51
|
Littlejohn BP, Price DM, Neuendorff DA, Carroll JA, Vann RC, Riggs PK, Riley DG, Long CR, Welsh TH, Randel RD. Prenatal transportation stress alters genome-wide DNA methylation in suckling Brahman bull calves. J Anim Sci 2018; 96:5075-5099. [PMID: 30165450 PMCID: PMC6276578 DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to identify genome-wide differential methylation of DNA in young prenatally stressed (PNS) bull calves. Mature Brahman cows (n = 48) were transported for 2-h periods at 60 ± 5, 80 ± 5, 100 ± 5, 120 ± 5, and 140 ± 5 d of gestation or maintained as nontransported Controls (n = 48). Methylation of DNA from white blood cells from a subset of 28-d-old intact male offspring (n = 7 PNS; n = 7 Control) was assessed via reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. Samples from PNS bulls contained 16,128 CG, 226 CHG, and 391 CHH (C = cytosine; G = guanine; H = either adenine, thymine, or cytosine) sites that were differentially methylated compared to samples from Controls. Of the CG sites, 7,407 were hypermethylated (at least 10% more methylated than Controls; P ≤ 0.05) and 8,721 were hypomethylated (at least 10% less methylated than Controls; P ≤ 0.05). Increased DNA methylation in gene promoter regions typically results in decreased transcriptional activity of the region. Therefore, differentially methylated CG sites located within promoter regions (n = 1,205) were used to predict (using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software) alterations to canonical pathways in PNS compared with Control bull calves. In PNS bull calves, 113 pathways were altered (P ≤ 0.05) compared to Controls. Among these were pathways related to behavior, stress response, metabolism, immune function, and cell signaling. Genome-wide differential DNA methylation and predicted alterations to pathways in PNS compared with Control bull calves suggest epigenetic programming of biological systems in utero.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brittni P Littlejohn
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Overton, TX
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | - Deborah M Price
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Overton, TX
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | | | | | - Rhonda C Vann
- Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State University, Raymond, MS
| | - Penny K Riggs
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | - David G Riley
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | - Charles R Long
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Overton, TX
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | - Thomas H Welsh
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | | |
Collapse
|
52
|
Oxidative Stress, Maternal Diabetes, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2018; 2018:3717215. [PMID: 30524654 PMCID: PMC6247386 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3717215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of early-onset neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by alterations in brain connectivity with cascading effects on neuropsychological functions. To date, in the framework of an increasing interest about environmental conditions which could interact with genetic factors in ASD pathogenesis, many authors have stressed that changes in the intrauterine environment at different stages of pregnancy, such as those linked to maternal metabolic pathologies, may lead to long-term conditions in the newborn. In particular, a growing number of epidemiological studies have highlighted the role of obesity and maternal diabetes as a risk factor for developing both somatic and psychiatric disorders in humans, including ASD. While literature still fails in identifying specific etiopathological mechanisms, a growing body of evidence is available about the presence of a relationship between maternal immune dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the development of ASD in the offspring. In this framework, results from high-fat diet animal models about the role played by oxidative stress in shaping offspring neurodevelopment may help in clarifying the pathways through which maternal metabolic conditions are linked with ASD. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of literature about the effects of early life insults linked to oxidative stress which may be involved in ASD etiopathogenesis and how this relationship can be explained in biological terms.
Collapse
|
53
|
Mueller FS, Polesel M, Richetto J, Meyer U, Weber-Stadlbauer U. Mouse models of maternal immune activation: Mind your caging system! Brain Behav Immun 2018; 73:643-660. [PMID: 30026057 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent models of maternal immune activation (MIA) are increasingly used as experimental tools to study neuronal and behavioral dysfunctions in relation to infection-mediated neurodevelopmental disorders. One of the most widely used MIA models is based on gestational administration of poly(I:C) (= polyriboinosinic-polyribocytdilic acid), a synthetic analog of double-stranded RNA that induces a cytokine-associated viral-like acute phase response. The effects of poly(I:C)-induced MIA on phenotypic changes in the offspring are known to be influenced by various factors, including the precise prenatal timing, genetic background, and immune stimulus intensity. Thus far, however, it has been largely ignored whether differences in the basic type of laboratory housing can similarly affect the outcomes of MIA models. Here, we examined this possibility by comparing the poly(I:C)-based MIA model in two housing systems that are commonly used in preclinical mouse research, namely the open cage (OC) and individually ventilated cage (IVC) systems. Pregnant C57BL6/N mice were kept in OCs or IVCs and treated with a low (1 mg/kg, i.v.) or high (5 mg/kg, i.v.) dose of poly(I:C), or with control vehicle solution. MIA or control treatment was induced on gestation day (GD) 9 or 12, and the resulting offspring were raised and maintained in OCs or IVCs until adulthood for behavioral testing. An additional cohort of dams was used to assess the influence of the different caging systems on poly(I:C)-induced cytokine and stress responses in the maternal plasma. Maternal poly(I:C) administration on GD9 caused a dose-dependent increase in spontaneous abortion in IVCs but not in OCs, whereas MIA in IVC systems during a later gestational time-point (GD12) did not affect pregnancy outcomes. Moreover, the precise type of caging system markedly affected maternal cytokines and chemokines at basal states and in response to poly(I:C) and further influenced the maternal levels of the stress hormone, corticosterone. The efficacy of MIA to induce deficits in working memory, social interaction, and sensorimotor gating in the adult offspring was influenced by the different housing conditions, the dosing of poly(I:C), and the precise prenatal timing. Taken together, the present study identifies the basic type of caging system as a novel factor that can confound the outcomes of MIA in mice. Our findings thus urge the need to consider and report the kind of laboratory housing systems used to implement MIA models. Providing this information seems pivotal to yield reproducible results in these models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich - Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich - Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich - Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich - Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
54
|
Gestational diabetes exacerbates maternal immune activation effects in the developing brain. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:1920-1928. [PMID: 28948973 PMCID: PMC6459194 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Maternal inflammation and diabetes increase the risk for psychiatric disorders in offspring. We hypothesized that these co-occurring risk factors may potentiate each other. To test this, we maternally exposed developing mice in utero to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and/or maternal immune activation (MIA). Fetal mouse brains were exposed to either vehicle, GDM, MIA or GDM+MIA. At gestational day (GD) 12.5, GDM produced a hyperglycemic, hyperleptinemic maternal state, whereas MIA produced significant increases in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Each condition alone resulted in an altered, inflammatory and neurodevelopmental transcriptome profile. In addition, GDM+MIA heightened the maternal inflammatory state and gave rise to a new, specific transcriptional response. This exacerbated response was associated with pathways implicated in psychiatric disorders, including dopamine neuron differentiation and innate immune response. Based on these data, we hypothesize that children born to GDM mothers and exposed to midgestation infections have an increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorder later in life, and this should be tested in follow-up epidemiological studies.
Collapse
|
55
|
Shivakumar V, Debnath M, Venugopal D, Rajasekaran A, Kalmady SV, Subbanna M, Narayanaswamy JC, Amaresha AC, Venkatasubramanian G. Influence of correlation between HLA-G polymorphism and Interleukin-6 (IL6) gene expression on the risk of schizophrenia. Cytokine 2018; 107:59-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2017.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
|
56
|
Early prenatal exposure to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection and child psychomotor development at 6 months - A population-based cohort study. Early Hum Dev 2018; 122:1-7. [PMID: 29803166 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies investigating gestational influenza and child neurodevelopment are still scarce, particularly concerning timing of infection in pregnancy. This is the first study to investigate associations between gestational influenza and infant psychomotor development and temperament at 6 months. METHODS Data from The Norwegian Influenza Pregnancy Cohort, established during the 2009 swine flu pandemic, were utilized. Information on influenza infection, vaccination, maternal health and child health and development is available from questionnaires, national registry data and maternal blood samples drawn at delivery. Maternal influenza A H1N1 pdm09 infection was serologically confirmed. 609 children with complete data were identified. Children of exposed and non-exposed mothers were compared using generalized linear models. RESULTS Children exposed to influenza during gestational weeks (gw) 0-8 had adjusted general development scores indicating slightly delayed development compared to non-exposed children (0.28 standard deviations (SD) 95% confidence interval (CI): -0. 01; 0.58; p = 0.06). The temperamental scores of children exposed during gw 0-8 were slightly higher (0.31 SD; 95% CI: -0. 03; 0.64; p = 0.07) than non-exposed children indicating a more difficult temperament. In comparison, the developmental scores for children exposed in gw 9-40 were -0.31 SD (95% CI: -0. 65; 0.04; p = 0.09) better than non-exposed children, while the temperamental scores were 0.17 (95% CI: -0. 23; 0.56; p = 0.36) for the same period. CONCLUSION Modest associations were found between maternal influenza A (H1N1) pdm infection during gestational weeks 0-8 and psychomotor development at 6 months.
