Rescue of neuropsychiatric phenotypes in a mouse model of 16p11.2 duplication syndrome by genetic correction of an epilepsy network hub

The 16p11.2 duplication confers risk for autism and schizophrenia, but the disease mechanisms are unknown. Here, the authors use proteomics to show dysregulation of synaptic and epilepsy-associated protein networks in the cortex of model mice, and demonstrate that correcting Prrt2 gene dosage rescues circuit hypersynchrony and behavioural phenotypes. Neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) are frequently co-morbid with epilepsy, but the biological basis of shared risk remains poorly understood. The 16p11.2 duplication is a copy number variant that confers risk for diverse NPDs including autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, intellectual disability and epilepsy. We used a mouse model of the 16p11.2 duplication (16p11.2(dup/+)) to uncover molecular and circuit properties associated with this broad phenotypic spectrum, and examined genes within the locus capable of phenotype reversal. Quantitative proteomics revealed alterations to synaptic networks and products of NPD risk genes. We identified an epilepsy-associated subnetwork that was dysregulated in 16p11.2(dup/+) mice and altered in brain tissue from individuals with NPDs. Cortical circuits from 16p11.2(dup/+) mice exhibited hypersynchronous activity and enhanced network glutamate release, which increased susceptibility to seizures. Using gene co-expression and interactome analysis, we show that PRRT2 is a major hub in the epilepsy subnetwork. Remarkably, correcting Prrt2 copy number rescued aberrant circuit properties, seizure susceptibility and social deficits in 16p11.2(dup/+) mice. We show that proteomics and network biology can identify important disease hubs in multigenic disorders, and reveal mechanisms relevant to the complex symptomatology of 16p11.2 duplication carriers.

Automated summary

This study reveals that the 16p11.2 duplication increases the risk of autism and schizophrenia, and proteomics analysis shows that it causes dysregulation of synaptic and epilepsy-associated protein networks. The authors also demonstrate that correcting Prrt2 gene dosage can rescue circuit hypersynchrony and behavioral phenotypes. These findings contribute to our understanding of the biological basis of neuropsychiatric disorders and epilepsy.