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Involvement of Intestinal Goblet Cells and Changes in Sodium Glucose Transporters Expression: Possible Therapeutic Targets in Autistic BTBR T +Itpr3 tf/J Mice. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111328. [PMID: 34769857 PMCID: PMC8583041 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental syndrome with a complicated etiology and could be responsible for disrupted gastrointestinal tract microbiota. The aim of this work was to study intestinal samples from an autistic animal model (BTBR mouse strain) to better describe gastrointestinal alterations. We performed a morphological and biological evaluation of small intestine samples. In terms of morphology, we studied the goblet cells, cells of intestinal mucosal responsible for the production and maintenance of the protective mucous blanket. Alterations in their secretion may indicate an altered rate of mucus synthesis and this is one of the possible causes of gastrointestinal problems. In terms of biological evaluation, impaired regulation of glucose homeostasis regulated by sodium-glucose transporters has been suggested as an important component of obesity and associated comorbidities; therefore, this study analyzed the expression of sodium/glucose transporter-1 and -3 in BTBR mice to better define their role. We demonstrated that, in BTBR mice as compared to C57BL/6J (B6) strain animals: (1) The goblet cells had different protein content in their vesicles and apparently a larger number of Golgi cisternae; (2) the expression and level of sodium/glucose transporters were higher. These findings could suggest new possible targets in autism spectrum disorder to maintain mucus barrier function.
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Current knowledge, challenges, new perspectives of the study, and treatments of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 106:82-93. [PMID: 34695561 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 70 years, the understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) improved greatly and is characterized as a heterogeneous neuropsychiatric syndrome. ASD is characterized by difficulties in social communication, restricted and repetitive behavior, interests, or activities. And it is often described as a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. There are many treatments and approaches to ASD, including pharmacological therapies with antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood regulators, stimulants, and behavioral ones. However, no treatment is capable of reverting ASD. This review provides an overview of animal models of autism. We summarized genetic and environmental models and then valproic acid treatment as a useful model for ASD. As well as the main therapies and approaches used in the treatment, relating them to the neurochemical pathways altered in ASD, emphasizing the pharmacological potential of peptides and bioinspired compounds found in animal venoms as a possible future treatment for ASD.
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53
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Gzielo K, Nikiforuk A. Astroglia in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11544. [PMID: 34768975 PMCID: PMC8583956 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an umbrella term encompassing several neurodevelopmental disorders such as Asperger syndrome or autism. It is characterised by the occurrence of distinct deficits in social behaviour and communication and repetitive patterns of behaviour. The symptoms may be of different intensity and may vary in types. Risk factors for ASD include disturbed brain homeostasis, genetic predispositions, or inflammation during the prenatal period caused by viruses or bacteria. The number of diagnosed cases is growing, but the main cause and mechanism leading to ASD is still uncertain. Recent findings from animal models and human cases highlight the contribution of glia to the ASD pathophysiology. It is known that glia cells are not only "gluing" neurons together but are key players participating in different processes crucial for proper brain functioning, including neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, inflammation, myelination, proper glutamate processing and many others. Despite the prerequisites for the involvement of glia in the processes related to the onset of autism, there are far too little data regarding the engagement of these cells in the development of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gzielo
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland;
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Leo A, De Caro C, Mainardi P, Tallarico M, Nesci V, Marascio N, Striano P, Russo E, Constanti A, De Sarro G, Citraro R. Increased efficacy of combining prebiotic and postbiotic in mouse models relevant to autism and depression. Neuropharmacology 2021; 198:108782. [PMID: 34492286 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The Microbiota-Gut-Brain axis (MGBA) is a bidirectional communication pathway between gut bacteria and the central nervous system (CNS) (including the intestine) that exerts a profound influence on neural development, neuroinflammation, activation of stress response and neurotransmission, in addition to modulating complex behaviours, such as sociability and anxiety. Several MGBA modulating approaches are possible, such as probiotic administration. A reasonable pharmacological approach would also be the contemporarily administration of both prebiotics and postbiotics. To test this hypothesis, we probed the effects of α-lactalbumin (ALAC; a prebiotic in the dose range of 125-500 mg/kg) and sodium butyrate (NaB; a postbiotic in the dose range of 30-300 mg/kg) alone and in combination. We used two animal behavioural models of idiopathic autism, (BTBR mice) and anxiety/depression (chronic unexpected mild stress - CUMS mice) respectively, using several standard behavioural paradigms such as Three-chamber social interaction test, Marble burying assay, depression-, anxiety- and memory-tests. In BTBR autistic mice, we found that both ALAC and NaB improve animal sociability, and memory in the passive avoidance (PA); drug combination was more effective in almost all tests also reducing immobility time in the forced swimming test (FST), which was not affected by single drug administration. Similarly, in the CUMS mice, single drug administration was effective in improving: 1) depressive-like behaviour in the FST and sucrose preference test; 2) memory and learning in the PA, novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests. Drug combination was again more effective than single drug administration in most cases; however, in the CUMS model, neither single drug or combination was effective in the elevated plus maze test for anxiety. Our results suggest that in both models, ALAC and NaB combination is more effective in improving some pathological aspects of animal behaviour than single administration and that the prebiotic/postbiotic approach should be considered a reasonable approach for the manipulation of the MGBA to improve efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Leo
- System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Carmen De Caro
- System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Paolo Mainardi
- People's University for Food and Health Studies, Genoa, Italy
| | - Martina Tallarico
- System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valentina Nesci
- System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Nadia Marascio
- System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) 'G. Gaslini' Institute, Genoa, Italy; Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Emilio Russo
- System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Andrew Constanti
- Department of Pharmacology, University College London School of Pharmacy, London, UK.
| | - Giovambattista De Sarro
- System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rita Citraro
- System and Applied Pharmacology@University Magna Grecia, Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
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55
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Schrier MS, Zhang Y, Trivedi MS, Deth RC. Decreased cortical Nrf2 gene expression in autism and its relationship to thiol and cobalamin status. Biochimie 2021; 192:1-12. [PMID: 34517051 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) promotes expression of a large number of antioxidant genes and multiple studies have described oxidative stress and impaired methylation in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including decreased brain levels of methylcobalamin(III) (MeCbl). Here we report decreased expression of the Nrf2 gene (NFE2L2) in frontal cortex of ASD subjects, as well as differences in other genes involved in redox homeostasis. In pooled control and ASD correlation analyses, hydroxocobalamin(III) (OHCbl) was inversely correlated with NFE2L2 expression, while MeCbl and total cobalamin abundance were positively correlated with NFE2L2 expression. Levels of methionine, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and cystathionine were positively correlated with NFE2L2 expression, while homocysteine (HCY) was negatively correlated. The relationship between Nrf2 activity and cobalamin was further supported by a bioinformatics-based comparison of cobalamin levels in different tissues with expression of a panel of 40 Nrf2-regulated genes, which yielded a strong correlation. Lastly, Nrf2-regulated gene expression was also correlated with expression of intracellular cobalamin trafficking and processing genes, such as MMADHC and MTRR. These findings highlight a previously unrecognized relationship between the antioxidant-promoting role of Nrf2 and cobalamin status, which is dysfunctional in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Scott Schrier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Yiting Zhang
- Biologics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Devens, MA, USA
| | - Malav Suchin Trivedi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Richard Carlton Deth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
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56
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Gawlińska K, Gawliński D, Kowal-Wiśniewska E, Jarmuż-Szymczak M, Filip M. Alteration of the Early Development Environment by Maternal Diet and the Occurrence of Autistic-like Phenotypes in Rat Offspring. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189662. [PMID: 34575826 PMCID: PMC8472469 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological and preclinical studies suggest that maternal obesity increases the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. Here, we assessed the effects of exposure to modified maternal diets limited to pregnancy and lactation on brain development and behavior in rat offspring of both sexes. Among the studied diets, a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) disturbed the expression of ASD-related genes (Cacna1d, Nlgn3, and Shank1) and proteins (SHANK1 and TAOK2) in the prefrontal cortex of male offspring during adolescence. In addition, a maternal high-fat diet induced epigenetic changes by increasing cortical global DNA methylation and the expression of miR-423 and miR-494. As well as the molecular changes, behavioral studies have shown male-specific disturbances in social interaction and an increase in repetitive behavior during adolescence. Most of the observed changes disappeared in adulthood. In conclusion, we demonstrated the contribution of a maternal HFD to the predisposition to an ASD-like phenotype in male adolescent offspring, while a protective effect occurred in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gawlińska
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (D.G.); (M.F.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Dawid Gawliński
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (D.G.); (M.F.)
| | - Ewelina Kowal-Wiśniewska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszyńska 32, 60-479 Poznań, Poland; (E.K.-W.); (M.J.-S.)
| | - Małgorzata Jarmuż-Szymczak
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszyńska 32, 60-479 Poznań, Poland; (E.K.-W.); (M.J.-S.)
| | - Małgorzata Filip
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (D.G.); (M.F.)
