A, Alganem K, Abadali S, Gregory J, Hoelzli E, Phatnani H, Singh V, Girish D, Aronow B, Mccullumsmith R, Hoffman GE, Stahl EA, Morishita H, Sklar P, Brennand KJ. Synergistic effects of common schizophrenia risk variants. Nature Genetics 2019, 51: 1475-1485. PMID: 31548722, PMCID: PMC6778520, DOI: 10.1038/s41588-019-0497-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsChloride ChannelsCRISPR-Cas SystemsFemaleFurinGene EditingGene Expression RegulationGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMaleMonomeric Clathrin Assembly ProteinsPolymorphism, Single NucleotideQuantitative Trait LociSchizophreniaSNARE ProteinsConceptsExpression quantitative trait lociComplex genetic disorderEQTL genesCommon variantsQuantitative trait lociRisk variantsGene expression differencesPsychiatric disease riskCommon risk variantsPluripotent stem cellsSchizophrenia risk variantsGenetic disordersTrait lociGene perturbationsGenetic approachesExpression differencesGene editingStem cellsGeneralizable phenomenonSynaptic functionGenesVariantsCRISPRLociSpecific effectsNeuronal impact of patient-specific aberrant NRXN1α splicing
Flaherty E, Zhu S, Barretto N, Cheng E, Deans PJM, Fernando MB, Schrode N, Francoeur N, Antoine A, Alganem K, Halpern M, Deikus G, Shah H, Fitzgerald M, Ladran I, Gochman P, Rapoport J, Tsankova NM, McCullumsmith R, Hoffman GE, Sebra R, Fang G, Brennand KJ. Neuronal impact of patient-specific aberrant NRXN1α splicing. Nature Genetics 2019, 51: 1679-1690. PMID: 31784728, PMCID: PMC7451045, DOI: 10.1038/s41588-019-0539-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAlternative SplicingAnimalsAutism Spectrum DisorderBipolar DisorderCalcium-Binding ProteinsCase-Control StudiesDepressive Disorder, MajorFemaleGene ExpressionHeterozygoteHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMaleMiceNeural Cell Adhesion MoleculesProtein IsoformsSchizophreniaSequence DeletionModeling gene × environment interactions in PTSD using human neurons reveals diagnosis-specific glucocorticoid-induced gene expression
Seah C, Breen M, Rusielewicz T, Bader H, Xu C, Hunter C, McCarthy B, Deans P, Chattopadhyay M, Goldberg J, Desarnaud F, Makotkine I, Flory J, Bierer L, Staniskyte M, Noggle S, Huckins L, Paull D, Brennand K, Yehuda R. Modeling gene × environment interactions in PTSD using human neurons reveals diagnosis-specific glucocorticoid-induced gene expression. Nature Neuroscience 2022, 25: 1434-1445. PMID: 36266471, PMCID: PMC9630117, DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01161-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsGene ExpressionGene-Environment InteractionGlucocorticoidsHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsLeukocytes, MononuclearNeuronsStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticConceptsPost-traumatic stress disorderPeripheral blood mononuclear cellsGlucocorticoid-induced changesGlucocorticoid-induced gene expressionBlood mononuclear cellsIndividual clinical outcomesEnvironmental risk factorsHuman postmortem brainGlucocorticoid hypersensitivityClinical outcomesGlutamatergic neuronsMononuclear cellsRisk factorsHydrocortisone exposureSevere traumaPostmortem brainsHuman neuronsGlucocorticoid responseInduced neuronsStress disorderNeuronsNew therapeuticsGene expressionGene × environment interactionsCombat veterans
2023
Activity-Dependent Transcriptional Program in NGN2+ Neurons Enriched for Genetic Risk for Brain-Related Disorders
Ma Y, Bendl J, Hartley B, Fullard J, Abdelaal R, Ho S, Kosoy R, Gochman P, Rapoport J, Hoffman G, Brennand K, Roussos P. Activity-Dependent Transcriptional Program in NGN2+ Neurons Enriched for Genetic Risk for Brain-Related Disorders. Biological Psychiatry 2023, 95: 187-198. PMID: 37454787, PMCID: PMC10787819, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.07.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBrainGene Expression RegulationHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsNeuronsSchizophreniaConceptsTranscriptional programsBrain-related disordersGlutamatergic neuronsGene coexpression network analysisSignificant heritability enrichmentsEnhancer-promoter interactionsCoexpression network analysisDisease-associated genesExpression of genesLarge-scale geneticMultiomics data integrationChromatin accessibilityEpigenomic changesHeritability enrichmentGenetic regulationRegulatory elementsMultiple genesSequence variationGene expressionAxon guidanceGenetic riskPotassium chloride-induced depolarizationActivity-dependent changesDepolarization-induced changesGenes