Collapse
|
57
|
Cakan P, Yildiz S, Ozgocer T, Yildiz A, Vardi N. Maternal viral mimetic administration at the beginning of fetal hypothalamic nuclei development accelerates puberty in female rat offspring. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2018; 96:506-514. [DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2016-0535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal viral infection during a critical time window of fetal hypothalamic development on timing of puberty in the female offspring. For that purpose, a viral mimetic (i.e., synthetic double-strand RNA, namely, polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid, poly (I:C)) or saline was injected (i.p.) to the pregnant rats during the beginning (day 12 of pregnancy, n = 5 for each group) or at the end of this time window (day 14 of pregnancy, n = 5 for each group). Four study groups were formed from the female pups (n = 9–10 pups/group). Following weaning of pups, vaginal opening and vaginal smearing was studied daily until 2 sequential estrous cycles were observed. During the second diestrus phase, blood samples were taken for progesterone, leptin, corticosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. Maternal poly (I:C) injection on day 12 of pregnancy increased body mass and reduced the time to puberty in the female offspring. Neither poly (I:C) nor timing of injection affected other parameters studied (p > 0.05). It has been shown for the first time that maternal viral infection during the beginning of fetal hypothalamic development might hasten puberty by increasing body mass in rat offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pinar Cakan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Inonu, 44280 Malatya, Turkey
| | - Sedat Yildiz
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Inonu, 44280 Malatya, Turkey
| | - Tuba Ozgocer
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Inonu, 44280 Malatya, Turkey
| | - Azibe Yildiz
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Inonu, 44280 Malatya, Turkey
| | - Nigar Vardi
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Inonu, 44280 Malatya, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
58
|
Ciernia AV, Careaga M, Ashwood P, LaSalle J. Microglia from offspring of dams with allergic asthma exhibit epigenomic alterations in genes dysregulated in autism. Glia 2018; 66:505-521. [PMID: 29134693 PMCID: PMC5767155 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation in immune responses during pregnancy increases the risk of a having a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases among pregnant women, and symptoms often worsen during pregnancy. We recently developed a mouse model of maternal allergic asthma (MAA) that induces changes in sociability, repetitive, and perseverative behaviors in the offspring. Since epigenetic changes help a static genome adapt to the maternal environment, activation of the immune system may epigenetically alter fetal microglia, the brain's resident immune cells. We therefore tested the hypothesis that epigenomic alterations to microglia may be involved in behavioral abnormalities observed in MAA offspring. We used the genome-wide approaches of whole genome bisulfite sequencing to examine DNA methylation and RNA sequencing to examine gene expression in microglia from juvenile MAA offspring. Differentially methylated regions were enriched for immune signaling pathways and important microglial developmental transcription factor binding motifs. Differential expression analysis identified genes involved in controlling microglial sensitivity to the environment and shaping neuronal connections in the developing brain. Differentially expressed genes significantly overlapped genes with altered expression in human ASD cortex, supporting a role for microglia in the pathogenesis of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annie Vogel Ciernia
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Milo Careaga
- MIND Institute, 2825 50 Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, University of California, Davis
| | - Paul Ashwood
- MIND Institute, 2825 50 Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, University of California, Davis
| | - Janine LaSalle
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
| |
Collapse
|
59
|
Gentile I, Zappulo E, Riccio MP, Binda S, Bubba L, Pellegrinelli L, Scognamiglio D, Operto F, Margari L, Borgia G, Bravaccio C. Prevalence of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection Assessed Through Viral Genome Detection in Dried Blood Spots in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 31:467-473. [PMID: 28438881 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.11085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders without a definitive etiology in most cases. Environmental factors, such as viral infections, have been linked with anomalies in brain growth, neuronal development, and functional connectivity. Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been associated with the onset of ASD in several case reports. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of congenital CMV infection in children with ASD and in healthy controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS The CMV genome was tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on dried blood spots collected at birth from 82 children (38 with ASD and 44 controls). RESULTS The prevalence of congenital CMV infection was 5.3% (2/38) in cases and 0% (0/44) in controls (p=0.212). CONCLUSION The infection rate was about 10-fold higher in patients with ASD than in the general Italian population at birth. For this reason, detection of CMV-DNA on dried blood spots could be considered in the work-up that is usually performed at ASD diagnosis to rule-out a secondary form. Given the potential prevention and treatment of CMV infection, this study could have intriguing consequences, at least for a group of patients with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Gentile
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Emanuela Zappulo
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Riccio
- Department of Physical and Mental Health and Preventive Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Sandro Binda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Bubba
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Pellegrinelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Domenico Scognamiglio
- Screening Center for Metabolic Diseases, AORN Santobono - Pausilipon - Hospital Annunziata, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Operto
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Lucia Margari
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Borgia
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Carmela Bravaccio
- Department of Medical Translational Science, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
60
|
Graham AM, Rasmussen JM, Rudolph MD, Heim CM, Gilmore JH, Styner M, Potkin SG, Entringer S, Wadhwa PD, Fair DA, Buss C. Maternal Systemic Interleukin-6 During Pregnancy Is Associated With Newborn Amygdala Phenotypes and Subsequent Behavior at 2 Years of Age. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:109-119. [PMID: 28754515 PMCID: PMC5723539 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal inflammation during pregnancy increases the risk for offspring psychiatric disorders and other adverse long-term health outcomes. The influence of inflammation on the developing fetal brain is hypothesized as one potential mechanism but has not been examined in humans. METHODS Participants were adult women (N = 86) who were recruited during early pregnancy and whose offspring were born after 34 weeks' gestation. A biological indicator of maternal inflammation (interleukin-6) that has been shown to influence fetal brain development in animal models was quantified serially in early, mid-, and late pregnancy. Structural and functional brain magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired in neonates shortly after birth. Infants' amygdalae were individually segmented for measures of volume and as seeds for resting state functional connectivity. At 24 months of age, children completed a snack delay task to assess impulse control. RESULTS Higher average maternal interleukin-6 concentration during pregnancy was prospectively associated with larger right amygdala volume and stronger bilateral amygdala connectivity to brain regions involved in sensory processing and integration (fusiform, somatosensory cortex, and thalamus), salience detection (anterior insula), and learning and memory (caudate and parahippocampal gyrus). Larger newborn right amygdala volume and stronger left amygdala connectivity were in turn associated with lower impulse control at 24 months of age, and mediated the association between higher maternal interleukin-6 concentrations and lower impulse control. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide new evidence in humans linking maternal inflammation during pregnancy with newborn brain and emerging behavioral phenotypes relevant for psychiatric disorders. A better understanding of intrauterine conditions that influence offspring disease susceptibility is warranted to inform targeted early intervention and prevention efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice M Graham
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jerod M Rasmussen
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Marc D Rudolph
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Christine M Heim
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany; Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - John H Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Martin Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Steven G Potkin
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Sonja Entringer
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pathik D Wadhwa
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Damien A Fair
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Claudia Buss
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
61
|
Liberman AC, Trias E, da Silva Chagas L, Trindade P, Dos Santos Pereira M, Refojo D, Hedin-Pereira C, Serfaty CA. Neuroimmune and Inflammatory Signals in Complex Disorders of the Central Nervous System. Neuroimmunomodulation 2018; 25:246-270. [PMID: 30517945 DOI: 10.1159/000494761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
An extensive microglial-astrocyte-monocyte-neuronal cross talk seems to be crucial for normal brain function, development, and recovery. However, under certain conditions neuroinflammatory interactions between brain cells and neuroimmune cells influence disease outcome and brain pathology. Microglial cells express a range of functional states with dynamically pleomorphic profiles from a surveilling status of synaptic transmission to an active player in major events of development such as synaptic elimination, regeneration, and repair. Also, inflammation mediates a series of neurotoxic roles in neuropsychiatric conditions and neurodegenerative diseases. The present review discusses data on the involvement of neuroinflammatory conditions that alter neuroimmune interactions in four different pathologies. In the first section of this review, we discuss the ability of the early developing brain to respond to a focal lesion with a rapid compensatory plasticity of intact axons and the role of microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokines in brain repair. In the second section, we present data of neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disorders and discuss the role of reactive astrocytes in motor neuron toxicity and the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In the third section, we discuss major depressive disorders as the consequence of dysfunctional interactions between neural and immune signals that result in increased peripheral immune responses and increase proinflammatory cytokines. In the last section, we discuss autism spectrum disorders and altered brain circuitries that emerge from abnormal long-term responses of innate inflammatory cytokines and microglial phenotypic dysfunctions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Clara Liberman
