Brain-based gene expression and corresponding behavioural relevance of risk genes for broad antisocial behaviour

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) involves persistent irresponsible, delinquent activities violating rights and safety of others. A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies revealed significant genetic associations with ASB, yet their brain expression patterns and behavioural relevance remain uncle...

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Main Authors: Jaroslav Rokicki, Megan L. Campbell, Dennis van der Meer, Alina I. Sartorius, Natalia Tesli, Piotr Jahołkowski, Alexey Shadrin, Ole Andreassen, Lars T. Westlye, Daniel S. Quintana, Unn K. Haukvik
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Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:NeuroImage
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925002010
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author Jaroslav Rokicki
Megan L. Campbell
Dennis van der Meer
Alina I. Sartorius
Natalia Tesli
Piotr Jahołkowski
Alexey Shadrin
Ole Andreassen
Lars T. Westlye
Daniel S. Quintana
Unn K. Haukvik
author_facet Jaroslav Rokicki
Megan L. Campbell
Dennis van der Meer
Alina I. Sartorius
Natalia Tesli
Piotr Jahołkowski
Alexey Shadrin
Ole Andreassen
Lars T. Westlye
Daniel S. Quintana
Unn K. Haukvik
author_sort Jaroslav Rokicki
collection DOAJ
description Antisocial behaviour (ASB) involves persistent irresponsible, delinquent activities violating rights and safety of others. A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies revealed significant genetic associations with ASB, yet their brain expression patterns and behavioural relevance remain unclear. Our investigation of fifteen genes associated with ASB examined their biological role and distribution across tissues, integrating post-mortem brain sample data from the Allen-Human-Brain Atlas and the Genotype-Tissue Expression project. We found that these genes were differentially expressed in the brain, particularly in regions like the cerebellum, putamen, and caudate, and were notably downregulated in the pancreas. Single cell type expression analysis revealed that ASB-associated genes had strong correlations with ductal and endothelial cells in the pancreas, indicating a possible metabolic influence on ASB. Certain genes like NTN1, SMAD5, NCAM2, and CDC42EP3 displayed specificity for cognitive terms including chronic pain, heart rate, and aphasia. These expression patterns aligned with neurocognitive domains related to thinking, and learning, distress, motor skills, as determined by fMRI analysis. This study connects specific brain gene expression with potential genetic and metabolic factors in ASB, offering novel insights into its biological basis and possible interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and addressing aggressive behaviours.
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spelling doaj-art-81dbfa9e9bfa4acf92430b774172d3ba2025-08-20T03:18:41ZengElsevierNeuroImage1095-95722025-05-0131112119810.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121198Brain-based gene expression and corresponding behavioural relevance of risk genes for broad antisocial behaviourJaroslav Rokicki0Megan L. Campbell1Dennis van der Meer2Alina I. Sartorius3Natalia Tesli4Piotr Jahołkowski5Alexey Shadrin6Ole Andreassen7Lars T. Westlye8Daniel S. Quintana9Unn K. Haukvik10Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry (SIFER), Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Corresponding author: Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry (SIFER), Oslo Universitetssykehus HF, Klinikk psykisk helse og avhengighet, Kompetansesenter for sikkerhets-, fengsels- og rettspsykiatri, PB 4956, Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway.SAMRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Global Initiative for Neuropsychiatric Genetics Education in Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USACentre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, , NetherlandsCentre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayCentre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry (SIFER), Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayCentre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayCentre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayCentre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, NorwayCentre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayCentre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NevSom, Department of Rare Disorders and Disabilities, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, NorwayCentre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry (SIFER), Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Mental health and addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, NorwayAntisocial behaviour (ASB) involves persistent irresponsible, delinquent activities violating rights and safety of others. A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies revealed significant genetic associations with ASB, yet their brain expression patterns and behavioural relevance remain unclear. Our investigation of fifteen genes associated with ASB examined their biological role and distribution across tissues, integrating post-mortem brain sample data from the Allen-Human-Brain Atlas and the Genotype-Tissue Expression project. We found that these genes were differentially expressed in the brain, particularly in regions like the cerebellum, putamen, and caudate, and were notably downregulated in the pancreas. Single cell type expression analysis revealed that ASB-associated genes had strong correlations with ductal and endothelial cells in the pancreas, indicating a possible metabolic influence on ASB. Certain genes like NTN1, SMAD5, NCAM2, and CDC42EP3 displayed specificity for cognitive terms including chronic pain, heart rate, and aphasia. These expression patterns aligned with neurocognitive domains related to thinking, and learning, distress, motor skills, as determined by fMRI analysis. This study connects specific brain gene expression with potential genetic and metabolic factors in ASB, offering novel insights into its biological basis and possible interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and addressing aggressive behaviours.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925002010Antisocial behaviourGene expressionNeurocognitive correlatesfMRI meta-analysis
spellingShingle Jaroslav Rokicki
Megan L. Campbell
Dennis van der Meer
Alina I. Sartorius
Natalia Tesli
Piotr Jahołkowski
Alexey Shadrin
Ole Andreassen
Lars T. Westlye
Daniel S. Quintana
Unn K. Haukvik
Brain-based gene expression and corresponding behavioural relevance of risk genes for broad antisocial behaviour
NeuroImage
Antisocial behaviour
Gene expression
Neurocognitive correlates
fMRI meta-analysis
title Brain-based gene expression and corresponding behavioural relevance of risk genes for broad antisocial behaviour
title_full Brain-based gene expression and corresponding behavioural relevance of risk genes for broad antisocial behaviour
title_fullStr Brain-based gene expression and corresponding behavioural relevance of risk genes for broad antisocial behaviour
title_full_unstemmed Brain-based gene expression and corresponding behavioural relevance of risk genes for broad antisocial behaviour
title_short Brain-based gene expression and corresponding behavioural relevance of risk genes for broad antisocial behaviour
title_sort brain based gene expression and corresponding behavioural relevance of risk genes for broad antisocial behaviour
topic Antisocial behaviour
Gene expression
Neurocognitive correlates
fMRI meta-analysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925002010
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