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57
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Wang X, Gao C, Zhang Y, Hu S, Qiao Y, Zhao Z, Gou L, Song J, Wang Q. Overexpression of mGluR7 in the Prefrontal Cortex Attenuates Autistic Behaviors in Mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:689611. [PMID: 34335187 PMCID: PMC8319395 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.689611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with a range of abnormalities pertaining to socialization, communication, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Owing to its complexity, the etiology of ASD remains incompletely understood. The presynaptic G protein-coupled glutamate receptor metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7) is known to be essential for synaptic transmission and is also tightly linked with ASD incidence. Herein, we report that prefrontal cortex (PFC) mGluR7 protein levels were decreased in C57BL/6J mice exposed to valproic acid (VPA) and BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mice. The overexpression of mGluR7 in the PFC of these mice using a lentiviral vector was sufficient to reduce the severity of ASD-like behavioral patterns such that animals exhibited decreases in abnormal social interactions and communication, anxiety-like, and stereotyped/repetitive behaviors. Intriguingly, patch-clamp recordings revealed that the overexpression of mGluR7 suppressed neuronal excitability by inhibiting action potential discharge frequencies, together with enhanced action potential threshold and increased rheobase. These data offer a scientific basis for the additional study of mGluR7 as a promising therapeutic target in ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaona Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Chao Gao
- Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaodong Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Shunan Hu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yidan Qiao
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhengqin Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Lingshan Gou
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jijun Song
- Henan Infectious Disease Hospital, The Sixth People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou, China
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58
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Boksha IS, Prokhorova TA, Tereshkina EB, Savushkina OK, Burbaeva GS. Protein Phosphorylation Signaling Cascades in Autism: The Role of mTOR Pathway. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2021; 86:577-596. [PMID: 33993859 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297921050072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is a central regulator of cell metabolism, growth, and survival in response to hormones, growth factors, nutrients, and stress-induced signals. In this review, we analyzed the studies on the molecular abnormalities of the mTOR-associated signaling cascades in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and outlined the prospects for the pathogenicity-targeting pharmacotherapeutic approaches to ASDs, in particular syndromic ASDs. Based on available experimental and clinical data, we suggest that very early detection of molecular abnormalities in the ASD risk groups can be facilitated by using peripheral blood platelets. Also, identification of the time window of critical dysregulations in the described pathways in the ASD risk groups might suggest further research directions leading to more efficacious pharmacotherapeutic interventions in ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina S Boksha
- Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, 115522, Russia. .,Gamaleya Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 123098, Russia
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59
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Klenova AV, Volodin IA, Volodina EV, Ranneva SV, Amstislavskaya TG, Lipina TV. Vocal and physical phenotypes of calsyntenin2 knockout mouse pups model early-life symptoms of the autism spectrum disorder. Behav Brain Res 2021; 412:113430. [PMID: 34182007 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This study discovered a novel acoustic phenotype in Calsyntenin2 deficient knockout (Clstn2-KO) pups in the neurodevelopment period of 5-9 postnatal days (PND 5-9). The narrowband ultrasonic calls (nUSVs) were less complex (mostly one-note, shorter in duration and higher in peak frequency) in Clsnt2-KO than in wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 J pups. The wideband ultrasonic calls (wUSVs) were produced substantially more often by Clstn2-KO than WT pups. The clicks were longer in duration and higher in peak frequency and power quartiles in Clstn2-KO pups. The elevated discomfort due to additional two-minute maternal separation coupled with experimenter's touch, resulted in significantly higher call rates of both nUSVs and clicks in pups of both genotypes and sexes compared to the previous two-minute maternal separation, whereas the call rate of wUSVs was not affected. In Clstn2-KO pups, the prevalence of emission of wUSVs retained at both sex and both degrees of discomfort, thus providing a reliable quantitative acoustic indicator for this genetic line. Besides the acoustic differences, we also detected the increased head-to-body ratio in Clstn2-KO pups. Altogether, this study demonstrated that lack of such synaptic adhesion protein as calsyntenin2 affects neurodevelopment of vocalization in a mouse as a model organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Klenova
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia.
| | - Ilya A Volodin
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia; Department of Behaviour and Behavioural Ecology of Mammals, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia.
| | - Elena V Volodina
- Department of Behaviour and Behavioural Ecology of Mammals, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia.
| | - Svetlana V Ranneva
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Department of Genetics, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Tamara G Amstislavskaya
- Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine» (SRINM), Novosibirsk, 630117, Russia.
| | - Tatiana V Lipina
- Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
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60
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Premoli M, Memo M, Bonini SA. Ultrasonic vocalizations in mice: relevance for ethologic and neurodevelopmental disorders studies. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:1158-1167. [PMID: 33269765 PMCID: PMC8224126 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.300340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice use ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to communicate each other and to convey their emotional state. USVs have been greatly characterized in specific life phases and contexts, such as mother isolation-induced USVs for pups or female-induced USVs for male mice during courtship. USVs can be acquired by means of specific tools and later analyzed on the base of both quantitative and qualitative parameters. Indeed, different ultrasonic call categories exist and have already been defined. The understanding of different calls meaning is still missing, and it will represent an essential step forward in the field of USVs. They have long been studied in the ethological context, but recently they emerged as a precious instrument to study pathologies characterized by deficits in communication, in particular neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism spectrum disorders. This review covers the topics of USVs characteristics in mice, contexts for USVs emission and factors that modulate their expression. A particular focus will be devoted to mouse USVs in the context of NDDs. Indeed, several NDDs murine models exist and an intense study of USVs is currently in progress, with the aim of both performing an early diagnosis and to find a pharmacological/behavioral intervention to improve patients' quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marika Premoli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Memo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Anna Bonini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia, Italy
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61
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Ye J, Wang H, Cui L, Chu S, Chen N. The progress of chemokines and chemokine receptors in autism spectrum disorders. Brain Res Bull 2021; 174:268-280. [PMID: 34077795 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders and the main symptoms of ASD are impairments in social communication and abnormal behavioral patterns. Studies have shown that immune dysfunction and neuroinflammation play a key role in ASD patients and experimental models. Chemokines are groups of small proteins that regulate cell migration and mediate inflammation responses via binding to chemokine receptors. Thus, chemokines/chemokine receptors may be involved in neurodevelopmental disorders and associated with ASD. In this review, we summarize the research progress of chemokine aberrations in ASD and also review the recent progress of clinical treatment of ASD and pharmacological research related to chemokines/chemokine receptors. This review highlights the possible connection between chemokines/chemokine receptors and ASD, and provides novel potential targets for drug discovery of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junrui Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica and Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Hongyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica and Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Liyuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica and Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Shifeng Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica and Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Naihong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica and Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
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62
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Hartig R, Wolf D, Schmeisser MJ, Kelsch W. Genetic influences of autism candidate genes on circuit wiring and olfactory decoding. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:581-595. [PMID: 33515293 PMCID: PMC7872953 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03390-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Olfaction supports a multitude of behaviors vital for social communication and interactions between conspecifics. Intact sensory processing is contingent upon proper circuit wiring. Disturbances in genetic factors controlling circuit assembly and synaptic wiring can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), where impaired social interactions and communication are core symptoms. The variability in behavioral phenotype expression is also contingent upon the role environmental factors play in defining genetic expression. Considering the prevailing clinical diagnosis of ASD, research on therapeutic targets for autism is essential. Behavioral impairments may be identified along a range of increasingly complex social tasks. Hence, the assessment of social behavior and communication is progressing towards more ethologically relevant tasks. Garnering a more accurate understanding of social processing deficits in the sensory domain may greatly contribute to the development of therapeutic targets. With that framework, studies have found a viable link between social behaviors, circuit wiring, and altered neuronal coding related to the processing of salient social stimuli. Here, the relationship between social odor processing in rodents and humans is examined in the context of health and ASD, with special consideration for how genetic expression and neuronal connectivity may regulate behavioral phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée Hartig
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.,Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - David Wolf
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael J Schmeisser
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kelsch
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany. .,Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany. .,Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
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63
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Gandhi T, Lee CC. Neural Mechanisms Underlying Repetitive Behaviors in Rodent Models of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 14:592710. [PMID: 33519379 PMCID: PMC7840495 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.592710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is comprised of several conditions characterized by alterations in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the heterogeneous development of ASD behaviors. Several rodent models display ASD-like phenotypes, including repetitive behaviors. In this review article, we discuss the potential neural mechanisms involved in repetitive behaviors in rodent models of ASD and related neuropsychiatric disorders. We review signaling pathways, neural circuits, and anatomical alterations in rodent models that display robust stereotypic behaviors. Understanding the mechanisms and circuit alterations underlying repetitive behaviors in rodent models of ASD will inform translational research and provide useful insight into therapeutic strategies for the treatment of repetitive behaviors in ASD and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Gandhi
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
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Natural Antioxidants: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorders? Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9121186. [PMID: 33256243 PMCID: PMC7761361 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9121186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental syndromes with both genetic and environmental origins. Several recent studies have shown that inflammation and oxidative stress may play a key role in supporting the pathogenesis and the severity of ASD. Thus, the administration of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant molecules may represent a promising strategy to counteract pathological behaviors in ASD patients. In the current review, results from recent literature showing how natural antioxidants may be beneficial in the context of ASD will be discussed. Interestingly, many antioxidant molecules available in nature show anti-inflammatory activity. Thus, after introducing ASD and the role of the vitamin E/vitamin C/glutathione network in scavenging intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the impairments observed with ASD, we discuss the concept of functional food and nutraceutical compounds. Furthermore, the effects of well-known nutraceutical compounds on ASD individuals and animal models of ASD are summarized. Finally, the importance of nutraceutical compounds as support therapy useful in reducing the symptoms in autistic people is discussed.