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA)-CONICET-Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina,
| | - Emiliano Trias
- Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Pablo Trindade
- D'OR Institute for Research and Education, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marissol Dos Santos Pereira
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation - INCT-NIM, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory for Cellular NeuroAnatomy, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Damian Refojo
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA)-CONICET-Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Hedin-Pereira
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation - INCT-NIM, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory for Cellular NeuroAnatomy, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- VPPCB, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Claudio A Serfaty
- Neuroscience Program, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
62
|
Abstract
Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a strong genetic basis, its etiology is complex, with several genetic factors likely to be involved as well as environmental factors. Immune dysregulation has gained significant attention as a causal mechanism in ASD pathogenesis. ASD has been associated with immune abnormalities in the brain and periphery, including inflammatory disorders and autoimmunity in not only the affected individuals but also their mothers. Prenatal exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) has been implicated as an environmental risk factor for ASD. In support of this notion, animal models have shown that MIA results in offspring with behavioral, neurological, and immunological abnormalities similar to those observed in ASD. This raises the question of how MIA exposure can lead to ASD in susceptible individuals. Recent evidence points to a potential inflammation pathway linking MIA-associated ASD with the activity of T helper 17 (Th17) lymphocytes and their effector cytokine interleukin-17A (IL-17A). IL-17A has been implicated from human studies and elevated IL-17A levels in the blood have been found to correlate with phenotypic severity in a subset of ASD individuals. In MIA model mice, elevated IL-17A levels also have been observed. Additionally, antibody blockade to inhibit IL-17A signaling was found to prevent ASD-like behaviors in offspring exposed to MIA. Therefore, IL-17A dysregulation may play a causal role in the development of ASD. The source of increased IL-17A in the MIA mouse model was attributed to maternal Th17 cells because genetic removal of the transcription factor RORγt to selectively inhibit Th17 differentiation in pregnant mice was able to prevent ASD-like behaviors in the offspring. Similar to ASD individuals, the MIA-exposed offspring also displayed cortical dysplasia which could be prevented by inhibition of IL-17A signaling in pregnant mice. This finding reveals one possible cellular mechanism through which ASD-related cognitive and behavioral deficits may emerge following maternal inflammation. IL-17A can exert strong effects on cell survival and differentiation and the activity of signal transduction cascades, which can have important consequences during cortical development on neural function. This review examines IL-17A signaling pathways in the context of both immunity and neural function that may contribute to the development of ASD associated with MIA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen Wong
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado-Boulder, CO 80303, United States; Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, United States; Linda Crnic Institute, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Charles Hoeffer
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado-Boulder, CO 80303, United States; Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, United States; Linda Crnic Institute, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
63
|
Parolini M, Bini L, Magni S, Rizzo A, Ghilardi A, Landi C, Armini A, Del Giacco L, Binelli A. Exposure to cocaine and its main metabolites altered the protein profile of zebrafish embryos. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 232:603-614. [PMID: 28993024 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.09.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Illicit drugs have been identified as emerging aquatic pollutants because of their widespread presence in freshwaters and potential toxicity towards aquatic organisms. Among illicit drug residues, cocaine (COC) and its main metabolites, namely benzoylecgonine (BE) and ecgonine methyl ester (EME), are commonly detected in freshwaters worldwide at concentration that can induce diverse adverse effects to non-target organisms. However, the information of toxicity and mechanisms of action (MoA) of these drugs, mainly of COC metabolites, to aquatic species is still fragmentary and inadequate. Thus, this study was aimed at investigating the toxicity of two concentrations (0.3 and 1.0 μg/L) of COC, BE and EME similar to those found in aquatic ecosystems on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos at 96 h post fertilization through a functional proteomics approach. Exposure to COC and both its metabolites significantly altered the protein profile of zebrafish embryos, modulating the expression of diverse proteins belonging to different functional classes, including cytoskeleton, eye constituents, lipid transport, lipid and energy metabolism, and stress response. Expression of vitellogenins and crystallins was modulated by COC and both its main metabolites, while only BE and EME altered proteins related to lipid and energy metabolism, as well as to oxidative stress response. Our data confirmed the potential toxicity of low concentrations of COC, BE and EME, and helped to shed light on their MoA on an aquatic vertebrate during early developmental period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Parolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria 2, I-20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Luca Bini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Stefano Magni
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rizzo
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria 2, I-20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Ghilardi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Landi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Armini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Luca Del Giacco
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Binelli
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
64
|
Konefal SC, Stellwagen D. Tumour necrosis factor-mediated homeostatic synaptic plasticity in behavioural models: testing a role in maternal immune activation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:rstb.2016.0160. [PMID: 28093554 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The proinflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) has long been characterized for its role in the innate immune system, but more recently has been found to have a distinct role in the nervous system that does not overlap with other proinflammatory cytokines. Through regulation of neuronal glutamate and GABA receptor trafficking, TNF mediates a homeostatic form of synaptic plasticity, but plays no direct role in Hebbian forms of plasticity. As yet, there is no evidence to suggest that this adaptive plasticity plays a significant role in normal development, but it does maintain neuronal circuit function in the face of several types of disruption. This includes developmental plasticity in primary sensory cortices, as well as modulating the response to antidepressants, chronic antipsychotics and drugs of abuse. TNF is also a prominent component of the neuroinflammation occurring in most neuropathologies, but the role of TNF-mediated synaptic plasticity in this context remains to be determined. We tested this in a maternal immune activation (MIA) model of neurodevelopmental disorders. Using TNF-/- mice, we observed that TNF is not required for the expression of abnormal social or anxious behaviour in this model. This indicates that TNF does not uniquely contribute to the development of neuronal dysfunction in this model, and suggests that during neuroinflammatory events, compensation between the various proinflammatory cytokines is the norm.This article is part of the themed issue 'Integrating Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Konefal
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Centre for Research in Neuroscience, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1A4
| | - David Stellwagen
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Centre for Research in Neuroscience, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1A4
| |
Collapse
|
65
|
Green A, Esser MJ, Perrot TS. Developmental expression of anxiety and depressive behaviours after prenatal predator exposure and early life homecage enhancement. Behav Brain Res 2017; 346:122-136. [PMID: 29183765 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Stressful events during gestation can have sex-specific effects on brain and behaviour, and may contribute to some of the differences observed in adult stress responding and psychopathology. We investigated the impact of a novel repeated prenatal psychological stress (prenatal predator exposure - PPS) during the last week of gestation in rats on offspring behaviours related to social interaction (play behaviour), open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST) and sucrose preference test (SP) during the juvenile period and in adulthood. We further examined the role of postnatal environmental, using an enhanced housing condition (EHC), to prevent/rescue any changes. Some effects on anxiety, anhedonia, and stress-related coping behaviours (e.g., OFT, SP and OFT) did not emerge until adulthood. PPS increased OFT anxiety behaviours in adult males, and some OFT and SP behaviours in adult females. Contrary to this, EHC had few independent effects; most were apparent only when combined with PPS. In keeping with age-group differences, juvenile behaviours did not necessarily predict the same adult behaviours although juvenile OFT rearing and freezing, and juvenile FST immobility did predict adult FST immobility and sucrose preference, suggesting that some aspects of depressive behaviours may emerge early and predict adult vulnerability or coping behaviours. Together, these results suggest an important, though complex, role for early life psychological stressors and early life behaviours in creating an adult vulnerability to anxiety or depressive disorders and that environmental factors further modulate the effects of the prenatal stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Green
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
| | - Michael J Esser
- Department of Pediatrics, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tara S Perrot
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Brain Repair Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
66
|