2022
Stem Cell Models for Context-Specific Modeling in Psychiatric Disorders
Seah C, Huckins L, Brennand K. Stem Cell Models for Context-Specific Modeling in Psychiatric Disorders. Biological Psychiatry 2022, 93: 642-650. PMID: 36658083, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.09.033.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsGene Expression RegulationGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMental DisordersQuantitative Trait LociConceptsStem cell modelCell typesTarget genesGenome-wide association study (GWAS) lociExpression quantitative trait lociGenome-wide association studiesParallel reporter assaysQuantitative trait lociStem cell-derived cell typesPluripotent stem cell modelsComplex polygenic architectureContext-specific mannerPsychiatric disorder riskTrait lociRegulates transcriptionStudy lociGenetic regulationPolygenic architectureCRISPR screensCell modelCausal variantsRegulated expressionPatient-specific humanReporter assaysAssociation studiesChromatin profiling in human neurons reveals aberrant roles for histone acetylation and BET family proteins in schizophrenia
Farrelly L, Zheng S, Schrode N, Topol A, Bhanu N, Bastle R, Ramakrishnan A, Chan J, Cetin B, Flaherty E, Shen L, Gleason K, Tamminga C, Garcia B, Li H, Brennand K, Maze I. Chromatin profiling in human neurons reveals aberrant roles for histone acetylation and BET family proteins in schizophrenia. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 2195. PMID: 35459277, PMCID: PMC9033776, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29922-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHistone posttranslational modificationsPosttranslational modificationsUnbiased proteomic approachPluripotent stem cellsPatient-derived neuronsH2A.Z acetylationChromatin profilingHyperacetylated histonesFamily proteinsProteomic approachProtein interactionsHistone acetylationTranscriptional abnormalitiesEpigenetic factorsExtraterminal (BET) proteinsSZ casesRisk variantsHuman neuronsStem cellsAberrant roleProtein inhibitionBona fideTreatment of schizophreniaPostmortem human brainCritical roleUsing Stem Cell Models to Explore the Genetics Underlying Psychiatric Disorders: Linking Risk Variants, Genes, and Biology in Brain Disease
Brennand K. Using Stem Cell Models to Explore the Genetics Underlying Psychiatric Disorders: Linking Risk Variants, Genes, and Biology in Brain Disease. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2022, 179: 322-328. PMID: 35491564, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20220235.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersMeSH KeywordsBrain DiseasesGenome-Wide Association StudyGenomicsHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMental DisordersConceptsRisk variantsFunctional genomic studiesCell typesDiverse cell typesPatient-specific variantsStem cell modelGenomic studiesSignificant lociStem cell-based approachesGenetic studiesExciting questionsCell-based approachesEngineering strategiesGenetic profileNovel therapeutic interventionsCell modelPluripotent stem cell-based approachesVariantsComplex interplayGenetic riskCRISPRGenesLociBiologyTherapeutic interventions
2021
Induction of dopaminergic neurons for neuronal subtype-specific modeling of psychiatric disease risk
Powell SK, O’Shea C, Townsley K, Prytkova I, Dobrindt K, Elahi R, Iskhakova M, Lambert T, Valada A, Liao W, Ho SM, Slesinger PA, Huckins LM, Akbarian S, Brennand KJ. Induction of dopaminergic neurons for neuronal subtype-specific modeling of psychiatric disease risk. Molecular Psychiatry 2021, 28: 1970-1982. PMID: 34493831, PMCID: PMC8898985, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01273-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAutism Spectrum DisorderDopaminergic NeuronsHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMesencephalonReproducibility of ResultsConceptsInduced dopaminergic neuronsDopaminergic neuronsMidbrain dopaminergic neuron developmentNeuron identityHuman induced pluripotent stem cellsCannabis use disorderDopaminergic neuron developmentAction potential durationGlutamatergic neuronsDopamine synthesisSpontaneous burstsPotential durationUse disordersNeuronal subtypesPsychiatric diseasesBipolar disorderElectrophysiological propertiesDisease riskHyperpolarization potentialPsychiatric disease riskNeuron developmentOscillatory activityNeuronsHeterogenous cell populationsCell populationsUsing the dCas9-KRAB system to repress gene expression in hiPSC-derived NGN2 neurons
