Cited by 20Genetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersGenomic variations and chromosomal abnormalitiesAutism Spectrum Disorder Research

The sociability spectrum: evidence from reciprocal genetic copy number variations

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López-Tobón, Alejandro, Trattaro, Sebastiano, Testa, Giuseppe·2020·Molecular Autism

Abstract

Sociability entails some of the most complex behaviors processed by the central nervous system. It includes the detection, integration, and interpretation of social cues and elaboration of context-specific responses that are quintessentially species-specific. There is an ever-growing accumulation of molecular associations to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), from causative genes to endophenotypes across multiple functional layers; these however, have rarely been put in context with the opposite manifestation featured in hypersociability syndromes. Genetic copy number variations (CNVs) allow to investigate the relationships between gene dosage and its corresponding phenotypes. In particular, CNVs of the 7q11.23 locus, which manifest diametrically opposite social behaviors, offer a privileged window to look into the molecular substrates underlying the developmental trajectories of the social brain. As by definition sociability is studied in humans postnatally, the developmental fluctuations causing social impairments have thus far remained a black box. Here, we review key evidence of molecular players involved at both ends of the sociability spectrum, focusing on genetic and functional associations of neuroendocrine regulators and synaptic transmission pathways. We then proceed to propose the existence of a molecular axis centered around the paradigmatic dosage imbalances at the 7q11.23 locus, regulating networks responsible for the development of social behavior in humans and highlight the key role that neurodevelopmental models from reprogrammed pluripotent cells will play for its understanding.

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Crossref · 10.1186/s13229-020-00347-0

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  • GTF2I is located in 7q11.23, a genomic region whose deletion or microduplication provokes complex syndromes with opposite social and speech language behaviors.

    “GTF2I is located in 7q11.23, a genomic region which deletion or microduplication provokes complex syndromes with opposite social and speech language behaviors including sociability, speech language, and cognitive alteration associated with neural crest-associated facial features (López-Tobón, et al. 2020).”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [110]Haldeman-Englert CR Jewett T 1q21.1 Recurrent Microdeletion. In: Pagon RA, Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, Bean LJ, et al., editors. GeneReviews(®) 1993 Seattle (WA) University of Washington, Seattle 21348049
  2. [142]Morris CA Williams Syndrome Pagon RA, Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, Bean LJ, et al., editors. GeneReviews(®) 1993 Seattle (WA) University of Washington, Seattle 20301427

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Authors
López-Tobón, A., Trattaro, S., & Testa, G.
Affiliations
University of Milan (IT)
Corresponding author
  • Trattaro, Sebastiano
  • Testa, Giuseppe
Venue
Molecular Autism
Published
2020-08-16
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
50-50
ISSN
2040-2392 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3034240415
Cited by
20
References
177
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4
FWCI
0.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Molecular Autism (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Fondazione Cariplo (2017-0886)
  • European Research Council (825759)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Keywords
sociability, autism spectrum disorder, hypersociability, copy number variation, gene dosage, social behavior development, synaptic transmission, neurodevelopmental model
MeSH terms
Chromosomes, Human, Humans, Synaptic Transmission, Neurosecretory Systems, Social Behavior, Gene Dosage, DNA Copy Number Variations

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