Gentile I, Zappulo E, Riccio MP, Binda S, Limauro R, Scuccimarra G, Borgia G, Bravaccio C. No evidence of congenital varicella zoster virus infection assessed through dried blood spot in children with autism spectrum disorders. Future Virol 2017. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2017-0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Aim: Several authors have hypothesized an association between congenital viral infections and the onset of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We aimed to assess the prevalence of congenital varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection in patients with ASD. Patients & methods: Congenital infection by VZV was evaluated in a cohort of 38 children with ASD and in 44 healthy controls. PCR for VZV-DNA performed on dried blood spots collected at birth. Results & conclusion: No VZV infection was detected in both groups. With the limitation of the small sample size of this study, the results are not in favor of a role of VZV in the etiology of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Gentile
- Department of Clinical Medicine & Surgery, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Emanuela Zappulo
- Department of Clinical Medicine & Surgery, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Riccio
- Department of Medical Translational Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Sandro Binda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Guglielmo Borgia
- Department of Clinical Medicine & Surgery, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Carmela Bravaccio
- Department of Medical Translational Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
67
|
Crum WR, Sawiak SJ, Chege W, Cooper JD, Williams SC, Vernon AC. Evolution of structural abnormalities in the rat brain following in utero exposure to maternal immune activation: A longitudinal in vivo MRI study. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 63:50-59. [PMID: 27940258 PMCID: PMC5441572 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic and environmental risk factors for psychiatric disorders are suggested to disrupt the trajectory of brain maturation during adolescence, leading to the development of psychopathology in adulthood. Rodent models are powerful tools to dissect the specific effects of such risk factors on brain maturational profiles, particularly when combined with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI; clinically comparable technology). We therefore investigated the effect of maternal immune activation (MIA), an epidemiological risk factor for adult-onset psychiatric disorders, on rat brain maturation using atlas and tensor-based morphometry analysis of longitudinal in vivo MR images. Exposure to MIA resulted in decreases in the volume of several cortical regions, the hippocampus, amygdala, striatum, nucleus accumbens and unexpectedly, the lateral ventricles, relative to controls. In contrast, the volumes of the thalamus, ventral mesencephalon, brain stem and major white matter tracts were larger, relative to controls. These volumetric changes were maximal between post-natal day 50 and 100 with no differences between the groups thereafter. These data are consistent with and extend prior studies of brain structure in MIA-exposed rodents. Apart from the ventricular findings, these data have robust face validity to clinical imaging findings reported in studies of individuals at high clinical risk for a psychiatric disorder. Further work is now required to address the relationship of these MRI changes to behavioral dysfunction and to establish thier cellular correlates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William R. Crum
- Department of Neuroimaging Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Stephen J. Sawiak
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Winfred Chege
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Jonathan D. Cooper
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Steven C.R. Williams
- Department of Neuroimaging Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Anthony C. Vernon
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RT, UK,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK,Corresponding author at: Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RT, UK.Department of Basic and Clinical NeuroscienceInstitute of PsychiatryPsychology and NeuroscienceKing’s College LondonMaurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute5 Cutcombe RoadLondonSE5 9RTUK
| |
Collapse
|
68
|
Rose DR, Careaga M, Van de Water J, McAllister K, Bauman MD, Ashwood P. Long-term altered immune responses following fetal priming in a non-human primate model of maternal immune activation. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 63:60-70. [PMID: 27876552 PMCID: PMC5432383 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Revised: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection during pregnancy can lead to activation of the maternal immune system and has been associated with an increased risk of having an offspring later diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or schizophrenia (SZ). Most maternal immune activation (MIA) studies to date have been in rodents and usually involve the use of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C). However, since NDD are based on behavioral changes, a model of MIA in non-human primates could potentially provide data that helps illuminate complex behavioral and immune outputs in human NDD. In this study twenty-one pregnant rhesus macaques were either given three injections over 72 hours of poly I:C-LC, a double stranded RNA analog (viral mimic), or saline as a control. Injections were given near the end of the first trimester or near the end of the second trimester to determine if there were differences in immune output due to the timing of MIA.An additional three non-treated animals were used as controls. The offspring were followed until 4 years of age, with blood collected at the end of their first (year 1) and fourth (year 4) years to assess dynamic cellular immune function. Induced responses from peripheral immune cells were measured using multiplex assays.At one year of age, MIA exposed offspring displayed elevated production of innate inflammatory cytokines including: interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-12p40, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α at baseline and following stimulation. At four years of age, the MIA exposed offspring continued to display elevated IL-1β, and there was also a pattern of an increased production of T-cell helper type (TH)-2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13. Throughout this time period, the offspring of MIA treated dams exhibited altered behavioral phenotypes including increased stereotyped behaviors. During the first two years, stereotyped behaviors were associated with innate cytokine production. Self-directed behaviors were associated with TH2 cytokine production at year 4. Data from this study suggests long-term behavioral and immune activation was present in offspring following MIA. This novel non-human primate model of MIA may provide a relevant clinically translational model to help further elucidate the role between immune dysfunction and complex behavioral outputs following MIA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Destanie R. Rose
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, CA, USA,MIND Institute, University of California Davis, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Milo Careaga
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, CA, USA,MIND Institute, University of California Davis, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Judy Van de Water
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, University of California, Davis, CA, USA,Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California Davis, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kim McAllister
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, University of California, Davis, CA, USA,Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California Davis, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Melissa D. Bauman
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, University of California, Davis, CA, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, University of California, Davis, CA, USA,California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Paul Ashwood
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis; CA, USA; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
69
|
Abstract
The comparison of the immunological state of pregnancy to an immunosuppressed host-graft model continues to lead research and clinical practice to ill-defined approaches. This Review discusses recent evidence that supports the idea that immunological responses at the receptive maternal-fetal interface are not simply suppressed but are instead highly dynamic. We discuss the crucial role of trophoblast cells in shaping not only the way in which immune cells respond to the invading blastocyst but also how they collectively react to external stimuli. We also discuss the role of the microbiota in promoting a tolerogenic maternal immune system and highlight how subclinical viral infections can disrupt this status quo, leading to pregnancy complications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gil Mor
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
| | - Paulomi Aldo
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
| | - Ayesha B Alvero
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
| |
Collapse
|
70
|
Careaga M, Murai T, Bauman MD. Maternal Immune Activation and Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Rodents to Nonhuman and Human Primates. Biol Psychiatry 2017; 81:391-401. [PMID: 28137374 PMCID: PMC5513502 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A subset of women who are exposed to infection during pregnancy have an increased risk of giving birth to a child who will later be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental or neuropsychiatric disorder. Although epidemiology studies have primarily focused on the association between maternal infection and an increased risk of offspring schizophrenia, mounting evidence indicates that maternal infection may also increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder. A number of factors, including genetic susceptibility, the intensity and timing of the infection, and exposure to additional aversive postnatal events, may influence the extent to which maternal infection alters fetal brain development and which disease phenotype (autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, other neurodevelopmental disorders) is expressed. Preclinical animal models provide a test bed to systematically evaluate the effects of maternal infection on fetal brain development, determine the relevance to human central nervous system disorders, and to evaluate novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. Maternal immune activation models in mice, rats, and nonhuman primates suggest that the maternal immune response is the critical link between exposure to infection during pregnancy and subsequent changes in brain and behavioral development of offspring. However, differences in the type, severity, and timing of prenatal immune challenge paired with inconsistencies in behavioral phenotyping approaches have hindered the translation of preclinical results to human studies. Here we highlight the promises and limitations of the maternal immune activation model as a preclinical tool to study prenatal risk factors for autism spectrum disorder, and suggest specific changes to improve reproducibility and maximize translational potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Milo Careaga
- UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Takeshi Murai
- UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California; Biomarker Group, Drug Development Research Laboratories, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California.
