title: Loss of Maged1 results in obesity, deficits of social interactions, impaired sexual behavior and severe alteration of mature oxytocin production in the hypothalamus.
abstract: MAGED1, NECDIN and MAGEL2 are members of the MAGE gene family. The latter two of these genes have been involved in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), which includes hyperphagia, repetitive and compulsive behaviors, and cognitive impairment. Here, we show that Maged1-deficient mice develop progressive obesity associated with hyperphagia and reduced motor activity. Loss of Maged1 also results in a complex behavioral syndrome that includes reduced social interactions and memory, deficient sexual behavior, as well as increased anxiety and self-grooming. Oxytocin (OT), which is produced in the hypothalamus, can act as a neurotransmitter that reduces anxiety, promotes social behaviors and regulates food intake. Growing evidences indicate that OT is involved in autism. We found that Maged1 mutants showed a severe reduction in the levels of mature OT, but not of its precursors, in the hypothalamus. Moreover, the administration of OT rescued the deficit in social memory of these mice. We conclude that Maged1 is required for OT processing or stability. A decrease in mature OT levels in Maged1 mutants affects social interactions and possibly other behavioral processes. Our observations suggest that, in human, MAGED1 could play a role in autism or cause a neurodevelopmental condition that is reminiscent of the PWS.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherche en Physiologie Moléculaire, Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences, FUNDP School of Medicine, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, Namur B-5000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dombret
authors.forename: Tuan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schakman
authors.forename: Jacques L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Michaud
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hardin-Pouzet
authors.forename: Mathieu J M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: De Backer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D051379:Mice; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C486541:Maged1 protein, mouse; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010121:Oxytocin