Cited by 97Genetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsDevelopmental Biology and Gene Regulation

Emerging roles for MEF2 in brain development and mental disorders

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Assali, Ahlem, Harrington, Adam J, Cowan, Christopher W·2019·Current Opinion in Neurobiology

Abstract

The MEF2 family of transcription factors regulate large programs of gene expression important for the development and maintenance of many tissues, including the brain. MEF2 proteins are regulated by neuronal synaptic activity, and they recruit several epigenetic enzymes to influence chromatin structure and gene expression during development and throughout adulthood. Here, we provide a brief review of the recent literature reporting important roles for MEF2 during early brain development and function, and we highlight emerging roles for MEF2 as a risk factor for multiple neurodevelopmental disorders and mental illnesses, such as autism, intellectual disability, and schizophrenia.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.conb.2019.04.008

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  • MEF2C exerts anti-inflammatory effects within the brain by suppressing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and protecting neurons from inflammatory damage.

    “MEF2C exerts anti‐inflammatory effects within the brain by suppressing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and protecting neurons from inflammatory damage.”

    From Targeting Microglial Transcriptional Reprogramming as a Therapy Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease (2026) · cites this paper as [43]

    The References section cites a study titled “Mef2C restrains microglial inflammatory response,” supporting a brain anti-inflammatory role for MEF2C. Neither that entry nor the review’s Conclusion specifies suppression of proinflammatory cytokines or protection of neurons from inflammatory damage; the Conclusion says MEF2’s role in microglia is only beginning to be explored. The indexed passages provide no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • MEF2C is a transcription factor with crucial roles in immune regulation, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal survival.

    “MEF2C is a transcription factor with crucial roles in immune regulation, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal survival [43, 44].”
  • The DLX5/6-N-Haplotype includes enhancers (I56i, I56ii, and MEF2) capable to direct DLX5/6 expression in the brain.

    “The DLX5/6-N-Haplotype includes enhancers (I56i, I56ii, and MEF2) capable to direct DLX5/6 expression in the brain (Fazel Darbandi, et al. 2016; Assali, et al. 2019).”

    From <i>DLX5/6</i> GABAergic Expression Affects Social Vocalization: Implications for Human Evolution (2021) · cites this paper as Assali, et al. 2019

    The Introduction describes MEF2 proteins as transcription factors that bind DNA and regulate gene expression, but it does not connect them to DLX5/6. Searches for the DLX5/6-N-haplotype, I56i, I56ii, and DLX5/6 expression found no passage addressing whether those enhancers direct DLX5/6 expression in the brain. (LLM, conf=0.74)

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Authors
Assali, A., Harrington, A. J., & Cowan, C. W.
Affiliations
Medical University of South Carolina (US)
Corresponding author
Cowan, Christopher W
Venue
Current Opinion in Neurobiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-12
Volume
59
Pages
49-58
ISSN
0959-4388 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2947078402
Cited by
92
References
109
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 2
FWCI
1.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
Keywords
MEF2 transcription factors, brain development, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, schizophrenia, synaptic activity, epigenetic regulation, chromatin structure, gene expression regulation, mental illness risk
MeSH terms
Autistic Disorder, Brain, Humans, Neurons, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, MEF2 Transcription Factors

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