Li A, Cartwright S, Yu A, Ho SM, Schrode N, Deans PJM, Matos MR, Garcia MF, Townsley KG, Zhang B, Brennand KJ. Using the dCas9-KRAB system to repress gene expression in hiPSC-derived NGN2 neurons. STAR Protocols 2021, 2: 100580. PMID: 34151300, PMCID: PMC8188621, DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100580.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsCRISPR-Cas SystemsGene Expression RegulationHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsNerve Tissue ProteinsNeuronsTranscriptomeConceptsCRISPR inhibitionGene expressionDCas9-KRAB systemEndogenous gene expressionMultiple target genesGene repressionGene activationTarget genesGene manipulationFusion proteinComplete detailsPluripotent stemExpressionGlutamatergic neuronsRepressionGenesPhenotypicProteinStemNeuronsActivationBrain diseasesInhibitionApplying stem cells and CRISPR engineering to uncover the etiology of schizophrenia
Michael Deans P, Brennand K. Applying stem cells and CRISPR engineering to uncover the etiology of schizophrenia. Current Opinion In Neurobiology 2021, 69: 193-201. PMID: 34010781, PMCID: PMC8387340, DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.04.003.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsCell type-specific fashionStem cell biologyType-specific fashionDisease-associated variantsNeural cell typesCommon genetic variantsMore genesCell biologyCRISPR engineeringGene manipulationGene targetsCRISPR technologyMolecular geneticsInvaluable advancesCell typesHiPSC technologyGenetic variantsStem cellsIndividual variantsEtiology of diseasePolygenic disorderVariantsComplex interactionsRecent advancesEtiology of schizophreniaInduced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Psychiatry: An Overview and Critical Perspective
De Los Angeles A, Fernando M, Hall N, Brennand K, Harrison P, Maher B, Weinberger D, Tunbridge E. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Psychiatry: An Overview and Critical Perspective. Biological Psychiatry 2021, 90: 362-372. PMID: 34176589, PMCID: PMC8375580, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.04.008.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCommon Genetic Variation in Humans Impacts In Vitro Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Dobrindt K, Hoagland DA, Seah C, Kassim B, O'Shea CP, Murphy A, Iskhakova M, Fernando MB, Powell SK, Deans PJM, Javidfar B, Peter C, Møller R, Uhl SA, Garcia MF, Kimura M, Iwasawa K, Crary JF, Kotton DN, Takebe T, Huckins LM, tenOever BR, Akbarian S, Brennand KJ. Common Genetic Variation in Humans Impacts In Vitro Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Stem Cell Reports 2021, 16: 505-518. PMID: 33636110, PMCID: PMC7881728, DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.02.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords3' Untranslated RegionsAdolescentAdultAnimalsCell LineChlorocebus aethiopsClustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic RepeatsCOVID-19FemaleFurinGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMaleNeuronsPeptide HydrolasesPolymorphism, Single NucleotideSARS-CoV-2Vero CellsConceptsSARS-CoV-2Clinical complicationsSARS-CoV-2 infectionCommon genetic variationHigh-risk individualsHost genetic variantsSignificant interindividual variabilityNeuron infectionUnderlying comorbiditiesViral loadHealthy individualsViral infectionClinical heterogeneityVitro SusceptibilityEtiologic agentHost responseInterindividual variabilityDiscovery of drugsInfectionHost geneticsHuman induced pluripotent stem cellsSingle nucleotide polymorphismsAntibody repertoireMore diseasesComplicationsAnalysis framework and experimental design for evaluating synergy-driving gene expression
