Cntn1, also known as Contactin 1, is a member of the cell adhesion molecule and immunoglobulin supergene family. It is centrally involved in axonal growth regulation, participates in cell contact formation, and is also associated with inflammation-related disorders, degenerative diseases, and tumor development [5,8].

In methamphetamine-induced addiction, single or repeated Meth exposure upregulates CNTN1 expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of mice. Silencing CNTN1 expression in the NAc via brain stereotaxis reverses Meth-induced conditioned place preference, suggesting its role in Meth-induced addiction, potentially related to the expression of synapse-associated proteins in the NAc [4].

In cognitive deficits related to Alzheimer's disease (AD), CNTN1 immunoreactivity is increased in postmortem AD brains. Overexpressing CNTN1 in mice hippocampus triggers cognitive deficits, which may be due to the activation of microglia and astrocytes, resulting in abnormal expression of excitatory amino acid transporters and long-term potentiation impairment [5].

Also, chronic unpredictable stress increases hippocampal Cntn1 expression in mice and rats, and overexpressing Cntn1 in the hippocampus causes anxiety-and depression-like phenotypes, along with microglia activation and impaired hippocampal immature neurons [8].

In colorectal cancer, elevated CNTN1 expression is associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and poor prognosis [6].

In autoimmune diseases, CNTN1 antibody-positive nodopathy shows symptoms like tremors and ataxia, and anti-CNTN1 IgG4 antibody-associated nodopathies is an autoimmune antibody-mediated peripheral neuropathy [1,7].

Additionally, CNTN1 may be a target antigen in membranous nephropathy, with CNTN1-containing immune complexes found in the renal glomeruli of patients with CNTN1 antibodies [2,3,9].

In conclusion, Cntn1 is crucial in multiple biological processes and disease conditions. Its role in axonal growth, cell contact, and immune-related functions is revealed through in vivo studies such as those using mouse models. These studies contribute to understanding diseases like addiction, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and autoimmune disorders, providing insights into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

References:

1. Zhao, Min, Chen, Guixian, Li, Shuguang, Du, Chenghao, Zhao, Yuanqi. 2024. Recurrent CNTN1 antibody-positive nodopathy: a case report and literature review. In Frontiers in immunology, 15, 1368487. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2024.1368487. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38846936/

2. Gu, Yan, Xu, Hui, Tang, Damu. 2021. Mechanisms of Primary Membranous Nephropathy. In Biomolecules, 11, . doi:10.3390/biom11040513. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33808418/

3. Sethi, Sanjeev, Fervenza, Fernando C. . Membranous nephropathy-diagnosis and identification of target antigens. In Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association, 39, 600-606. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfad227. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37863839/

4. Zhang, Linxuan, Zeng, Zehao, Lu, Xiaoyu, Li, Changqi, Li, Fang. 2023. CNTN1 in the Nucleus Accumbens is Involved in Methamphetamine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference in Mice. In Neurotoxicity research, 41, 324-337. doi:10.1007/s12640-023-00640-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37014368/

5. Li, Song-Ji, Ma, Min-Hui, Li, Jun-Mei, Li, Fang, Li, Chang-Qi. 2023. CNTN1 Aggravates Neuroinflammation and Triggers Cognitive Deficits in Male Mice by Boosting Crosstalk between Microglia and Astrocytes. In Aging and disease, 14, 1853-1869. doi:10.14336/AD.2023.0228. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37196127/

6. Li, Guangyao, Zhang, Zhengjun, Ge, Guochao, Fang, Ke, Zhu, Jianyu. . Upregulated CNTN1 is associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis of colorectal cancer. In Cancer biomarkers : section A of Disease markers, 30, 193-201. doi:10.3233/CBM-190981. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33104020/

7. Li, Qian, Chen, Qing, Zhang, Ting, Kan, Yanmin, Zhang, Jing. 2023. Case report: Anti-CNTN1 antibody-associated nodopathies disease with asymmetric onset. In Frontiers in neurology, 14, 1124540. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1124540. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36970505/

8. Li, Songji, Cao, Wenyu, Zhou, Shifen, Li, Fang, Li, Changqi. 2021. Expression of Cntn1 is regulated by stress and associated with anxiety and depression phenotypes. In Brain, behavior, and immunity, 95, 142-153. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2021.03.012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33737174/

9. Fehmi, Janev, Davies, Alexander J, Antonelou, Marilina, Salama, Alan D, Rinaldi, Simon. 2023. Contactin-1 links autoimmune neuropathy and membranous glomerulonephritis. In PloS one, 18, e0281156. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0281156. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36893151/