{"id":{"repo_id":"vcu","oai_identifier":"oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-1164"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vcu/oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-1164","repository":{"repo_id":"vcu","name":"Virginia Commonwealth University","base_url":"https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"HAPLOINSUFFICIENCY OF RAI1 AND ITS EFFECT ON BDNF EXPRESSION","abstract":"Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS) [OMIM, #182290] is a congenital anomaly and mental retardation (MCA/MR) syndrome associated with deletion of chromosome17p11.2 [1]. The clinical phenotype has been well described and includes minor craniofacial anomalies, self-injurious behaviors as well as sleep disturbances, speech delays, and obesity [1,2,3]. The incidence of SMS is estimated to be ~ 1:15,000 - 25,000 births [2,6]. Among SMS patients, ~90% are comprised of 17p11.2 deletions, while ~10% have RAI1 mutations [8]. All 17p11.2 deletions associated with SMS include RAI1 deletion [10]. RAI1 is thought to function as a transcriptional factor although its cellular role is still unclear. First, in order to better understand the role of RAI1 as a transcriptional factor and its relation to SMS, we confirmed that RAI1 regulates BDNF within an intronic region. This sequence was further narrowed down by utilizing the luciferase reporter assay. This test confirmed what was previously found using ChIP-chip assay and microarray analysis of Rai1+/- mice hypothalami. Next, in order to evaluate the role of Bdnf, an ampakine drug was administered to the Rai1+/- mouse model. A mouse model is a powerful tool for studying a specific gene. Rai1+/- mice exhibit the SMS phenotypes of obesity, craniofacial abnormalities, reduced pain sensitivities, seizures and others. Many physical, neurological, and behavioral tests were performed on the mice to see if any of the phenotypes can be rescued. Interestingly, twice-daily injections of ampakine CX1837 restored the pain sensitivities in Rai1+/- mice. The hot plate data suggest that BDNF potentially has a role in regulating the SMS phenotype of decreased pain sensitivity. In order to evaluate other genes that are altered as a result of the CX1837 ampakine drug, the whole brain's global gene expression was evaluated via microarray analysis. Two potential pain-related genes were identified to be upregulated due to drug administration, which could account for the pain phenotypes observed. One of the genes upregulated in treated mice was Osm, which is interesting because Osm is responsible for pain sensitivity. Further analysis is needed to confirm that an ampakine drug can potentially be used to treat SMS patients.","abstract_html":"Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS) [OMIM, #182290] is a congenital anomaly and mental retardation (MCA/MR) syndrome associated with deletion of chromosome17p11.2 [1]. The clinical phenotype has been well described and includes minor craniofacial anomalies, self-injurious behaviors as well as sleep disturbances, speech delays, and obesity [1,2,3]. The incidence of SMS is estimated to be ~ 1:15,000 - 25,000 births [2,6]. Among SMS patients, ~90% are comprised of 17p11.2 deletions, while ~10% have RAI1 mutations [8]. All 17p11.2 deletions associated with SMS include RAI1 deletion [10]. RAI1 is thought to function as a transcriptional factor although its cellular role is still unclear. First, in order to better understand the role of RAI1 as a transcriptional factor and its relation to SMS, we confirmed that RAI1 regulates BDNF within an intronic region. This sequence was further narrowed down by utilizing the luciferase reporter assay. This test confirmed what was previously found using ChIP-chip assay and microarray analysis of Rai1+/- mice hypothalami. Next, in order to evaluate the role of Bdnf, an ampakine drug was administered to the Rai1+/- mouse model. A mouse model is a powerful tool for studying a specific gene. Rai1+/- mice exhibit the SMS phenotypes of obesity, craniofacial abnormalities, reduced pain sensitivities, seizures and others. Many physical, neurological, and behavioral tests were performed on the mice to see if any of the phenotypes can be rescued. Interestingly, twice-daily injections of ampakine CX1837 restored the pain sensitivities in Rai1+/- mice. The hot plate data suggest that BDNF potentially has a role in regulating the SMS phenotype of decreased pain sensitivity. In order to evaluate other genes that are altered as a result of the CX1837 ampakine drug, the whole brain's global gene expression was evaluated via microarray analysis. Two potential pain-related genes were identified to be upregulated due to drug administration, which could account for the pain phenotypes observed. One of the genes upregulated in treated mice was Osm, which is interesting because Osm is responsible for pain sensitivity. Further analysis is needed to confirm that an ampakine drug can potentially be used to treat SMS patients.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kim, Sun"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Human Genetics","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Sarah Elsea"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2010,"date_issued":"2010-12-07T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2010-12-07T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:53:26Z","subjects":["SMS","BDNF","ampakine","CX1837","RAI1","pain","Medical Genetics","Medical Sciences","Medicine and Health Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":["© The Author"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/165"],"render_values":[{"text":"https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/165","href":"https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/165","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://doi.org/10.25772/TT63-9A88","outbound_label":"DOI","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Sarah