| |
Collapse
|
71
|
Brown JA, Codreanu SG, Shi M, Sherrod SD, Markov DA, Neely MD, Britt CM, Hoilett OS, Reiserer RS, Samson PC, McCawley LJ, Webb DJ, Bowman AB, McLean JA, Wikswo JP. Metabolic consequences of inflammatory disruption of the blood-brain barrier in an organ-on-chip model of the human neurovascular unit. J Neuroinflammation 2016; 13:306. [PMID: 27955696 PMCID: PMC5153753 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0760-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding blood-brain barrier responses to inflammatory stimulation (such as lipopolysaccharide mimicking a systemic infection or a cytokine cocktail that could be the result of local or systemic inflammation) is essential to understanding the effect of inflammatory stimulation on the brain. It is through the filter of the blood-brain barrier that the brain responds to outside influences, and the blood-brain barrier is a critical point of failure in neuroinflammation. It is important to note that this interaction is not a static response, but one that evolves over time. While current models have provided invaluable information regarding the interaction between cytokine stimulation, the blood-brain barrier, and the brain, these approaches—whether in vivo or in vitro—have often been only snapshots of this complex web of interactions. Methods We utilize new advances in microfluidics, organs-on-chips, and metabolomics to examine the complex relationship of inflammation and its effects on blood-brain barrier function ex vivo and the metabolic consequences of these responses and repair mechanisms. In this study, we pair a novel dual-chamber, organ-on-chip microfluidic device, the NeuroVascular Unit, with small-volume cytokine detection and mass spectrometry analysis to investigate how the blood-brain barrier responds to two different but overlapping drivers of neuroinflammation, lipopolysaccharide and a cytokine cocktail of IL-1β, TNF-α, and MCP1,2. Results In this study, we show that (1) during initial exposure to lipopolysaccharide, the blood-brain barrier is compromised as expected, with increased diffusion and reduced presence of tight junctions, but that over time, the barrier is capable of at least partial recovery; (2) a cytokine cocktail also contributes to a loss of barrier function; (3) from this time-dependent cytokine activation, metabolic signature profiles can be obtained for both the brain and vascular sides of the blood-brain barrier model; and (4) collectively, we can use metabolite analysis to identify critical pathways in inflammatory response. Conclusions Taken together, these findings present new data that allow us to study the initial effects of inflammatory stimulation on blood-brain barrier disruption, cytokine activation, and metabolic pathway changes that drive the response and recovery of the barrier during continued inflammatory exposure. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-016-0760-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn A Brown
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Simona G Codreanu
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Center for Innovative Technology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Mingjian Shi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Stacy D Sherrod
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Center for Innovative Technology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Dmitry A Markov
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - M Diana Neely
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Clayton M Britt
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Orlando S Hoilett
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Ronald S Reiserer
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Philip C Samson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Lisa J McCawley
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Donna J Webb
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Aaron B Bowman
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - John A McLean
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Center for Innovative Technology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - John P Wikswo
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
72
|
Nazeen S, Palmer NP, Berger B, Kohane IS. Integrative analysis of genetic data sets reveals a shared innate immune component in autism spectrum disorder and its co-morbidities. Genome Biol 2016; 17:228. [PMID: 27842596 PMCID: PMC5108086 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-016-1084-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that tends to co-occur with other diseases, including asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, infections, cerebral palsy, dilated cardiomyopathy, muscular dystrophy, and schizophrenia. However, the molecular basis of this co-occurrence, and whether it is due to a shared component that influences both pathophysiology and environmental triggering of illness, has not been elucidated. To address this, we deploy a three-tiered transcriptomic meta-analysis that functions at the gene, pathway, and disease levels across ASD and its co-morbidities. RESULTS Our analysis reveals a novel shared innate immune component between ASD and all but three of its co-morbidities that were examined. In particular, we find that the Toll-like receptor signaling and the chemokine signaling pathways, which are key pathways in the innate immune response, have the highest shared statistical significance. Moreover, the disease genes that overlap these two innate immunity pathways can be used to classify the cases of ASD and its co-morbidities vs. controls with at least 70 % accuracy. CONCLUSIONS This finding suggests that a neuropsychiatric condition and the majority of its non-brain-related co-morbidities share a dysregulated signal that serves as not only a common genetic basis for the diseases but also as a link to environmental triggers. It also raises the possibility that treatment and/or prophylaxis used for disorders of innate immunity may be successfully used for ASD patients with immune-related phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sumaiya Nazeen
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 02139 MA USA
| | - Nathan P. Palmer
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, 02115 MA USA
| | - Bonnie Berger
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 02139 MA USA
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 02139 MA USA
| | - Isaac S. Kohane
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, 02115 MA USA
| |
Collapse
|
73
|
Matcovitch-Natan O, Winter DR, Giladi A, Vargas Aguilar S, Spinrad A, Sarrazin S, Ben-Yehuda H, David E, Zelada González F, Perrin P, Keren-Shaul H, Gury M, Lara-Astaiso D, Thaiss CA, Cohen M, Bahar Halpern K, Baruch K, Deczkowska A, Lorenzo-Vivas E, Itzkovitz S, Elinav E, Sieweke MH, Schwartz M, Amit I. Microglia development follows a stepwise program to regulate brain homeostasis. Science 2016; 353:aad8670. [PMID: 27338705 DOI: 10.1126/science.aad8670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 776] [Impact Index Per Article: 97.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Microglia, the resident myeloid cells of the central nervous system, play important roles in life-long brain maintenance and in pathology. Despite their importance, their regulatory dynamics during brain development have not been fully elucidated. Using genome-wide chromatin and expression profiling coupled with single-cell transcriptomic analysis throughout development, we found that microglia undergo three temporal stages of development in synchrony with the brain--early, pre-, and adult microglia--which are under distinct regulatory circuits. Knockout of the gene encoding the adult microglia transcription factor MAFB and environmental perturbations, such as those affecting the microbiome or prenatal immune activation, led to disruption of developmental genes and immune response pathways. Together, our work identifies a stepwise microglia developmental program integrating immune response pathways that may be associated with several neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Orit Matcovitch-Natan
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Deborah R Winter
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Amir Giladi
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Stephanie Vargas Aguilar
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Université Aix-Marseille, UM2, Campus de Luminy, Marseille, France. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1104, Marseille, France. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7280, Marseille, France. Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Straß 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Amit Spinrad
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sandrine Sarrazin
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Université Aix-Marseille, UM2, Campus de Luminy, Marseille, France. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1104, Marseille, France. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7280, Marseille, France
| | - Hila Ben-Yehuda
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eyal David
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Fabiola Zelada González
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Université Aix-Marseille, UM2, Campus de Luminy, Marseille, France. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1104, Marseille, France. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7280, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Perrin
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Université Aix-Marseille, UM2, Campus de Luminy, Marseille, France. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1104, Marseille, France. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7280, Marseille, France
| | - Hadas Keren-Shaul
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Meital Gury
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - David Lara-Astaiso
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Christoph A Thaiss
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Merav Cohen
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Kuti Baruch
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | | | - Shalev Itzkovitz
- Department of Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eran Elinav
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michael H Sieweke
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Université Aix-Marseille, UM2, Campus de Luminy, Marseille, France. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1104, Marseille, France. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7280, Marseille, France. Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Straß 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Michal Schwartz
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Ido Amit
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
74
|
Chow KH, Yan Z, Wu WL. Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic Poly(I:C). J Vis Exp 2016:e53643. [PMID: 27078638 DOI: 10.3791/53643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) model is increasingly well appreciated as a rodent model for the environmental risk factor of various psychiatric disorders. Numerous studies have demonstrated that MIA model is able to show face, construct, and predictive validity that are relevant to autism and schizophrenia. To model MIA, investigators often use viral mimic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) to activate the immune system in pregnant rodents. Generally, the offspring from immune activated dam exhibit behavioral abnormalities and physiological alterations that are associated with autism and schizophrenia. However, poly(I:C) injection with different dosages and at different time points could lead to different outcomes by perturbing brain development at different stages. Here we provide a detailed method of inducing MIA by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 20 mg/kg poly(I:C) at mid-gestational embryonic 12.5 days (E12.5). This method has been shown to induce acute inflammatory response in the maternal-placental-fetal axis, which ultimately results in the brain perturbations and behavioral phenotypes that are associated with autism and schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Huan Chow
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology
| | - Zihao Yan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Harvard Medical School
| | - Wei-Li Wu
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology;
| |
Collapse
|
75
|
Vijayakumar NT, Judy MV. Autism spectrum disorders: Integration of the genome, transcriptome and the environment. J Neurol Sci 2016; 364:167-76. [PMID: 27084239 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2016.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders denote a series of lifelong neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by an impaired social communication profile and often repetitive, stereotyped behavior. Recent years have seen the complex genetic architecture of the disease being progressively unraveled with advancements in gene finding technology and next generation sequencing methods. However, a complete elucidation of the molecular mechanisms behind autism is necessary for potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. A multidisciplinary approach should be adopted where the focus is not only on the 'genetics' of autism but also on the combinational roles of epigenetics, transcriptomics, immune system disruption and environmental factors that could all influence the etiopathogenesis of the disease. ASD is a clinically heterogeneous disorder with great genetic complexity; only through an integrated multidimensional effort can modern autism research progress further.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Thushara Vijayakumar
- Department of Computer Science & IT., Amrita School of Arts & Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita University, Kochi, India.
