Associative gene networks reveal novel candidates important for ADHD and dyslexia comorbidity

Abstract Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly associated with developmental dyslexia (DD), which are both prevalent and complicated pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders that have a significant influence on children’s learning and development. Clinically, the comor...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: HE Hongyao, JI Chun, Gao Xiaoyan, Liu Fangfang, Zhang Jing, Zhong Lin, Zuo Pengxiang, Li Zengchun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-09-01
Series:BMC Medical Genomics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12920-023-01502-1
_version_ 1797555791830450176
author HE Hongyao
JI Chun
Gao Xiaoyan
Liu Fangfang
Zhang Jing
Zhong Lin
Zuo Pengxiang
Li Zengchun
author_facet HE Hongyao
JI Chun
Gao Xiaoyan
Liu Fangfang
Zhang Jing
Zhong Lin
Zuo Pengxiang
Li Zengchun
author_sort HE Hongyao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly associated with developmental dyslexia (DD), which are both prevalent and complicated pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders that have a significant influence on children’s learning and development. Clinically, the comorbidity incidence of DD and ADHD is between 25 and 48%. Children with DD and ADHD may have more severe cognitive deficiencies, a poorer level of schooling, and a higher risk of social and emotional management disorders. Furthermore, patients with this comorbidity are frequently treated for a single condition in clinical settings, and the therapeutic outcome is poor. The development of effective treatment approaches against these diseases is complicated by their comorbidity features. This is often a major problem in diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we developed bioinformatical methodology for the analysis of the comorbidity of these two diseases. As such, the search for candidate genes related to the comorbid conditions of ADHD and DD can help in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the comorbid condition, and can also be useful for genotyping and identifying new drug targets. Results Using the ANDSystem tool, the reconstruction and analysis of gene networks associated with ADHD and dyslexia was carried out. The gene network of ADHD included 599 genes/proteins and 148,978 interactions, while that of dyslexia included 167 genes/proteins and 27,083 interactions. When the ANDSystem and GeneCards data were combined, a total of 213 genes/proteins for ADHD and dyslexia were found. An approach for ranking genes implicated in the comorbid condition of the two diseases was proposed. The approach is based on ten criteria for ranking genes by their importance, including relevance scores of association between disease and genes, standard methods of gene prioritization, as well as original criteria that take into account the characteristics of an associative gene network and the presence of known polymorphisms in the analyzed genes. Among the top 20 genes with the highest priority DRD2, DRD4, CNTNAP2 and GRIN2B are mentioned in the literature as directly linked with the comorbidity of ADHD and dyslexia. According to the proposed approach, the genes OPRM1, CHRNA4 and SNCA had the highest priority in the development of comorbidity of these two diseases. Additionally, it was revealed that the most relevant genes are involved in biological processes related to signal transduction, positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoters, chemical synaptic transmission, response to drugs, ion transmembrane transport, nervous system development, cell adhesion, and neuron migration. Conclusions The application of methods of reconstruction and analysis of gene networks is a powerful tool for studying the molecular mechanisms of comorbid conditions. The method put forth to rank genes by their importance for the comorbid condition of ADHD and dyslexia was employed to predict genes that play key roles in the development of the comorbid condition. The results can be utilized to plan experiments for the identification of novel candidate genes and search for novel pharmacological targets.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T16:53:42Z
format Article
id doaj.art-293d79212a9e4564b119a1daf36152bd
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1755-8794
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T16:53:42Z
publishDate 2023-09-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Medical Genomics
