Radical Research by Hong Xue on Mutations in the GABRB2 Gene Encoding for

a Major Inhibitory Neuro-Transmitter Receptor from Oasis Publishers

New York, NY, November 27, 2018 --(PR.com)-- A research group led by Hong Xue at Hong Kong
University of Science and Technology, unveiled resources & recommendations that propose a new
approach for investigator qualification - “analyzing the gene dosage impacts of GABAA receptor β2
subunit gene (Gabrb2) in knockout mice of both heterozygous (HT) and homozygous (KO) genotypes
concerning possible schizophrenia-like and comorbid phenotypes with microglia-dysregulation - a
medical study that goes beyond repetitive training and includes individual experience and
protocol-particulate preparation.

Schizophrenia is a multi-factorial disease that is caused not by a single gene mutation, but reciprocation
of combination of genetic and environmental elements. The sturdiness of genetic factors is marked by the
rise of lifetime risk of the disease from just below 1% in general population to over 40% in monozygotic
twin studies, leading to author--Hong's extensive searches for the genetic basis of the disease.

Currently, neural elements that are identified to play crucial roles in schizophrenia include contribution of
debilitated dopaminergic neurotransmission to the genesis of psychotic symptoms and deformities of
neuronal kinship likely involving interneuron.

The corresponding author says, with the advent of unrivalled tools, such as next-generation sequencing
and huge data analytics, we are in a state to rapidly determine and compare the genomic changes and
genetic differences peculiar to any individual of our species. Such genomic perspectives not just enable us
to have an insight into the genetics of complex disease but also address queries concerning clinical
outcomes among the patients. Taking this approach into consideration, Hong incorporated Gabrb2
heterozygous (HT) transgenic mice that were bred to produce HT, wild-type (WT), and knockout (KO)
mice that were weaned, genotyped using particular primers for the Gabrb2 and Neo genes
(Supplementary Techniques) with water and food ad lib.

Conducted in compliance with The Code of Practice for Care and Use of Animals for Experimental
Purposes, the study directed to assess the gene dosage effects of Gabrb2 in (HT) (KO) mice genotypes --
displayed deficiency of prepulse inhibition (PPI) to a significantly lesser extent in both the mice. Further
the findings from the research showed reduced anxiety and depression, sociability afflictions, locomotor
hyperactivity, spatial-operating and spatial-reference memory deficits, and escalated pentylenetetrazol
(PTZ)-influenced seizure.

Additionally, the KO mice were reported to be highly defenseless against audiogenic epilepsy. To further
examine, the author used male mice, (8-10 weeks) old that were incorporated in the behavioral tests
besides social behavior which incorporated 9-10-weeks-old female mice. Both genders were implemented
in the epilepsy tests, also including 3-weeks-old mice, based on previous protocols (Supplementary
Techniques). To monitor fertility in 8-week-old mice and assessing parent-of-origin effects, Paternal
HT-P and Maternal HT-M mice were engendered by mating KO male with WT female and WT male
with KO female, respectively. The study showed compromised fertility in naive KO mice compared to

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WT mice, with p 
Further, when the anxiety & depression levels of KO and HT mice were put to examination, it revealed
the KO mice to have had noticeably reduced immobility time in the tail-suspension test and also elevated
sucrose preference compared to WT mice. While, the HT mice showed just about little reduction in
tail-suspension time and no noticeable increase in sucrose preference. Thus KO, and minimally HT,
revealed reduced level of anxiety comparative to WT.

Moreover, there were remarkable changes observed in the brain of KO mice. By immuno-histochemical
staining, the authors have revealed extensive parvalbumin-positive interneuron and astrocyte dystrophy in
important brain regions such as hippocampus in KO mice. Over activation of microglia, a scavenger type
of cells, shown by immuno-histochemical staining, together with enhanced oxidation stress and
inflammatory factors, shown by biochemical assays, has demonstrated extensive neuro-inflammation in
the KO mice. Thereby, their study has established GABRB2 as a key player in schizophrenia and
comorbid disorders, and hence opens up a new avenue for therapeutic intervention of such debilitating
mental disorders.

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Contact Information:
Oasis Publishers
Hong Xue
+1-646-751-8810
Contact via Email
www.oasispub.org

Online Version of Press Release:

You can read the online version of this press release at: https://www.pr.com/press-release/770892

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