| | - M V Judy
- Department of Computer Science & IT., Amrita School of Arts & Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita University, Kochi, India
| |
Collapse
|
76
|
Money KM, Olah Z, Korade Z, Garbett KA, Shelton RC, Mirnics K. An altered peripheral IL6 response in major depressive disorder. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 89:46-54. [PMID: 26804030 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Revised: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent major psychiatric disorders with a lifetime prevalence of 17%. Recent evidence suggests MDD is not only a brain dysfunction, but a systemic disease affecting the whole body. Central and peripheral inflammatory changes seem to be a centerpiece of MDD pathology: a subset of patients show elevated blood cytokine and chemokine levels that partially normalize with symptom improvement over the course of anti-depressant treatment. As this inflammatory process in MDD is poorly understood, we hypothesized that the peripheral tissues of MDD patients will respond differently to inflammatory stimuli, resulting in an aberrant transcriptional response to elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines. To test this, we used MDD patient- and control-derived dermal fibroblast cultures to investigate their response to an acute treatment with IL6, IL1β, TNFα, or vehicle. Following RNA isolation and subsequent cDNA synthesis, quantitative PCR was used to determine the relative expression level of several families of inflammation-responsive genes. Our results showed comparable expression of the tested genes between MDD patients and controls at baseline. In contrast, MDD patient fibroblasts had a diminished transcriptional response to IL6 in all the gene sets tested (oxidative stress response, mitochondrial function, and lipid metabolism). We also found a significant increase in baseline and IL6 stimulated transcript levels of the IL6 receptor gene. This IL6 receptor transcript increase in MDD fibroblasts was accompanied by an IL6 stimulated increase in induction of SOCS3, which dampens IL6 receptor signaling. Altogether our results demonstrate that there is an altered transcriptional response to IL6 in MDD, which may represent one of the molecular mechanisms contributing to disease pathophysiology. Ultimately we hope that these studies will lead to validation of novel MDD drug targets focused on normalizing the altered IL6 response in patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelli M Money
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Zita Olah
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt International Scholar Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zeljka Korade
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | | | - Richard C Shelton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Karoly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
77
|
Benítez-Burraco A, Uriagereka J. The Immune Syntax Revisited: Opening New Windows on Language Evolution. Front Mol Neurosci 2016; 8:84. [PMID: 26793054 PMCID: PMC4707268 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2015.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research has added new dimensions to our understanding of classical evolution, according to which evolutionary novelties result from gene mutations inherited from parents to offspring. Language is surely one such novelty. Together with specific changes in our genome and epigenome, we suggest that two other (related) mechanisms may have contributed to the brain rewiring underlying human cognitive evolution and, specifically, the changes in brain connectivity that prompted the emergence of our species-specific linguistic abilities: the horizontal transfer of genetic material by viral and non-viral vectors and the brain/immune system crosstalk (more generally, the dialogue between the microbiota, the immune system, and the brain).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan Uriagereka
- Department of Linguistics, University of Maryland College Park, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
78
|
Severance EG, Yolken RH. Role of Immune and Autoimmune Dysfunction in Schizophrenia. HANDBOOK OF BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2016; 23:501-516. [PMID: 33456427 PMCID: PMC7173552 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800981-9.00029-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In this chapter, we review data in support of the concept that immune system dysregulation is the most plausible explanation that reconciles gene by environmental interactions in schizophrenia. Early investigations of this topic demonstrated aspects of aberrant activation of humoral immunity, including autoimmunity, associated with schizophrenia, whereas current research efforts have expanded this theme to include elements of innate immunity. Advances in our understanding of inflammation and molecules of both the adaptive and innate immune system and their functional roles in standard brain physiology provide an important context by which schizophrenia might arise as the result of the coupling of immune and neurodevelopmental dysregulation.