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O'Connor R, van De Wouw M, Moloney GM, Ventura-Silva AP, O'Riordan K, Golubeva AV, Dinan TG, Schellekens H, Cryan JF. Strain differences in behaviour and immunity in aged mice: Relevance to Autism. Behav Brain Res 2020; 399:113020. [PMID: 33227245 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The BTBR mouse model has been shown to be associated with deficits in social interaction and a pronounced engagement in repetitive behaviours. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental condition globally. Despite its ubiquity, most research into the disorder remains focused on childhood, with studies in adulthood and old age relatively rare. To this end, we explored the differences in behaviour and immune function in an aged BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J mouse model of the disease compared to a similarly aged C57bl/6 control. We show that while many of the alterations in behaviour that are observed in young animals are maintained (repetitive behaviours, antidepressant-sensitive behaviours, social deficits & cognition) there are more nuanced effects in terms of anxiety in older animals of the BTBR strain compared to C57bl/6 controls. Furthermore, BTBR animals also exhibit an activated T-cell system. As such, these results represent confirmation that ASD-associated behavioural deficits are maintained in ageing, and that that there may be need for differential interventional approaches to counter these impairments, potentially through targeting the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory O'Connor
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Gerard M Moloney
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Ken O'Riordan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Timothy G Dinan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland
| | | | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland.
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Wang N, Anderson RJ, Ashbrook DG, Gopalakrishnan V, Park Y, Priebe CE, Qi Y, Laoprasert R, Vogelstein JT, Williams RW, Johnson GA. Variability and heritability of mouse brain structure: Microscopic MRI atlases and connectomes for diverse strains. Neuroimage 2020; 222:117274. [PMID: 32818613 PMCID: PMC8442986 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have demonstrated significant links between human brain structure and common DNA variants. Similar studies with rodents have been challenging because of smaller brain volumes. Using high field MRI (9.4 T) and compressed sensing, we have achieved microscopic resolution and sufficiently high throughput for rodent population studies. We generated whole brain structural MRI and diffusion connectomes for four diverse isogenic lines of mice (C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, CAST/EiJ, and BTBR) at spatial resolution 20,000 times higher than human connectomes. We measured narrow sense heritability (h2) I.e. the fraction of variance explained by strains in a simple ANOVA model for volumes and scalar diffusion metrics, and estimates of residual technical error for 166 regions in each hemisphere and connectivity between the regions. Volumes of discrete brain regions had the highest mean heritability (0.71 ± 0.23 SD, n = 332), followed by fractional anisotropy (0.54 ± 0.26), radial diffusivity (0.34 ± 0.022), and axial diffusivity (0.28 ± 0.19). Connection profiles were statistically different in 280 of 322 nodes across all four strains. Nearly 150 of the connection profiles were statistically different between the C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and CAST/EiJ lines. Microscopic whole brain MRI/DTI has allowed us to identify significant heritable phenotypes in brain volume, scalar DTI metrics, and quantitative connectomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian Wang
- Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University, Duke University Medical Center Box 3302, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Robert J Anderson
- Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University, Duke University Medical Center Box 3302, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - David G Ashbrook
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Vivek Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Youngser Park
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Carey E Priebe
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Yi Qi
- Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University, Duke University Medical Center Box 3302, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Rick Laoprasert
- Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University, Duke University Medical Center Box 3302, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Joshua T Vogelstein
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Robert W Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - G Allan Johnson
- Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University, Duke University Medical Center Box 3302, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Arakawa H. Somatosensorimotor and Odor Modification, Along with Serotonergic Processes Underlying the Social Deficits in BTBR T+ Itpr3 tf/J and BALB/cJ Mouse Models of Autism. Neuroscience 2020; 445:144-162. [PMID: 32061779 PMCID: PMC8078887 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a complex spectrum of disorders characterized by core behavioral deficits in social communicative behavior, which are also required for comprehensive analysis of preclinical mouse models. As animal models of the core behavioral deficits in autism, two inbred mouse strains, BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) and BALB/cJ (BALB), were compared with the standard social strain, C57BL/6J (B6), regarding a variety of behavioral factors underlying social communicative interactions, including olfactory and tactile sensory processes, social recognition abilities and behavioral expression strategies. Although both female BTBR and BALB mice can express social recognition and approach behavior depending on the stimuli they encounter, the available sensory modalities, along with modulation of the serotonergic system, differ between the two strains. BALB mice have deficits in using volatile olfactory cues and tactile information in a social context; they fail to exhibit a social approach to volatile cues and seek nonvolatile cues by exhibiting substantial sniff/contact behavior when allowed direct contact with social opponents. Systemic injection of the serotonin (5-HT1A) agonist buspirone has little effect on these social deficits, suggesting a congenitally degraded serotonergic system in BALB mice. In contrast, BTBR mice exhibit impaired body coordination and social motivation-modified olfactory signals, which are relevant to a reduced social approach. A systemic injection of the 5-HT1A agonist restored these social deficits in BTBR mice, indicating that a downregulated serotonergic system is involved in the social deficits exhibited by BTBR mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Arakawa
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Rodent Behavioral Core Department of Research Administration, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Kordás K, Kis-Varga Á, Varga A, Eldering H, Bulthuis R, Lendvai B, Lévay G, Román V. Measuring sociability of mice using a novel three-chamber apparatus and algorithm of the LABORAS™ system. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 343:108841. [PMID: 32621917 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The social approach and social novelty tests utilizing the three-chamber apparatus are widely accepted to measure social behavior of rodents. The LABORAS™ system offers a possibility to assess sociability of mice in a reliable and objective manner. NEW METHOD We assessed the capability of the LABORAS™ sociability cage and algorithm (2.6.6) to detect social behaviors in mice. Furthermore, we investigated whether the system is able to detect various levels of sociability due to genetic background or after pharmacological treatments. RESULTS By comparing manual scoring with various detection zone settings of the automated registration, the most fitting algorithm with a detection zone radius of 90 mm was identified. When different strains were investigated, C57Bl/6 J and NMRI mice proved to be social, while CD1 mice were found asocial. The system was able to detect the sociability increasing effect of R-baclofen (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) and oxytocin (12 ng i.c.v.) in asocial CD1 mice. The negative control PCP impaired social behavior of C57Bl/6 J mice (1 mg/kg i.p.) and increased social avoidance in CD1 mice (0.3 mg/kg i.p.). COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) This setup, in contrast to video frame analysis softwares, determines signal changes caused by movements of rodents allowing accurate detection and analysis of trajectories. Parallel automated measurements also allow replacing time and labor intensive, highly subjective human observational work. CONCLUSIONS The set-up provides a fast and reliable method to examine social behavior of mice in the three-chamber apparatus. The system is capable of detecting pro or antisocial activity of pharmacological agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisztina Kordás
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc, Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Kis-Varga
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc, Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anita Varga
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc, Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Herman Eldering
- Metris B.V., Kruisweg 829c, 2132NG Hoofddorp, the Netherlands
| | - Ronald Bulthuis
- Metris B.V., Kruisweg 829c, 2132NG Hoofddorp, the Netherlands
| | - Balázs Lendvai
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc, Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - György Lévay
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc, Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktor Román
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc, Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary.