Schrode N, Seah C, Deans P, Hoffman G, Brennand K. Analysis framework and experimental design for evaluating synergy-driving gene expression. Nature Protocols 2021, 16: 812-840. PMID: 33432232, PMCID: PMC8609447, DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-00436-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsComputational BiologyGene ExpressionGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression RegulationGenetic TechniquesHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsResearch DesignSequence Analysis, RNATranscriptomeConceptsRaw read countsPluripotent stem cell-derived neuronsRNA sequencing experimentsRNA sequencing datasetsStem cell-derived neuronsDifferential expression analysisCell-derived neuronsComplex genetic disorderNon-additive interactionsGenetic risk variantsChemical perturbagensBioinformatics skillsExpression analysisSequencing datasetsGene expressionTranscriptomic effectsSequencing experimentsComputational pipelineRead countsRisk variantsCareful experimental designCombinatorial manipulationGenetic variantsComplex diseasesPerturbation studies
2020
Transformative Network Modeling of Multi-omics Data Reveals Detailed Circuits, Key Regulators, and Potential Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease
Wang M, Li A, Sekiya M, Beckmann ND, Quan X, Schrode N, Fernando MB, Yu A, Zhu L, Cao J, Lyu L, Horgusluoglu E, Wang Q, Guo L, Wang YS, Neff R, Song WM, Wang E, Shen Q, Zhou X, Ming C, Ho SM, Vatansever S, Kaniskan HÜ, Jin J, Zhou MM, Ando K, Ho L, Slesinger PA, Yue Z, Zhu J, Katsel P, Gandy S, Ehrlich ME, Fossati V, Noggle S, Cai D, Haroutunian V, Iijima KM, Schadt E, Brennand KJ, Zhang B. Transformative Network Modeling of Multi-omics Data Reveals Detailed Circuits, Key Regulators, and Potential Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease. Neuron 2020, 109: 257-272.e14. PMID: 33238137, PMCID: PMC7855384, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.11.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLate-onset Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's diseaseKey regulatorPluripotent stem cell-derived neuronsRNAi-based knockdownStem cell-derived neuronsNovel therapeutic targetNext-generation therapeutic agentsCell-derived neuronsKey brain regionsIntegrative network analysisMulti-omics dataComplex molecular interactionsMulti-omics profilingNCH-51Neuronal impairmentGene subnetworksDisease-related processesCortical areasTherapeutic targetDrosophila modelNeuropathological phenotypeBrain regionsTherapeutic agentsMolecular mechanismsMassively parallel techniques for cataloguing the regulome of the human brain
Townsley KG, Brennand KJ, Huckins LM. Massively parallel techniques for cataloguing the regulome of the human brain. Nature Neuroscience 2020, 23: 1509-1521. PMID: 33199899, PMCID: PMC8018778, DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-00740-1.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsMeSH KeywordsBrainClustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic RepeatsGene Expression RegulationGeneticsHigh-Throughput Screening AssaysHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsRegulatory Elements, TranscriptionalConceptsRegulatory elementsTarget genesParallel reporter assaysPutative regulatory elementsNon-coding regionsDisease-associated lociSpecific expression patternsCandidate risk lociPluripotent stem cellsHigh-throughput assaysRelevant molecular pathwaysTranscriptional responseRegulatory architectureRisk lociExpression patternsReporter assaysComplex brain disordersMolecular pathwaysRegulomeStem cellsRisk architectureGenetic riskGenesLociGenetic diagnosisIntegration of CRISPR-engineering and hiPSC-based models of psychiatric genomics