spelling doaj.art-293d79212a9e4564b119a1daf36152bd2023-11-20T11:13:33ZengBMCBMC Medical Genomics1755-87942023-09-0116111710.1186/s12920-023-01502-1Associative gene networks reveal novel candidates important for ADHD and dyslexia comorbidityHE Hongyao0JI Chun1Gao Xiaoyan2Liu Fangfang3Zhang Jing4Zhong Lin5Zuo Pengxiang6Li Zengchun7Medical College of Shihezi UniversityMedical College of Shihezi UniversityMedical College of Shihezi UniversityMedical College of Shihezi UniversityMedical College of Shihezi UniversityMedical College of Shihezi UniversityMedical College of Shihezi UniversityMedical College of Shihezi UniversityAbstract Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly associated with developmental dyslexia (DD), which are both prevalent and complicated pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders that have a significant influence on children’s learning and development. Clinically, the comorbidity incidence of DD and ADHD is between 25 and 48%. Children with DD and ADHD may have more severe cognitive deficiencies, a poorer level of schooling, and a higher risk of social and emotional management disorders. Furthermore, patients with this comorbidity are frequently treated for a single condition in clinical settings, and the therapeutic outcome is poor. The development of effective treatment approaches against these diseases is complicated by their comorbidity features. This is often a major problem in diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we developed bioinformatical methodology for the analysis of the comorbidity of these two diseases. As such, the search for candidate genes related to the comorbid conditions of ADHD and DD can help in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the comorbid condition, and can also be useful for genotyping and identifying new drug targets. Results Using the ANDSystem tool, the reconstruction and analysis of gene networks associated with ADHD and dyslexia was carried out. The gene network of ADHD included 599 genes/proteins and 148,978 interactions, while that of dyslexia included 167 genes/proteins and 27,083 interactions. When the ANDSystem and GeneCards data were combined, a total of 213 genes/proteins for ADHD and dyslexia were found. An approach for ranking genes implicated in the comorbid condition of the two diseases was proposed. The approach is based on ten criteria for ranking genes by their importance, including relevance scores of association between disease and genes, standard methods of gene prioritization, as well as original criteria that take into account the characteristics of an associative gene network and the presence of known polymorphisms in the analyzed genes. Among the top 20 genes with the highest priority DRD2, DRD4, CNTNAP2 and GRIN2B are mentioned in the literature as directly linked with the comorbidity of ADHD and dyslexia. According to the proposed approach, the genes OPRM1, CHRNA4 and SNCA had the highest priority in the development of comorbidity of these two diseases. Additionally, it was revealed that the most relevant genes are involved in biological processes related to signal transduction, positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoters, chemical synaptic transmission, response to drugs, ion transmembrane transport, nervous system development, cell adhesion, and neuron migration. Conclusions The application of methods of reconstruction and analysis of gene networks is a powerful tool for studying the molecular mechanisms of comorbid conditions. The method put forth to rank genes by their importance for the comorbid condition of ADHD and dyslexia was employed to predict genes that play key roles in the development of the comorbid condition. The results can be utilized to plan experiments for the identification of novel candidate genes and search for novel pharmacological targets.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12920-023-01502-1ComorbidityADHDDyslexiaANDSystemGene prioritizationBiological processes
spellingShingle HE Hongyao
JI Chun
Gao Xiaoyan
Liu Fangfang
Zhang Jing
Zhong Lin
Zuo Pengxiang
Li Zengchun
Associative gene networks reveal novel candidates important for ADHD and dyslexia comorbidity
BMC Medical Genomics
Comorbidity
ADHD
Dyslexia
ANDSystem
Gene prioritization
Biological processes
title Associative gene networks reveal novel candidates important for ADHD and dyslexia comorbidity
title_full Associative gene networks reveal novel candidates important for ADHD and dyslexia comorbidity
title_fullStr Associative gene networks reveal novel candidates important for ADHD and dyslexia comorbidity
title_full_unstemmed Associative gene networks reveal novel candidates important for ADHD and dyslexia comorbidity
title_short Associative gene networks reveal novel candidates important for ADHD and dyslexia comorbidity
title_sort associative gene networks reveal novel candidates important for adhd and dyslexia comorbidity
topic Comorbidity
ADHD
Dyslexia
ANDSystem
Gene prioritization
Biological processes
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12920-023-01502-1
work_keys_str_mv AT hehongyao associativegenenetworksrevealnovelcandidatesimportantforadhdanddyslexiacomorbidity
AT jichun associativegenenetworksrevealnovelcandidatesimportantforadhdanddyslexiacomorbidity
AT gaoxiaoyan associativegenenetworksrevealnovelcandidatesimportantforadhdanddyslexiacomorbidity
AT liufangfang associativegenenetworksrevealnovelcandidatesimportantforadhdanddyslexiacomorbidity
AT zhangjing associativegenenetworksrevealnovelcandidatesimportantforadhdanddyslexiacomorbidity
AT zhonglin associativegenenetworksrevealnovelcandidatesimportantforadhdanddyslexiacomorbidity
AT zuopengxiang associativegenenetworksrevealnovelcandidatesimportantforadhdanddyslexiacomorbidity
AT lizengchun associativegenenetworksrevealnovelcandidatesimportantforadhdanddyslexiacomorbidity