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69
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Siemann JK, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Wallace MT. Approaches to Understanding Multisensory Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2020; 13:1430-1449. [PMID: 32869933 PMCID: PMC7721996 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal sensory responses are a DSM-5 symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and research findings demonstrate altered sensory processing in ASD. Beyond difficulties with processing information within single sensory domains, including both hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity, difficulties in multisensory processing are becoming a core issue of focus in ASD. These difficulties may be targeted by treatment approaches such as "sensory integration," which is frequently applied in autism treatment but not yet based on clear evidence. Recently, psychophysical data have emerged to demonstrate multisensory deficits in some children with ASD. Unlike deficits in social communication, which are best understood in humans, sensory and multisensory changes offer a tractable marker of circuit dysfunction that is more easily translated into animal model systems to probe the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Paralleling experimental paradigms that were previously applied in humans and larger mammals, we and others have demonstrated that multisensory function can also be examined behaviorally in rodents. Here, we review the sensory and multisensory difficulties commonly found in ASD, examining laboratory findings that relate these findings across species. Next, we discuss the known neurobiology of multisensory integration, drawing largely on experimental work in larger mammals, and extensions of these paradigms into rodents. Finally, we describe emerging investigations into multisensory processing in genetic mouse models related to autism risk. By detailing findings from humans to mice, we highlight the advantage of multisensory paradigms that can be easily translated across species, as well as the potential for rodent experimental systems to reveal opportunities for novel treatments. LAY SUMMARY: Sensory and multisensory deficits are commonly found in ASD and may result in cascading effects that impact social communication. By using similar experiments to those in humans, we discuss how studies in animal models may allow an understanding of the brain mechanisms that underlie difficulties in multisensory integration, with the ultimate goal of developing new treatments. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1430-1449. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin K Siemann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mark T Wallace
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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70
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Dysfunctional d-aspartate metabolism in BTBR mouse model of idiopathic autism. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2020; 1868:140531. [PMID: 32853769 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2020.140531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) comprise a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by impairment in social interaction, deviance in communication, and repetitive behaviors. Dysfunctional ionotropic NMDA and AMPA receptors, and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 activity at excitatory synapses has been recently linked to multiple forms of ASD. Despite emerging evidence showing that d-aspartate and d-serine are important neuromodulators of glutamatergic transmission, no systematic investigation on the occurrence of these D-amino acids in preclinical ASD models has been carried out. METHODS Through HPLC and qPCR analyses we investigated d-aspartate and d-serine metabolism in the brain and serum of four ASD mouse models. These include BTBR mice, an idiopathic model of ASD, and Cntnap2-/-, Shank3-/-, and 16p11.2+/- mice, three established genetic mouse lines recapitulating high confidence ASD-associated mutations. RESULTS Biochemical and gene expression mapping in Cntnap2-/-, Shank3-/-, and 16p11.2+/- failed to find gross cerebral and serum alterations in d-aspartate and d-serine metabolism. Conversely, we found a striking and stereoselective increased d-aspartate content in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and serum of inbred BTBR mice. Consistent with biochemical assessments, in the same brain areas we also found a robust reduction in mRNA levels of d-aspartate oxidase, encoding the enzyme responsible for d-aspartate catabolism. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated the presence of disrupted d-aspartate metabolism in a widely used animal model of idiopathic ASD. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Overall, this work calls for a deeper investigation of D-amino acids in the etiopathology of ASD and related developmental disorders.
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71
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Chao OY, Pathak SS, Zhang H, Dunaway N, Li JS, Mattern C, Nikolaus S, Huston JP, Yang YM. Altered dopaminergic pathways and therapeutic effects of intranasal dopamine in two distinct mouse models of autism. Mol Brain 2020; 13:111. [PMID: 32778145 PMCID: PMC7418402 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-00649-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The dopamine (DA) system has a profound impact on reward-motivated behavior and is critically involved in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although DA defects are found in autistic patients, it is not well defined how the DA pathways are altered in ASD and whether DA can be utilized as a potential therapeutic agent for ASD. To this end, we employed a phenotypic and a genetic ASD model, i.e., Black and Tan BRachyury T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice and Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 knockout (Fmr1-KO) mice, respectively. Immunostaining of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) to mark dopaminergic neurons revealed an overall reduction in the TH expression in the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area and dorsal striatum of BTBR mice, as compared to C57BL/6 J wild-type ones. In contrast, Fmr1-KO animals did not show such an alteration but displayed abnormal morphology of TH-positive axons in the striatum with higher "complexity" and lower "texture". Both strains exhibited decreased expression of striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) and increased spatial coupling between vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1, a label for glutamatergic terminals) and TH signals, while GABAergic neurons quantified by glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) remained intact. Intranasal administration of DA rescued the deficits in non-selective attention, object-based attention and social approaching of BTBR mice, likely by enhancing the level of TH in the striatum. Application of intranasal DA to Fmr1-KO animals alleviated their impairment of social novelty, in association with reduced striatal TH protein. These results suggest that although the DA system is modified differently in the two ASD models, intranasal treatment with DA effectively rectifies their behavioral phenotypes, which may present a promising therapy for diverse types of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen Y Chao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, 1035 University Drive, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | - Salil S Pathak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, 1035 University Drive, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, 1035 University Drive, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | - Nathan Dunaway
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, 1035 University Drive, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | - Jay-Shake Li
- Department of Psychology, National Chung Cheng University, Minhsiung, Chiayi, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Claudia Mattern
- M et P Pharma AG, Emmetten, Switzerland
- Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA
| | - Susanne Nikolaus
- Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Joseph P Huston
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Yi-Mei Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, 1035 University Drive, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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Cheng N, Pagtalunan E, Abushaibah A, Naidu J, Stell WK, Rho JM, Sauvé Y. Atypical visual processing in a mouse model of autism. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12390. [PMID: 32709898 PMCID: PMC7381655 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68589-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Human social cognition relies heavily on the processing of various visual cues, such as eye contact and facial expressions. Atypical visual perception and integration have been recognized as key phenotypes in individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and may potentially contribute to impediments in normal social development, a hallmark of ASD. Meanwhile, increasing studies on visual function in ASD have pointed to detail-oriented perception, which has been hypothesized to result from heightened response to information of high spatial frequency. However, mixed results of human studies have led to much debate, and investigations using animal models have been limited. Here, using BTBR mice as a model of idiopathic ASD, we assessed retinal stimulus processing by full-field electroretinogram and found impaired photoreceptor function and retina-based alterations mostly in the cone pathway. Using the optokinetic reflex to evaluate visual function, we observed robustly enhanced visual response to finer spatial details and more subtle contrasts at only higher spatial frequencies in the BTBR mice, under both photopic and scotopic conditions. These behavioral results, which are similar to findings in a subset of ASD patients, indicate a bias toward processing information of high spatial frequencies. Together, these findings also suggest that, while enhancement of visual behaviors under both photopic and scotopic conditions might be due to alterations in visual processing common to both rod and cone pathways, these mechanisms are probably downstream of photoreceptor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Cheng
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
| | - Eden Pagtalunan
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.,O'Brien Centre for the Bachelor of Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Abdulrahman Abushaibah
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.,O'Brien Centre for the Bachelor of Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jessica Naidu
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.,O'Brien Centre for the Bachelor of Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - William K Stell
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jong M Rho
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.,Departments of Neurosciences and Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Yves Sauvé
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Mahmood HM, Aldhalaan HM, Alshammari TK, Alqasem MA, Alshammari MA, Albekairi NA, AlSharari SD. The Role of Nicotinic Receptors in the Attenuation of Autism-Related Behaviors in a Murine BTBR T + tf/J Autistic Model. Autism Res 2020; 13:1311-1334. [PMID: 32691528 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Nicotinic receptors are distributed throughout the central and peripheral nervous system. Postmortem studies have reported that some nicotinic receptor subtypes are altered in the brains of autistic people. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the autistic behavior of BTBR T + tf/J mouse model of autism. This study was undertaken to examine the behavioral effects of targeted nAChRs using pharmacological ligands, including nicotine and mecamylamine in BTBR T + tf/J and C57BL/6J mice in a panel of behavioral tests relating to autism. These behavioral tests included the three-chamber social interaction, self-grooming, marble burying, locomotor activity, and rotarod test. We examined the effect of various oral doses of nicotine (50, 100, and 400 mcg/mL; po) over a period of 2 weeks in BTBR T + tf/J mouse model. The results indicated that the chronic administration of nicotine modulated sociability and repetitive behavior in BTBR T + tf/J mice while no effects observed in C57BL/6J mice. Furthermore, the nonselective nAChR antagonist, mecamylamine, reversed nicotine effects on sociability and increased repetitive behaviors in BTBR T + tf/J mice. Overall, the findings indicate that the pharmacological modulation of nicotinic receptors is involved in modulating core behavioral phenotypes in the BTBR T + tf/J mouse model. LAY SUMMARY: The involvement of brain nicotinic neurotransmission system plays a crucial role in regulating autism-related behavioral features. In addition, the brain of the autistic-like mouse model has a low acetylcholine level. Here, we report that nicotine, at certain doses, improved sociability and reduced repetitive behaviors in a mouse model of autism, implicating the potential therapeutic values of a pharmacological intervention targeting nicotinic receptors for autism therapy. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1311-1334. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafiz M Mahmood
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hesham M Aldhalaan
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Autism Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahani K Alshammari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashael A Alqasem
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Musaad A Alshammari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Norah A Albekairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir D AlSharari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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74
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König C, Plank AC, Kapp A, Timotius IK, von Hörsten S, Zimmermann K. Thirty Mouse Strain Survey of Voluntary Physical Activity and Energy Expenditure: Influence of Strain, Sex and Day-Night Variation. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:531. [PMID: 32733181 PMCID: PMC7358574 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We measured indirect calorimetry and activity parameters, VO2 and VCO2 to extract respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and energy expenditure in both sexes of 30 inbred mouse strains of 6 genetic families at 9–13 weeks during one photophase and the subsequent scotophase. We observed a continuous distribution of all traits. While males had higher body weights than females, we observed no sex difference for food and water intake. All strains drank and fed more during the night even if they displayed no day–night difference in activity traits. Several strains showed absent or weak day–night variation in one or more activity traits and these included FVB and 129X1, males of 129S1, SWR, NZW, and SM, and females of SJL. In general females showed higher rearing and ambulatory activity with 6 and 9 strains, respectively, showing a sex difference. Fine motor movements, like grooming, showed less sex differences. RER underlied a strong day–night difference and no sex effect. Only FVB females and males of the RIIIS and SM strain had no day–night variation. Energy expenditure underlies a large day–night variation which was absent in SWR and in FVB females and RIIIS males. In general, female bodies had a tendency to higher energy expenditure values, which became a significant difference in C3H, MAMy, SM, DBA1, and BUB. Our data illustrate the diversity of these traits in male and female inbred mice and provide a resource in the selection of strains for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine König
