title: Abnormal elevation of FMR1 mRNA is associated with psychological symptoms in individuals with the fragile X premutation.
abstract: Until recently, individuals with premutation alleles (55-200 CGG repeats) of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene were believed to be psychologically unaffected. However, the recent documentation of abnormal elevation of FMR1 mRNA, discovery of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), and reports of psychiatric disorders in children and adults with the premutation have suggested a pathogenic gene-brain-behavior mechanism. In a large collaborative study, 68 men and 144 women with the FMR1 premutation completed a psychological symptoms checklist and FMR1 genetic testing, including determination of CGG repeat size, percentage of FMR1 protein (FMRP)-positive lymphocytes, and FMR1 mRNA levels. Relative to published norms, men and women with FXTAS symptoms reported higher levels of several types of psychological symptoms. In addition, men and women with the premutation and no overt evidence of FXTAS reported higher levels of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Elevated FMR1 mRNA, but not CGG repeat size or reduced FMRP (as measured by immunocytochemistry), was significantly associated with increased psychological symptoms, predominantly obsessive-compulsive symptoms and psychoticism, in premutation men with and without FXTAS symptoms. There was no relationship between CGG repeat size, FMR1 mRNA or FMRP and psychological symptoms in premutation women unless the sample was restricted to those with skewed X-activation ratio toward >50% active premutation alleles. The results of this study support the hypothesis that FMR1 function is associated with psychological difficulties in individuals with the premutation, and provide evidence concordant with an RNA toxic gain-of-function model in a neuropsychiatric phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, University of California-Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. david.hessl@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hessl
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tassone
authors.forename: Danuta Z
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Loesch
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berry-Kravis
authors.forename: Maureen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Leehey
authors.forename: Louise W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Gane
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barbato
authors.forename: Cathlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grigsby
authors.forename: Jacob A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wegelin
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Foster
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.forename: Dahlia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hagerman
authors.forename: Randi J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hagerman
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019680:Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion
chemical_list: D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497683:FMR1 protein, human