Elsea"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Kim, Sun"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-12-17T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Human Genetics"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["SMS","BDNF","ampakine","CX1837","RAI1","pain","Medical Genetics","Medical Sciences","Medicine and Health Sciences"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["© The Author"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://doi.org/10.25772/TT63-9A88","https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/165"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS) [OMIM, #182290] is a congenital anomaly and mental retardation (MCA/MR) syndrome associated with deletion of chromosome17p11.2 [1]. The clinical phenotype has been well described and includes minor craniofacial anomalies, self-injurious behaviors as well as sleep disturbances, speech delays, and obesity [1,2,3]. The incidence of SMS is estimated to be ~ 1:15,000 - 25,000 births [2,6]. Among SMS patients, ~90% are comprised of 17p11.2 deletions, while ~10% have RAI1 mutations [8]. All 17p11.2 deletions associated with SMS include RAI1 deletion [10]. RAI1 is thought to function as a transcriptional factor although its cellular role is still unclear. First, in order to better understand the role of RAI1 as a transcriptional factor and its relation to SMS, we confirmed that RAI1 regulates BDNF within an intronic region. This sequence was further narrowed down by utilizing the luciferase reporter assay. This test confirmed what was previously found using ChIP-chip assay and microarray analysis of Rai1+/- mice hypothalami. Next, in order to evaluate the role of Bdnf, an ampakine drug was administered to the Rai1+/- mouse model. A mouse model is a powerful tool for studying a specific gene. Rai1+/- mice exhibit the SMS phenotypes of obesity, craniofacial abnormalities, reduced pain sensitivities, seizures and others. Many physical, neurological, and behavioral tests were performed on the mice to see if any of the phenotypes can be rescued. Interestingly, twice-daily injections of ampakine CX1837 restored the pain sensitivities in Rai1+/- mice. The hot plate data suggest that BDNF potentially has a role in regulating the SMS phenotype of decreased pain sensitivity. In order to evaluate other genes that are altered as a result of the CX1837 ampakine drug, the whole brain's global gene expression was evaluated via microarray analysis. Two potential pain-related genes were identified to be upregulated due to drug administration, which could account for the pain phenotypes observed. One of the genes upregulated in treated mice was Osm, which is interesting because Osm is responsible for pain sensitivity. Further analysis is needed to confirm that an ampakine drug can potentially be used to treat SMS patients."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["HAPLOINSUFFICIENCY OF RAI1 AND ITS EFFECT ON BDNF EXPRESSION"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Sarah Elsea"],"dc:creator":["Kim, Sun"],"dc:date.available":["2015-12-17T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS) [OMIM, #182290] is a congenital anomaly and mental retardation (MCA/MR) syndrome associated with deletion of chromosome17p11.2 [1]. The clinical phenotype has been well described and includes minor craniofacial anomalies, self-injurious behaviors as well as sleep disturbances, speech delays, and obesity [1,2,3]. The incidence of SMS is estimated to be ~ 1:15,000 - 25,000 births [2,6]. Among SMS patients, ~90% are comprised of 17p11.2 deletions, while ~10% have RAI1 mutations [8]. All 17p11.2 deletions associated with SMS include RAI1 deletion [10]. RAI1 is thought to function as a transcriptional factor although its cellular role is still unclear. First, in order to better understand the role of RAI1 as a transcriptional factor and its relation to SMS, we confirmed that RAI1 regulates BDNF within an intronic region. This sequence was further narrowed down by utilizing the luciferase reporter assay. This test confirmed what was previously found using ChIP-chip assay and microarray analysis of Rai1+/- mice hypothalami. Next, in order to evaluate the role of Bdnf, an ampakine drug was administered to the Rai1+/- mouse model. A mouse model is a powerful tool for studying a specific gene. Rai1+/- mice exhibit the SMS phenotypes of obesity, craniofacial abnormalities, reduced pain sensitivities, seizures and others. Many physical, neurological, and behavioral tests were performed on the mice to see if any of the phenotypes can be rescued. Interestingly, twice-daily injections of ampakine CX1837 restored the pain sensitivities in Rai1+/- mice. The hot plate data suggest that BDNF potentially has a role in regulating the SMS phenotype of decreased pain sensitivity. In order to evaluate other genes that are altered as a result of the CX1837 ampakine drug, the whole brain's global gene expression was evaluated via microarray analysis. Two potential pain-related genes were identified to be upregulated due to drug administration, which could account for the pain phenotypes observed. One of the genes upregulated in treated mice was Osm, which is interesting because Osm is responsible for pain sensitivity. Further analysis is needed to confirm that an ampakine drug can potentially be used to treat SMS patients."],"dc:identifier":["https://doi.org/10.25772/TT63-9A88","https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/165"],"dc:rights":["© The Author"],"dc:subject":["SMS","BDNF","ampakine","CX1837","RAI1","pain","Medical Genetics","Medical Sciences","Medicine and Health Sciences"],"dc:title":["HAPLOINSUFFICIENCY OF RAI1 AND ITS EFFECT ON BDNF EXPRESSION"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Human Genetics"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:53:26Z"}