- Department of Anesthesiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anne-Christine Plank
- Department of Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexander Kapp
- Department of Anesthesiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ivanna K Timotius
- Machine Learning & Data Analytics Lab, Department of Computer Science, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Electronics Engineering, Satya Wacana Christian University, Salatiga, Indonesia
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Department of Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katharina Zimmermann
- Department of Anesthesiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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75
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Chao OY, Marron Fernandez de Velasco E, Pathak SS, Maitra S, Zhang H, Duvick L, Wickman K, Orr HT, Hirai H, Yang YM. Targeting inhibitory cerebellar circuitry to alleviate behavioral deficits in a mouse model for studying idiopathic autism. Neuropsychopharmacology 2020; 45:1159-1170. [PMID: 32179875 PMCID: PMC7234983 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0656-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses wide-ranging neuropsychiatric symptoms with unclear etiology. Although the cerebellum is a key region implicated in ASD, it remains elusive how the cerebellar circuitry is altered and whether the cerebellum can serve as a therapeutic target to rectify the phenotype of idiopathic ASD with polygenic abnormalities. Using a syndromic ASD model, e.g., Black and Tan BRachyury T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, we revealed that increased excitability of presynaptic interneurons (INs) and decreased intrinsic excitability of postsynaptic Purkinje neurons (PNs) resulted in low PN firing rates in the cerebellum. Knowing that downregulation of Kv1.2 potassium channel in the IN nerve terminals likely augmented their excitability and GABA release, we applied a positive Kv1.2 modulator to mitigate the presynaptic over-inhibition and social impairment of BTBR mice. Selective restoration of the PN activity by a new chemogenetic approach alleviated core ASD-like behaviors of the BTBR strain. These findings highlight complex mechanisms converging onto the cerebellar dysfunction in the phenotypic model and provide effective strategies for potential therapies of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen Y Chao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | | | - Salil Saurav Pathak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | - Swati Maitra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | - Lisa Duvick
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Kevin Wickman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Hirokazu Hirai
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neural Repair, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Yi-Mei Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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76
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Malaguarnera M, Khan H, Cauli O. Resveratrol in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Behavioral and Molecular Effects. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:E188. [PMID: 32106489 PMCID: PMC7139867 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9030188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Resveratrol (RSV) is a polyphenolic stillbenoid with significant anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties recently tested in animal models of several neurological diseases. Altered immune alteration and oxidative stress have also been found in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and these alterations could add to the pathophysiology associated with ASD. We reviewed the current evidence about the effects of RSV administration in animal models and in patients with ASD. RSV administration improves the core-symptoms (social impairment and stereotyped activity) in animal models and it also displays beneficial effects in other behavioral abnormalities such as hyperactivity, anxiety and cognitive function. The molecular mechanisms by which RSV restores or improves behavioral abnormalities in animal models encompass both normalization of central and peripheral immune alteration and oxidative stress markers and new molecular mechanisms such as expression of cortical gamma-amino butyric acid neurons, certain type of miRNAs that regulate spine growth. One randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial (RCT) suggested that RSV add-on risperidone therapy improves comorbid hyperactivity/non-compliance, whereas no effects where seen in core symptoms of ASD No RCTs about the effect of RSV as monotherapy have been performed and the results from preclinical studies encourage its feasibility. Further clinical trials should also identify those ASD patients with immune alterations and/or with increased oxidative stress markers that would likely benefit from RSV administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Malaguarnera
- Research Center “The Great Senescence”, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy;
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Haroon Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University, Marden 23200, Pakistan;
| | - Omar Cauli
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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77
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Ganesan H, Balasubramanian V, Iyer M, Venugopal A, Subramaniam MD, Cho SG, Vellingiri B. mTOR signalling pathway - A root cause for idiopathic autism? BMB Rep 2020. [PMID: 31186084 PMCID: PMC6675248 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2019.52.7.137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental monogenic disorder with a strong genetic influence. Idiopathic autism could be defined as a type of autism that does not have a specific causative agent. Among signalling cascades, mTOR signalling pathway plays a pivotal role not only in cell cycle, but also in protein synthesis and regulation of brain homeostasis in ASD patients. The present review highlights, underlying mechanism of mTOR and its role in altered signalling cascades as a triggering factor in the onset of idiopathic autism. Further, this review discusses how distorted mTOR signalling pathway stimulates truncated translation in neuronal cells and leads to downregulation of protein synthesis at dendritic spines of the brain. This review concludes by suggesting downstream regulators such as p70S6K, eIF4B, eIF4E of mTOR signalling pathway as promising therapeutic targets for idiopathic autistic individuals. [BMB Reports 2019; 52(7): 424-433].
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsha Ganesan
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Venkatesh Balasubramanian
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mahalaxmi Iyer
- Department of Zoology, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore 641043, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Anila Venugopal
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mohana Devi Subramaniam
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600006, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ssang-Goo Cho
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
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78
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Queen NJ, Boardman AA, Patel RS, Siu JJ, Mo X, Cao L. Environmental enrichment improves metabolic and behavioral health in the BTBR mouse model of autism. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 111:104476. [PMID: 31648110 PMCID: PMC6914218 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice are an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)-like model that exhibit behavioral and physiological deficits similar to those observed in patients with ASD. While behavioral therapy is a first line of treatment in ASD patients, comparable non-pharmacological treatments are less explored in murine models. Here, we administer a bio-behavioral intervention for BTBR mice by way of environmental enrichment (EE) - an experimental housing paradigm previously shown to improve systemic metabolism, learning/memory, anxious behavior, neurogenesis, locomotion, and immunocompetence in C57BL/6 mice. Juvenile BTBR mice were randomized to standard or EE housing and were subjected to metabolic and behavioral assessments up to 17 weeks. Following EE exposure, we report an EE-induced metabolic and behavioral phenotype. Male BTBR mice responded metabolically to EE, displaying reduced adiposity, increased lean mass, improved glycemic control, and decreased circulating leptin. The gene expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) and its receptor (Ntrk2/TrkB) were upregulated in several brain areas in EE-BTBR males. EE-BTBR females showed modest reduction of adiposity and no changes in glycemic control, circulating leptin, or Bdnf/Ntrk2 gene expression. With regard to behavior, EE resulted in decreased anxiety, and increased social affiliation. Together, these results suggest that EE improves metabolic and behavioral health in BTBR mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Queen
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Amber A Boardman
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Ripal S Patel
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jason J Siu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Xiaokui Mo
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Lei Cao
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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79
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Yang J, Fu X, Liao X, Li Y. Nrf2 Activators as Dietary Phytochemicals Against Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:561998. [PMID: 33329102 PMCID: PMC7714765 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.561998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder with limited available treatments and diverse causes. In ASD patients, numerous researches demonstrated various alterations in inflammation/immune, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, and these alterations could be regulated by Nrf2. Hence, we aimed to systematically review the current evidence about the effects of Nrf2 activator supplementation on ASD objects from in vitro studies, animal studies, and clinical studies. Relevant articles were retrieved through searching for the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Scope, Embase, and CNKI databases (through September 23, 2020). Ultimately, we identified 22 preclinical studies, one cell culture study, and seven clinical studies, covering a total of five Nrf2 activators. For each Nrf2 activator, we focused on its definition, potential therapeutic mechanisms, latest research progress, research limitations, and future development directions. Our systematic review provided suggestive evidence that Nrf2 activators have a potentially beneficial role in improving autism-like behaviors and abnormal molecular alterations through oxidant stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These dietary phytochemicals are considered to be relatively safer and effective for ASD treatment. However, there are few clinical studies to support the Nrf2 activators as dietary phytochemicals in ASD, even though several preclinical studies. Therefore, caution should be warranted in attempting to extrapolate their effects in human studies, and better design and more rigorous research are required before they can be determined as a therapeutic option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Yang
- Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xi Fu
- Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoli Liao
- Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yamin Li
- Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
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80
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Kim J, Ciernia AV. Chromatin Dynamics and Genetic Variation Combine to Regulate Innate Immune Memory. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL & CELLULAR IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 11:595. [PMID: 34295572 PMCID: PMC8294664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Recent work by Ciernia et al. (2020) identified how genetic and epigenetic mechanisms interact to regulate innate immune memory in bone marrow derived macrophages. The authors examined the BTBR strain, a naturally occurring mouse model of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) that captures the complex genetics, behavioral and immune dysregulation found in the human disorder. Immune cell cultures from the BTBR strain compared to the standard C57 showed hyper-responsive immune gene expression that was linked to altered chromatin accessibility at sites with genetic differences between the strains. Together, findings from this work demonstrated that multiple levels of gene regulation likely dictate the formation of innate immune memory and are likely disrupted in immune cells in ASD. Future work will be needed to extend these findings to immune gene regulation in the brain and how changes in immune function are related to abnormal behaviors in brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Kim
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Annie Vogel Ciernia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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81
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Changes in the Fluorescence Tracking of NaV1.6 Protein Expression in a BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J Autistic Mouse Model. Neural Plast 2019; 2019:4893103. [PMID: 31933626 PMCID: PMC6942885 DOI: 10.1155/2019/4893103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The axon initial segment (AIS), the site of action potential initiation in neurons, is a critical determinant of neuronal excitability. Growing evidence indicates that appropriate recruitment of the AIS macrocomplex is essential for synchronized firing. However, disruption of the AIS structure is linked to the etiology of multiple disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a condition characterized by deficits in social communication, stereotyped behaviors, and very limited interests. To date, a complete understanding of the molecular components that underlie the AIS in ASD has remained elusive. In this research, we examined the AIS structure in a BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J mouse model (BTBR), a valid model that exhibits behavioral, electrical, and molecular features of autism, and compared this to the C57BL/6J wild-type control mouse. Using Western blot studies and high-resolution confocal microscopy in the prefrontal frontal cortex (PFC), our data indicate disrupted expression of different isoforms of the voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) at the AIS, whereas other components of AIS such as ankyrin-G and fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14) and contactin-associated protein 1 (Caspr) in BTBR were comparable to those in wild-type control mice. A Western blot assay showed that BTBR mice exhibited a marked increase in different sodium channel isoforms in the PFC compared to wild-type mice. Our results provide potential evidence for previously undescribed mechanisms that may play a role in the pathogenesis of autistic-like phenotypes in BTBR mice.
