Polymorphisms of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor-Related Genes and the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Chinese Population

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of GRIK2 and NLGN1 with autism spectrum disorder in a Chinese population. METHODS: We performed spatio-temporal expression analysis of GRIK2 and NLGN1 in the developing prefrontal cortex, and examined the expression of the genes in ASD cases and healthy controls using the GSE38322 data set. Following, we performed a case-control study in a Chinese population. RESULTS: The analysis using the publicly available expression data showed that GRIK2 and NLGN1 may have a role in the development of human brain and contribute to the risk of ASD. Later genetic analysis in the Chinese population showed that the GRIK2 rs6922753 for the T allele, TC genotype and dominant model played a significant protective role in ASD susceptibility (respectively: OR=0.840, p=0.023; OR=0.802, p=0.038; OR=0.791, p=0.020). The NLGN1 rs9855544 for the G allele and GG genotype played a significant protective role in ASD susceptibility (respectively: OR=0.844, p=0.019; OR=0.717, p=0.022). After adjusting p values, the statistical significance was lost (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that GRIK2 rs6922753 and NLGN1 rs9855544 might not confer susceptibility to ASD in the Chinese population.

Regulatory Effects of Ionotropic and GroupⅠ Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors on Temperature Hypersensitivity in Rats / 中国医科大学学报

Objective To study the effects of ionic and group Ⅰ metabotropic glutamate receptors on rats' thermal hypersensitivity by intraplantar administration of drugs. Methods After intraplantar administration of glutamate receptor agonists,L-glutamic acid (Glu), N-methyl-D-aspartic-acid (NMDA),and (RS)-α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid hydrobromide (AMPA);a Group Ⅰ mGluR agonist, (S) 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine [(S)-DHPG];a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, (+)-MK801 maleate (MK-801);a competitive AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist,6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX);and a selective GroupⅠ mGluR antagonist,7-hydroxyiminocyclo propan[b]chromen-1a- carboxylic acid ethyl ester (cpccoEt) into the left hind paws of rats whose L5-6 nerves were sham-operated or ligated,we examined the response of the rats to thermal stimuli provided by radiant heat. Results In sham-operated rats,glutamate,NMDA,AMPA,and (S)-DHPG reduced paw withdrawal latency (PWL) but did not have any effect on SNL rats. However,in SNL rats,MK-801,CNQX,and cpccoEt increased PWL but exerted no effect on sham-operated rats. Conclusion These results suggest that changes in sensitivity of peripheral ionic and group Ⅰ metabotropic glutamate receptors can lead to changes in peripheral nerve plasticity;the generation and maintenance of neuropathic pain caused by nerve injury is based on this plasticity.