Collapse
|
79
|
Romero R, Chaemsaithong P, Docheva N, Korzeniewski SJ, Tarca AL, Bhatti G, Xu Z, Kusanovic JP, Dong Z, Yoon BH, Hassan SS, Chaiworapongsa T, Yeo L, Kim YM, Kim YM. Clinical chorioamnionitis at term V: umbilical cord plasma cytokine profile in the context of a systemic maternal inflammatory response. J Perinat Med 2016; 44:53-76. [PMID: 26360486 PMCID: PMC5625297 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2015-0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Microbial invasion of the fetus due to intra-amniotic infection can lead to a systemic inflammatory response characterized by elevated concentrations of cytokines in the umbilical cord plasma/serum. Clinical chorioamnionitis represents the maternal syndrome often associated with intra-amniotic infection, although other causes of this syndrome have been recently described. The objective of this study was to characterize the umbilical cord plasma cytokine profile in neonates born to mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis at term, according to the presence or absence of bacteria and/or intra-amniotic inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted, including patients with clinical chorioamnionitis at term (n=38; cases) and those with spontaneous term labor without clinical chorioamnionitis (n=77; controls). Women with clinical chorioamnionitis were classified according to the results of amniotic fluid culture, broad-range polymerase chain reaction coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) and amniotic fluid interleukin (IL)-6 concentration into three groups: 1) no intra-amniotic inflammation; 2) intra-amniotic inflammation without detectable microorganisms; or 3) microbial-associated intra-amniotic inflammation. A fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) was defined as an umbilical cord plasma IL-6 concentration >11 pg/mL. The umbilical cord plasma concentrations of 29 cytokines were determined with sensitive and specific V-PLEX immunoassays. Nonparametric statistical methods were used for analysis, adjusting for a false discovery rate of 5%. RESULTS 1) Neonates born to mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis at term (considered in toto) had significantly higher median umbilical cord plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-16, IL-13, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-8, but significantly lower interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-α concentrations than neonates born to mothers with spontaneous term labor without clinical chorioamnionitis; 2) neonates born to mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis at term but without intra-amniotic inflammation had higher concentrations of IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-8, but lower IFN-γ, than neonates not exposed to clinical chorioamnionitis, suggesting that maternal fever in the absence of intra-amniotic inflammation leads to a change in the fetal cytokine network; 3) there were significant, positive correlations between maternal and umbilical cord plasma IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations (IL-6: Spearman correlation=0.53; P<0.001; IL-8: Spearman correlation=0.42; P<0.001), consistent with placental transfer of cytokines; 4) an elevated fetal plasma IL-6 (>11 pg/mL), the diagnostic criterion for FIRS, was present in 21% of cases (8/38), and all these neonates were born to mothers with proven intra-amniotic infection; and 5) FIRS was associated with a high concentration of umbilical cord plasma IL-8, IL-10 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. CONCLUSIONS Neonates born to mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis at term had higher concentrations of umbilical cord plasma cytokines than those born to mothers without clinical chorioamnionitis. Even neonates exposed to clinical chorioamnionitis but not to intra-amniotic inflammation had elevated concentrations of multiple cytokines, suggesting that intrapartum fever alters the fetal immune response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA,Department of Molecular Obstetrics and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Piya Chaemsaithong
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nikolina Docheva
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Steven J. Korzeniewski
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Adi L. Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Gaurav Bhatti
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Zhonghui Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Juan P. Kusanovic
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Center for Research and Innovation in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (CIMAF). Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sótero del Río Hospital, Santiago, Chile,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Zhong Dong
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Bo Hyun Yoon
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sonia S. Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lami Yeo
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Yeon Mee Kim
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Pathology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan Korea
| | | |
Collapse
|
80
|
Flinkkilä E, Keski-Rahkonen A, Marttunen M, Raevuori A. Prenatal Inflammation, Infections and Mental Disorders. Psychopathology 2016; 49:317-333. [PMID: 27529630 DOI: 10.1159/000448054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this descriptive review is to summarize the current scientific evidence on the effect of prenatal exposure to maternal infection and immune response on the offspring's risk for mental disorders (schizophrenia spectrum disorders, autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anorexia nervosa, and mood disorders). SAMPLING AND METHODS Studies were searched from PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE (R) databases with the following keywords: 'prenatal exposure delayed effects' and 'infection', and 'inflammation' and 'mental disorders'. A comprehensive manual search, including a search from the reference list of included articles, was also performed. RESULTS Prenatal exposure to maternal influenza appears to increase the offspring's risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, although studies are not fully consistent. Prenatal exposure to maternal fever and elevated cytokine levels seems to be related to the elevated risk for autism spectrum disorders in the offspring. No replicated findings of an association between prenatal infectious exposure and other mental disorders exist. CONCLUSIONS Evidence for the effect of prenatal exposure to maternal infection on risk for mental disorders exists for several different infections, suggesting that common factors occurring in infections (e.g. elevated cytokine levels and fever), rather than the infectious agent itself, might be the underlying factor in increasing the risk for mental disorders. Additionally, it is likely that genetic liability to these disorders operates in conjunction with the exposure. Therefore, genetically sensitive study designs are needed in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eerika Flinkkilä
- Clinicum, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
81
|
Risk factors in autism: Thinking outside the brain. J Autoimmun 2015; 67:1-7. [PMID: 26725748 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2015.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neurodevelopmental conditions that have been rising markedly in prevalence for the past 30 years, now thought to affect 1 in 68 in the United States. This has prompted the search for possible explanations, and has even resulted in some controversy regarding the "true" prevalence of autism. ASD are influenced by a variety of genetic, environmental, and possibly immunological factors that act during critical periods to alter key developmental processes. This can affect multiple systems and manifests as the social and behavioral deficits that define these disorders. The interaction of environmental exposures in the context of an individual's genetic susceptibilities manifests differently in each case, leading to heterogeneous phenotypes and varied comorbid symptoms within the disorder. This has also made it very difficult to elucidate underlying genes and exposure profiles, but progress is being made in this area. Some pharmaceutical drugs, toxicants, and metabolic and nutritional factors have been identified in epidemiological studies as increasing autism risk, especially during the prenatal period. Immunologic risk factors, including maternal infection during pregnancy, autoantibodies to fetal brain proteins, and familial autoimmune disease, have consistently been observed across multiple studies, as have immune abnormalities in individuals with ASD. Mechanistic research using animal models and patient-derived stem cells will help researchers to understand the complex etiology of these neurodevelopmental disorders, which will lead to more effective therapies and preventative strategies. Proposed therapies that need more investigation include special diets, probiotics, immune modulation, oxytocin, and personalized pharmacogenomic targets. The ongoing search for biomarkers and better treatments will result in earlier identification of ASD and provide much needed help and relief for afflicted families.
Collapse
|
82
|
Long Noncoding RNA-Directed Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression Is Associated With Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice. Biol Psychiatry 2015; 78:848-59. [PMID: 25792222 PMCID: PMC4532653 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND RNA-directed regulation of epigenetic processes has recently emerged as an important feature of mammalian differentiation and development. Perturbation of this regulatory system in the brain may contribute to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. METHODS RNA sequencing was used to identify changes in the experience-dependent expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) within the medial prefrontal cortex of adult mice. Transcripts were validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and a candidate lncRNA, Gomafu, was selected for further investigation. The functional role of this schizophrenia-related lncRNA was explored in vivo by antisense oligonucleotide-mediated gene knockdown in the medial prefrontal cortex, followed by behavioral training and assessment of fear-related anxiety. Long noncoding RNA-directed epigenetic regulation of gene expression was investigated by chromatin and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. RESULTS RNA sequencing analysis revealed changes in the expression of a significant number of genes related to neural plasticity and stress, as well as the dynamic regulation of lncRNAs. In particular, we detected a significant downregulation of Gomafu lncRNA. Our results revealed that Gomafu plays a role in mediating anxiety-like behavior and suggest that this may occur through an interaction with a key member of the polycomb repressive complex 1, BMI1, which regulates the expression of the schizophrenia-related gene beta crystallin (Crybb1). We also demonstrated a novel role for Crybb1 in mediating fear-induced anxiety-like behavior. CONCLUSIONS Experience-dependent expression of lncRNAs plays an important role in the epigenetic regulation of adaptive behavior, and the perturbation of Gomafu may be related to anxiety and the development of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
|
83
|