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82
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Rein B, Yan Z, Wang Z. Diminished social interaction incentive contributes to social deficits in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 19:e12610. [DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Rein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Buffalo New York
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Buffalo New York
| | - Zi‐Jun Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Buffalo New York
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83
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been hypothesized to be a result of altered connectivity in the brain. Recent imaging studies suggest accelerated maturation of the white matter in young children with ASD, with underlying mechanisms unknown. Myelin is an integral part of the white matter and critical for connectivity; however, its role in ASD remains largely unclear. Here, we investigated myelin development in a model of idiopathic ASD, the BTBR mice. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that fiber tracts in the frontal brain of the BTBR mice had increased volume at postnatal day 6, but the difference reduced over time, reminiscent of the findings in young patients. We further identified that myelination in the frontal brain of both male and female neonatal BTBR mice was increased, associated with elevated levels of myelin basic protein. However, myelin pattern was unaltered in adult BTBR mice, revealing accelerated developmental trajectory of myelination. Consistently, we found that signaling of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) was reduced in the frontal brain of neonatal BTBR mice. However, levels of microRNA species known to regulate PDGFRα signaling and myelination were unaltered. Together, these results suggest that precocious myelination could potentially contribute to increased volume and connectivity of the white matter observed in young children with ASD.
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84
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Johnson GA, Wang N, Anderson RJ, Chen M, Cofer GP, Gee JC, Pratson F, Tustison N, White LE. Whole mouse brain connectomics. J Comp Neurol 2019; 527:2146-2157. [PMID: 30328104 PMCID: PMC6467764 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Methods have been developed to allow quantitative connectivity of the whole fixed mouse brain by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We have translated what we have learned in clinical imaging to the very special domain of the mouse brain. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of perfusion fixed specimens can now be performed with spatial resolution of 45 μm3 , that is, voxels that are 21,000 times smaller than the human connectome protocol. Specimen preparation has been optimized through an active staining protocol using a Gd chelate. Compressed sensing has been integrated into high performance reconstruction and post processing pipelines allowing acquisition of a whole mouse brain connectome in <12 hr. The methods have been validated against retroviral tracer studies. False positive tracts, which are especially problematic in clinical studies, have been reduced substantially to ~28%. The methods have been streamlined to provide high-fidelity, whole mouse brain connectomes as a routine study. The data package provides holistic insight into the mouse brain with anatomic definition at the meso-scale, quantitative volumes of subfields, scalar DTI metrics, and quantitative tractography.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Allan Johnson
- Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy Department of Radiology, Duke Medical Center Durham, NC 27710
- Biomedical Engineering Duke University Durham, NC 27710
| | - Nian Wang
- Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy Department of Radiology, Duke Medical Center Durham, NC 27710
| | - Robert J. Anderson
- Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy Department of Radiology, Duke Medical Center Durham, NC 27710
| | - Min Chen
- Penn Image Computing Lab University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104-6116
| | - Gary P. Cofer
- Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy Department of Radiology, Duke Medical Center Durham, NC 27710
| | - James C. Gee
- Penn Image Computing Lab University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104-6116
| | - Forrest Pratson
- Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy Department of Radiology, Duke Medical Center Durham, NC 27710
| | - Nicholas Tustison
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA 22903
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85
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Deep learning of spontaneous arousal fluctuations detects early cholinergic defects across neurodevelopmental mouse models and patients. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 117:23298-23303. [PMID: 31332003 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1820847116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental spectrum disorders like autism (ASD) are diagnosed, on average, beyond age 4 y, after multiple critical periods of brain development close and behavioral intervention becomes less effective. This raises the urgent need for quantitative, noninvasive, and translational biomarkers for their early detection and tracking. We found that both idiopathic (BTBR) and genetic (CDKL5- and MeCP2-deficient) mouse models of ASD display an early, impaired cholinergic neuromodulation as reflected in altered spontaneous pupil fluctuations. Abnormalities were already present before the onset of symptoms and were rescued by the selective expression of MeCP2 in cholinergic circuits. Hence, we trained a neural network (ConvNetACh) to recognize, with 97% accuracy, patterns of these arousal fluctuations in mice with enhanced cholinergic sensitivity (LYNX1-deficient). ConvNetACh then successfully detected impairments in all ASD mouse models tested except in MeCP2-rescued mice. By retraining only the last layers of ConvNetACh with heart rate variation data (a similar proxy of arousal) directly from Rett syndrome patients, we generated ConvNetPatients, a neural network capable of distinguishing them from typically developing subjects. Even with small cohorts of rare patients, our approach exhibited significant accuracy before (80% in the first and second year of life) and into regression (88% in stage III patients). Thus, transfer learning across species and modalities establishes spontaneous arousal fluctuations combined with deep learning as a robust noninvasive, quantitative, and sensitive translational biomarker for the rapid and early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders before major symptom onset.