Matos MR, Ho SM, Schrode N, Brennand KJ. Integration of CRISPR-engineering and hiPSC-based models of psychiatric genomics. Molecular And Cellular Neuroscience 2020, 107: 103532. PMID: 32712198, PMCID: PMC7484226, DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103532.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBrain DiseasesClustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic RepeatsGene EditingHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMental DisordersNeuronsConceptsPenetrant rare variantsDisease-associated variantsNeuronal cell typesPluripotent stem cellsGenomic engineeringFunctional characterizationComplex geneticsCRISPR engineeringCRISPR technologyIsogenic comparisonsPsychiatric genomicsCell typesGenetic variantsStem cellsIndividual variantsCommon variantsPolygenic disorderRare variantsVariantsComplex interplayGenomicsGenetic riskPleiotropyCRISPRGeneticsInvestigation of Schizophrenia with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Powell SK, O’Shea C, Shannon SR, Akbarian S, Brennand KJ. Investigation of Schizophrenia with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Advances In Neurobiology 2020, 25: 155-206. PMID: 32578147, PMCID: PMC8033573, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-45493-7_6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTranscriptional signatures of participant-derived neural progenitor cells and neurons implicate altered Wnt signaling in Phelan-McDermid syndrome and autism
Breen MS, Browne A, Hoffman GE, Stathopoulos S, Brennand K, Buxbaum JD, Drapeau E. Transcriptional signatures of participant-derived neural progenitor cells and neurons implicate altered Wnt signaling in Phelan-McDermid syndrome and autism. Molecular Autism 2020, 11: 53. PMID: 32560742, PMCID: PMC7304190, DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00355-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAutistic DisorderChildChild, PreschoolChromosome DeletionChromosome DisordersChromosomes, Human, Pair 22FemaleGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression RegulationHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMaleNeural Stem CellsNeuronsReproducibility of ResultsWnt Signaling PathwayConceptsNeural progenitor cellsTranscriptional signatureGene co-expression network analysisHiPSC-NPCsCo-expression network analysisIndependent biological samplesHiPSC-derived neural cellsProgenitor cellsPostsynaptic density genesDistinct transcriptional signaturesGenetic risk lociHuman-induced pluripotent stem cellsPluripotent stem cellsPotassium channel activityProtein translationSpecific neurobiological pathwaysTranscriptional differencesEmbryonic developmentLoss of SHANK3Risk lociHiPSC neuronsMorphological phenotypesWnt pathwayGenesHiPSC clonesCell Type-Specific In Vitro Gene Expression Profiling of Stem Cell-Derived Neural Models
Gregory JA, Hoelzli E, Abdelaal R, Braine C, Cuevas M, Halpern M, Barretto N, Schrode N, Akbalik G, Kang K, Cheng E, Bowles K, Lotz S, Goderie S, Karch CM, Temple S, Goate A, Brennand KJ, Phatnani H. Cell Type-Specific In Vitro Gene Expression Profiling of Stem Cell-Derived Neural Models. Cells 2020, 9: 1406. PMID: 32516938, PMCID: PMC7349756, DOI: 10.3390/cells9061406.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell type-restricted expressionDisease-associated interactionsGene expression profilingHiPSC-derived motor neuronsHuman-induced pluripotent stem cellsPluripotent stem cellsCell-type specific perturbationsImmortalized cell linesRibosomal proteinsGenomic studiesExpression profilingMolecular mechanismsOff-target RNAMouse tissuesCell typesStem cellsPrimary mouse astrocytesExperimental replicatesCell linesMixed speciesMouse astrocytesExpressionMotor neuronsRiboTagCellsModeling the complex genetic architectures of brain disease
Fernando MB, Ahfeldt T, Brennand KJ. Modeling the complex genetic architectures of brain disease. Nature Genetics 2020, 52: 363-369. PMID: 32203467, PMCID: PMC7909729, DOI: 10.1038/s41588-020-0596-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBrain DiseasesClustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic RepeatsGenomeHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsPrecision MedicineConceptsGenetic architectureComplex genetic architectureFunctional validation studiesRelevant disease biologyIntersection of genomicsComplex genetic diseasesCombination of genesPluripotent stem cellsGene perturbationsIsogenic comparisonsMolecular mechanismsPhenotypic drug discoveryCell typesGenetic diseasesFunctional consequencesGenetic backgroundRisk variantsStem cellsCRISPRDisease biologyDrug discoveryRare variantsConfer riskGenetic diagnosisVariants