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86
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Sharon G, Cruz NJ, Kang DW, Gandal MJ, Wang B, Kim YM, Zink EM, Casey CP, Taylor BC, Lane CJ, Bramer LM, Isern NG, Hoyt DW, Noecker C, Sweredoski MJ, Moradian A, Borenstein E, Jansson JK, Knight R, Metz TO, Lois C, Geschwind DH, Krajmalnik-Brown R, Mazmanian SK. Human Gut Microbiota from Autism Spectrum Disorder Promote Behavioral Symptoms in Mice. Cell 2019; 177:1600-1618.e17. [PMID: 31150625 PMCID: PMC6993574 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 609] [Impact Index Per Article: 121.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) manifests as alterations in complex human behaviors including social communication and stereotypies. In addition to genetic risks, the gut microbiome differs between typically developing (TD) and ASD individuals, though it remains unclear whether the microbiome contributes to symptoms. We transplanted gut microbiota from human donors with ASD or TD controls into germ-free mice and reveal that colonization with ASD microbiota is sufficient to induce hallmark autistic behaviors. The brains of mice colonized with ASD microbiota display alternative splicing of ASD-relevant genes. Microbiome and metabolome profiles of mice harboring human microbiota predict that specific bacterial taxa and their metabolites modulate ASD behaviors. Indeed, treatment of an ASD mouse model with candidate microbial metabolites improves behavioral abnormalities and modulates neuronal excitability in the brain. We propose that the gut microbiota regulates behaviors in mice via production of neuroactive metabolites, suggesting that gut-brain connections contribute to the pathophysiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Sharon
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Nikki Jamie Cruz
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Dae-Wook Kang
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Michael J Gandal
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Neurology, Semel Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Young-Mo Kim
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Erika M Zink
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Cameron P Casey
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Bryn C Taylor
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Christianne J Lane
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Lisa M Bramer
- National Security Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Nancy G Isern
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - David W Hoyt
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Cecilia Noecker
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Michael J Sweredoski
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Annie Moradian
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Elhanan Borenstein
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
| | - Janet K Jansson
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Rob Knight
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Biongineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Thomas O Metz
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Carlos Lois
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Neurology, Semel Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Sarkis K Mazmanian
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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Telias M. Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Dysregulation in Fragile X Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:51. [PMID: 30899214 PMCID: PMC6417395 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of monogenic hereditary cognitive impairment. FXS patient exhibit a high comorbidity rate with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This makes FXS a model disease for understanding how synaptic dysregulation alters neuronal excitability, learning and memory, social behavior, and more. Since 1991, with the discovery of fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) as the sole gene that is mutated in FXS, thousands of studies into the function of the gene and its encoded protein FMR1 protein (FMRP), have been conducted, yielding important information regarding the pathophysiology of the disease, as well as insight into basic synaptic mechanisms that control neuronal networking and circuitry. Among the most important, are molecular mechanisms directly involved in plasticity, including glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, which can control synaptic transmission and signal transduction, including short- and long-term plasticity. More recently, several novel mechanisms involving growth factors, enzymatic cascades and transcription factors (TFs), have been proposed to have the potential of explaining some of the synaptic dysregulation in FXS. In this review article, I summarize the main mechanisms proposed to underlie synaptic disruption in FXS and ASDs. I focus on studies conducted on the Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mouse model and on FXS-human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), emphasizing the differences and even contradictions between mouse and human, whenever possible. As FXS and ASDs are both neurodevelopmental disorders that follow a specific time-course of disease progression, I highlight those studies focusing on the differential developmental regulation of synaptic abnormalities in these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Telias
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
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88
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Ornoy A, Weinstein-Fudim L, Ergaz Z. Prevention or Amelioration of Autism-Like Symptoms in Animal Models: Will it Bring Us Closer to Treating Human ASD? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20051074. [PMID: 30832249 PMCID: PMC6429371 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20051074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the first animal model of valproic acid (VPA) induced autistic-like behavior, many genetic and non-genetic experimental animal models for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have been described. The more common non-genetic animal models induce ASD in rats and mice by infection/inflammation or the prenatal or early postnatal administration of VPA. Through the establishment of these models, attempts have been made to ameliorate or even prevent ASD-like symptoms. Some of the genetic models have been successfully treated by genetic manipulations or the manipulation of neurotransmission. Different antioxidants have been used (i.e., astaxanthin, green tea, piperine) to reduce brain oxidative stress in VPA-induced ASD models. Agents affecting brain neurotransmitters (donepezil, agmatine, agomelatine, memantine, oxytocin) also successfully reduced ASD-like symptoms. However, complete prevention of the development of symptoms was achieved only rarely. In our recent study, we treated mouse offspring exposed on postnatal day four to VPA with S-adenosine methionine (SAM) for three days, and prevented ASD-like behavior, brain oxidative stress, and the changes in gene expression induced by VPA. In this review, we describe, in addition to our data, the existing literature on the prevention/amelioration of ASD-like symptoms. We also discuss the possible mechanisms underlying some of these phenomena. Finally, we describe some of the clinical trials in children with ASD that were carried out as a result of data from animal studies, especially those with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Asher Ornoy
- Laboratory of Teratology, Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel.
| | - Liza Weinstein-Fudim
- Laboratory of Teratology, Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel.
| | - Zivanit Ergaz
- Laboratory of Teratology, Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel.
- Neonatology Department, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel.
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89
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Sgritta M, Dooling SW, Buffington SA, Momin EN, Francis MB, Britton RA, Costa-Mattioli M. Mechanisms Underlying Microbial-Mediated Changes in Social Behavior in Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuron 2019; 101:246-259.e6. [PMID: 30522820 PMCID: PMC6645363 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 449] [Impact Index Per Article: 89.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Currently, there are no medications that effectively treat the core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We recently found that the bacterial species Lactobacillus (L.) reuteri reverses social deficits in maternal high-fat-diet offspring. However, whether the effect of L. reuteri on social behavior is generalizable to other ASD models and its mechanism(s) of action remains unknown. Here, we found that treatment with L. reuteri selectively rescues social deficits in genetic, environmental, and idiopathic ASD models. Interestingly, the effects of L. reuteri on social behavior are not mediated by restoring the composition of the host's gut microbiome, which is altered in all of these ASD models. Instead, L. reuteri acts in a vagus nerve-dependent manner and rescues social interaction-induced synaptic plasticity in the ventral tegmental area of ASD mice, but not in oxytocin receptor-deficient mice. Collectively, treatment with L. reuteri emerges as promising non-invasive microbial-based avenue to combat ASD-related social dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Sgritta
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Memory and Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sean W Dooling
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Memory and Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shelly A Buffington
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Memory and Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Eric N Momin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael B Francis
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Memory and Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert A Britton
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mauro Costa-Mattioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Memory and Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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90
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Yamashita Y, Makinodan M, Toritsuka M, Yamauchi T, Ikawa D, Kimoto S, Komori T, Takada R, Kayashima Y, Hamano-Iwasa K, Tsujii M, Matsuzaki H, Kishimoto T. Anti-inflammatory Effect of Ghrelin in Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines From Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:152. [PMID: 30971960 PMCID: PMC6443989 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut hormone ghrelin has been implicated in a variety of functional roles in the central nervous system through the brain-gut axis, one of which is an anti-inflammatory effect. An aberrant brain-gut axis producing immune dysfunction has been implicated in the pathobiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and elevated expression of inflammatory markers has been shown in blood and brain tissue from subjects with ASD. We hypothesized that ghrelin may mitigate this effect. Lymphoblastoid cell lines from typically developed children (TD-C) (N = 20) and children with ASD (ASD-C) (N = 20) were cultured with PBS or human ghrelin (0.01 μM) for 24 h, and mRNA expression levels of the inflammation-related molecules interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were measured to examine the effects of ghrelin as an anti-inflammatory agent. Expression levels of TNF-α and NF-κB mRNA, but not IL-1β or IL-6, were significantly elevated in ASD-C compared to TD-C. Ghrelin showed a tendency to reduce the expression of TNF-α and NF-κB, but this was not statistically significant. Considering the heterogenous pathobiology of ASD, we examined the effects of ghrelin on TD-C and ASD-C with expression levels of TNF-α and NF-κB in the highest and lowest quartiles. We found that ghrelin markedly reduced mRNA expression of TNF-α and NF-κB s in ASD-C with highest-quartile expression, but there were no effects in ASD-C with lowest-quartile expression, TD-C with highest quartile expression, or TD-C with lowest quartile expression. Together, these findings suggest that ghrelin has potential as a novel therapeutic agent for ASD with inflammation and/or immune dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Yamashita
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Manabu Makinodan
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Michihiro Toritsuka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Takahira Yamauchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ikawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Sohei Kimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Takashi Komori
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Ryohei Takada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Kayashima
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Kaori Hamano-Iwasa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | | | - Hideo Matsuzaki
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.,Department of Development of Functional Brain Activities, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Kishimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
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van Elst K, Brouwers JF, Merkens JE, Broekhoven MH, Birtoli B, Helms JB, Kas MJH. Chronic dietary changes in n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios cause developmental delay and reduce social interest in mice. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:16-31. [PMID: 30563719 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.11.1106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are one of the main cellular building blocks, and dietary changes in PUFA composition are proposed as a potential route to influence brain development. For example, initial studies indicated that there is a relation between blood omega-6(n-6)/omega-3(n-3) PUFA ratios and neurodevelopmental disease diagnosis. To study the consequences of dietary n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio changes, we investigated the impact of a n-3 supplemented and n-3 deficient diet in developing BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) - a mouse inbred strain displaying Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)-like symptomatology - and control C57BL/6J mice. This study showed that pre- and postnatal changed dietary n-6/n-3 ratio intake has a major impact on blood and brain PUFA composition, and led to delayed physical development and puberty onset in both strains. The PUFA induced developmental delay did not impact adult cognitive performance, but resulted in reduced social interest, a main ASD behavioral feature. Thus, both chronic dietary n-3 PUFA supplementation and depletion may not be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim van Elst
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jos F Brouwers
- Department of Biochemistry and Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica E Merkens
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mark H Broekhoven
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - J Bernd Helms
- Department of Biochemistry and Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Martien J H Kas
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Ahmad SF, Nadeem A, Ansari MA, Bakheet SA, Alshammari MA, Attia SM. The PPARδ agonist GW0742 restores neuroimmune function by regulating Tim-3 and Th17/Treg-related signaling in the BTBR autistic mouse model. Neurochem Int 2018; 120:251-261. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2018.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Abstract
The MAPK pathway is a prominent intracellular signaling pathway regulating various intracellular functions. Components of this pathway are mutated in a related collection of congenital syndromes collectively referred to as neuro-cardio-facio-cutaneous syndromes (NCFC) or Rasopathies. Recently, it has been appreciated that these disorders are associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition, idiopathic ASD has also implicated the MAPK signaling cascade as a common pathway that is affected by many of the genetic variants that have been found to be linked to ASDs. This chapter describes the components of the MAPK pathway and how it is regulated. Furthermore, this chapter will highlight the various functions of the MAPK pathway during both embryonic development of the central nervous system (CNS) and its roles in neuronal physiology and ultimately, behavior. Finally, we will summarize the perturbations to MAPK signaling in various models of autism spectrum disorders and Rasopathies to highlight how dysregulation of this pivotal pathway may contribute to the pathogenesis of autism.
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94
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p38α MAPK signaling drives pharmacologically reversible brain and gastrointestinal phenotypes in the SERT Ala56 mouse. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E10245-E10254. [PMID: 30297392 PMCID: PMC6205438 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1809137115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurobehavioral disorder with limited treatment options. Activation of p38 MAPK signaling networks has been identified in ASD, and p38 MAPK signaling elevates serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) activity, effects mimicked by multiple, hyperfunctional SERT coding variants identified in ASD subjects. Mice expressing the most common of these variants (SERT Ala56) exhibit hyperserotonemia, a biomarker observed in ASD subjects, as well as p38 MAPK-dependent SERT hyperphosphorylation, elevated hippocampal 5-HT clearance, hypersensitivity of CNS 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A/2C receptors, and behavioral and gastrointestinal perturbations reminiscent of ASD. As the α-isoform of p38 MAPK drives SERT activation, we tested the hypothesis that CNS-penetrant, α-isoform-specific p38 MAPK inhibitors might normalize SERT Ala56 phenotypes. Strikingly, 1-week treatment of adult SERT Ala56 mice with MW150, a selective p38α MAPK inhibitor, normalized hippocampal 5-HT clearance, CNS 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A/2C receptor sensitivities, social interactions, and colonic motility. Conditional elimination of p38α MAPK in 5-HT neurons of SERT Ala56 mice restored 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A/2C receptor sensitivities as well as social interactions, mirroring effects of MW150. Our findings support ongoing p38α MAPK activity as an important determinant of the physiological and behavioral perturbations of SERT Ala56 mice and, more broadly, supports consideration of p38α MAPK inhibition as a potential treatment for core and comorbid phenotypes present in ASD subjects.
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95
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Sun GY, Simonyi A, Fritsche KL, Chuang DY, Hannink M, Gu Z, Greenlief CM, Yao JK, Lee JC, Beversdorf DQ. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): An essential nutrient and a nutraceutical for brain health and diseases. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2018; 136:3-13. [PMID: 28314621 PMCID: PMC9087135 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2017.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) enriched in phospholipids in the brain and retina, is known to play multi-functional roles in brain health and diseases. While arachidonic acid (AA) is released from membrane phospholipids by cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), DHA is linked to action of the Ca2+-independent iPLA2. DHA undergoes enzymatic conversion by 15-lipoxygenase (Alox 15) to form oxylipins including resolvins and neuroprotectins, which are powerful lipid mediators. DHA can also undergo non-enzymatic conversion by reacting with oxygen free radicals (ROS), which cause the production of 4-hydoxyhexenal (4-HHE), an aldehyde derivative which can form adducts with DNA, proteins and lipids. In studies with both animal models and humans, there is evidence that inadequate intake of maternal n-3 PUFA may lead to aberrant development and function of the central nervous system (CNS). What is less certain is whether consumption of n-3 PUFA is important in maintaining brain health throughout one's life span. Evidence mostly from non-human studies suggests that DHA intake above normal nutritional requirements might modify the risk/course of a number of diseases of the brain. This concept has fueled much of the present interest in DHA research, in particular, in attempts to delineate mechanisms whereby DHA may serve as a nutraceutical and confer neuroprotective effects. Current studies have revealed ability for the oxylipins to regulation of cell redox homeostasis through the Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2/Antioxidant response element (Nrf2/ARE) anti-oxidant pathway, and impact signaling pathways associated with neurotransmitters, and modulation of neuronal functions involving brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF). This review is aimed at describing recent studies elaborating these mechanisms with special regard to aging and Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, and stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Y Sun
- Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Agnes Simonyi
- Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Kevin L Fritsche
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Dennis Y Chuang
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Mark Hannink
- Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
| | | | - Jeffrey K Yao
- Medical Research Service, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - James C Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - David Q Beversdorf
- Department of Radiology, Neurology, and Psychological Sciences, and the Thompson Center, William and Nancy Thompson Endowed Chair in Radiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
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Wang X, Guo J, Song Y, Wang Q, Hu S, Gou L, Gao Y. Decreased Number and Expression of nNOS-Positive Interneurons in Basolateral Amygdala in Two Mouse Models of Autism. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:251. [PMID: 30150925 PMCID: PMC6099087 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) controls socio-emotional behaviors and is involved in the etiology of autism. We have recently shown that virtually every neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) positive cell is a GABAergic inhibitory interneuron in the mouse BLA. Here, stereology was used to quantify the number of nNOS-expressing interneurons in valproic acid (VPA)-exposed C57BL/6J (B6) and BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice models of autism. Additionally, the protein and mRNA levels of nNOS in the BLA were quantitatively assessed by western blot and qRT-PCR analysis, respectively. Our results showed the decreased number of nNOS interneurons in the BLA of animal models relative to autism. Consistently, nNOS was significantly reduced in the VPA-exposed and BTBR mice at both protein and mRNA levels. Together, these preliminary findings suggest that down-regulation of nNOS may be an attractive target for the pharmacological intervention in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaona Wang
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jisheng Guo
- Center for Translational Medicine, The Sixth People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yinsen Song
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Shunan Hu
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lingshan Gou
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yinbo Gao
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Chao OY, Yunger R, Yang YM. Behavioral assessments of BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J mice by tests of object attention and elevated open platform: Implications for an animal model of psychiatric comorbidity in autism. Behav Brain Res 2018; 347:140-147. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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98
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Golubeva AV, Joyce SA, Moloney G, Burokas A, Sherwin E, Arboleya S, Flynn I, Khochanskiy D, Moya-Pérez A, Peterson V, Rea K, Murphy K, Makarova O, Buravkov S, Hyland NP, Stanton C, Clarke G, Gahan CGM, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Microbiota-related Changes in Bile Acid & Tryptophan Metabolism are Associated with Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Autism. EBioMedicine 2017; 24:166-178. [PMID: 28965876 PMCID: PMC5652137 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental conditions worldwide. There is growing awareness that ASD is highly comorbid with gastrointestinal distress and altered intestinal microbiome, and that host-microbiome interactions may contribute to the disease symptoms. However, the paucity of knowledge on gut-brain axis signaling in autism constitutes an obstacle to the development of precision microbiota-based therapeutics in ASD. To this end, we explored the interactions between intestinal microbiota, gut physiology and social behavior in a BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J mouse model of ASD. Here we show that a reduction in the relative abundance of very particular bacterial taxa in the BTBR gut - namely, bile-metabolizing Bifidobacterium and Blautia species, - is associated with deficient bile acid and tryptophan metabolism in the intestine, marked gastrointestinal dysfunction, as well as impaired social interactions in BTBR mice. Together these data support the concept of targeted manipulation of the gut microbiota for reversing gastrointestinal and behavioral symptomatology in ASD, and offer specific plausible targets in this endeavor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Golubeva
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Susan A Joyce
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard Moloney
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Eoin Sherwin
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Silvia Arboleya
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Ian Flynn
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | | | | | - Kieran Rea
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Kiera Murphy
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Olga Makarova
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey Buravkov
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Niall P Hyland
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Catherine Stanton
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioural Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard Clarke
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioural Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Cormac G M Gahan
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Timothy G Dinan
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioural Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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Benke D, Möhler H. Impact on GABA systems in monogenetic developmental CNS disorders: Clues to symptomatic treatment. Neuropharmacology 2017; 136:46-55. [PMID: 28764992 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Animal studies of several single-gene disorders demonstrate that reversing the molecular signaling deficits can result in substantial symptomatic improvements in function. Focusing on the ratio of excitation to inhibition as a potential pathophysiological hallmark, seven single-gene developmental CNS disorders are reviewed which are characterized by a striking dysregulation of neuronal inhibition. Deficits in inhibition and excessive inhibition are found. The examples of developmental disorders encompass Neurofibromatosis type 1, Fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, Dravet syndrome including autism-like behavior, NONO-mutation-induced intellectual disability, Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency and Congenital nystagmus due to FRMD7 mutations. The phenotype/genotype correlations observed in animal models point to potential treatment options and will continue to inspire clinical research. Three drugs are presently in clinical trials: acamprosate and ganoxolon for Fragile X syndrome and SGS-742 for SSADH deficiency. This article is part of the "Special Issue Dedicated to Norman G. Bowery".
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Affiliation(s)
- Dietmar Benke
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Drug Discovery Network Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Hanns Möhler
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 10, 8023 Zurich, Switzerland.
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