Vernon AC, So PW, Lythgoe DJ, Chege W, Cooper JD, Williams SCR, Kapur S. Longitudinal in vivo maturational changes of metabolites in the prefrontal cortex of rats exposed to polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid in utero. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 25:2210-20. [PMID: 26475576 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Revised: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) studies in schizophrenia patients generally report decreased levels of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), glutamate and glutathione, particularly in frontal cortex. However, these data are inconsistent in part due to confounds associated with clinical samples. The lack of validated diagnostic biomarkers also hampers analysis of the neurodevelopmental trajectory of neurochemical abnormalities. Rodent models are powerful tools to address these issues, particularly when combined with (1)H MRS (clinically comparable technology). We investigated the trajectory of metabolic changes in the prefrontal cortex during brain maturation from adolescence to adulthood in vivo using (1)H MRS in rats exposed prenatally to polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (POL), a rodent model of maternal immune activation (MIA), an epidemiological risk factor for several psychiatric disorders with a neurodevelopmental origin. Longitudinal in vivo (1)H MRS revealed a significant decrease in PFC levels of GSH and taurine in adult, but not adolescent rats. Significant age×MIA interactions for PFC levels of NAA were also observed. These data replicate some deficits observed in the PFC of patients with schizophrenia. There were no significant changes in the levels of glutamate or any other metabolite. These data suggest prenatal exposure to POL leads to subtle metabolic perturbations of the normal maturing PFC, which may be related to subsequent behavioural abnormalities. Further work is however required to examine any potential confound of shipping stress on the presumed imbalances in PFC metabolites in POL-exposed offspring. Testing the interactions between MIA with stress or genetic risk variants will also be an important advance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Vernon
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
| | - Po-Wah So
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroimaging, Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - David J Lythgoe
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroimaging, Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Winfred Chege
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Jonathan D Cooper
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Steven C R Williams
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroimaging, Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Shitij Kapur
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| |
Collapse
|
84
|
Monzón-Sandoval J, Castillo-Morales A, Crampton S, McKelvey L, Nolan A, O'Keeffe G, Gutierrez H. Modular and coordinated expression of immune system regulatory and signaling components in the developing and adult nervous system. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:337. [PMID: 26379506 PMCID: PMC4551857 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, the nervous system (NS) is assembled and sculpted through a concerted series of neurodevelopmental events orchestrated by a complex genetic programme. While neural-specific gene expression plays a critical part in this process, in recent years, a number of immune-related signaling and regulatory components have also been shown to play key physiological roles in the developing and adult NS. While the involvement of individual immune-related signaling components in neural functions may reflect their ubiquitous character, it may also reflect a much wider, as yet undescribed, genetic network of immune-related molecules acting as an intrinsic component of the neural-specific regulatory machinery that ultimately shapes the NS. In order to gain insights into the scale and wider functional organization of immune-related genetic networks in the NS, we examined the large scale pattern of expression of these genes in the brain. Our results show a highly significant correlated expression and transcriptional clustering among immune-related genes in the developing and adult brain, and this correlation was the highest in the brain when compared to muscle, liver, kidney and endothelial cells. We experimentally tested the regulatory clustering of immune system (IS) genes by using microarray expression profiling in cultures of dissociated neurons stimulated with the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha, and found a highly significant enrichment of immune system-related genes among the resulting differentially expressed genes. Our findings strongly suggest a coherent recruitment of entire immune-related genetic regulatory modules by the neural-specific genetic programme that shapes the NS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Monzón-Sandoval
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln Lincoln, UK ; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath Bath, UK
| | - Atahualpa Castillo-Morales
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln Lincoln, UK ; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath Bath, UK
| | - Sean Crampton
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork Cork, Ireland
| | - Laura McKelvey
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork Cork, Ireland
| | - Aoife Nolan
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard O'Keeffe
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork Cork, Ireland ; Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital Cork, Ireland
| | | |
Collapse
|
85
|
Zhao D, Lin M, Chen J, Pedrosa E, Hrabovsky A, Fourcade HM, Zheng D, Lachman HM. MicroRNA Profiling of Neurons Generated Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Patients with Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder, and 22q11.2 Del. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132387. [PMID: 26173148 PMCID: PMC4501820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We are using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology to study neuropsychiatric disorders associated with 22q11.2 microdeletions (del), the most common known schizophrenia (SZ)-associated genetic factor. Several genes in the region have been implicated; a promising candidate is DGCR8, which codes for a protein involved in microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. We carried out miRNA expression profiling (miRNA-seq) on neurons generated from iPSCs derived from controls and SZ patients with 22q11.2 del. Using thresholds of p<0.01 for nominal significance and 1.5-fold differences in expression, 45 differentially expressed miRNAs were detected (13 lower in SZ and 32 higher). Of these, 6 were significantly down-regulated in patients after correcting for genome wide significance (FDR<0.05), including 4 miRNAs that map to the 22q11.2 del region. In addition, a nominally significant increase in the expression of several miRNAs was found in the 22q11.2 neurons that were previously found to be differentially expressed in autopsy samples and peripheral blood in SZ and autism spectrum disorders (e.g., miR-34, miR-4449, miR-146b-3p, and miR-23a-5p). Pathway and function analysis of predicted mRNA targets of the differentially expressed miRNAs showed enrichment for genes involved in neurological disease and psychological disorders for both up and down regulated miRNAs. Our findings suggest that: i. neurons with 22q11.2 del recapitulate the miRNA expression patterns expected of 22q11.2 haploinsufficiency, ii. differentially expressed miRNAs previously identified using autopsy samples and peripheral cells, both of which have significant methodological problems, are indeed disrupted in neuropsychiatric disorders and likely have an underlying genetic basis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dejian Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Mingyan Lin
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Erika Pedrosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Anastasia Hrabovsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - H. Matthew Fourcade
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Herbert M. Lachman
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
86
|
Wu WL, Adams CE, Stevens KE, Chow KH, Freedman R, Patterson PH. The interaction between maternal immune activation and alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in regulating behaviors in the offspring. Brain Behav Immun 2015; 46:192-202. [PMID: 25683697 PMCID: PMC4414803 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2015.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2014] [Revised: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutation of human chromosome 15q13.3 increases the risk for autism and schizophrenia. One of the noteworthy genes in 15q13.3 is CHRNA7, which encodes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 7 subunit (α7nAChR) associated with schizophrenia in clinical studies and rodent models. This study investigates the role of α7nAChR in maternal immune activation (MIA) mice model, a murine model of environmental risk factor for autism and schizophrenia. We provided choline, a selective α7nAChR agonist among its several developmental roles, in the diet of C57BL/6N wild-type dams throughout the gestation and lactation period and induced MIA at mid-gestation. The adult offspring behavior and gene expression profile in the maternal-placental-fetal axis at mid-gestation were investigated. We found that choline supplementation prevented several MIA-induced behavioral abnormalities in the wild-type offspring. Pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (Il6) and Chrna7 gene expression in the wild-type fetal brain were elevated by poly(I:C) injection and were suppressed by gestational choline supplementation. We further investigated the gene expression level of Il6 in Chrna7 mutant mice. We found that the basal level of Il6 was higher in Chrna7 mutant fetal brain, which suggests that α7nAChR may serve an anti-inflammatory role in the fetal brain during development. Lastly, we induced MIA in Chrna7(+/-) offspring. The Chrna7(+/-) offspring were more vulnerable to MIA, with increased behavioral abnormalities. Our study shows that α7nAChR modulates inflammatory response affecting the fetal brain and demonstrates its effects on offspring behavior development after MIA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Li Wu
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Catherine E. Adams
- Denver VA Medical Center, 1055 Clermont St., Denver, CO 80220,Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, 12800 E. 19th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Karen E. Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, 12800 E. 19th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Ke-Huan Chow
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Robert Freedman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, 12800 E. 19th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Paul H. Patterson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| |
Collapse
|
87
|
Machado CJ, Whitaker AM, Smith SE, Patterson PH, Bauman MD. Maternal immune activation in nonhuman primates alters social attention in juvenile offspring. Biol Psychiatry 2015; 77:823-32. [PMID: 25442006 PMCID: PMC7010413 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Revised: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sickness during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of offspring neurodevelopmental disorders. Rodent models have played a critical role in establishing causal relationships and identifying mechanisms of altered brain and behavior development in pups prenatally exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA). We recently developed a novel nonhuman primate model to bridge the gap between human epidemiological studies and rodent models of prenatal immune challenge. Our initial results demonstrated that rhesus monkeys given the viral mimic synthetic double-stranded RNA (polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid stabilized with poly-l-lysine) during pregnancy produce offspring with abnormal repetitive behaviors, altered communication, and atypical social interactions. METHODS We utilized noninvasive infrared eye tracking to further evaluate social processing capabilities in a subset of the first trimester MIA-exposed offspring (n = 4) and control animals (n = 4) from our previous study. RESULTS As juveniles, the MIA offspring differed from control animals on several measures of social attention, particularly when viewing macaque faces depicting the fear grimace facial expression. Compared with control animals, MIA offspring had a longer latency before fixating on the eyes, had fewer fixations directed at the eyes, and spent less total time fixating on the eyes of the fear grimace images. CONCLUSIONS In the rhesus monkey model, exposure to MIA at the end of the first trimester results in abnormal gaze patterns to salient social information. The use of noninvasive eye tracking extends the findings from rodent MIA models to more human-like behaviors resembling those in both autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.
Collapse
|
88
|
Epigenetic and transgenerational reprogramming of brain development. Nat Rev Neurosci 2015; 16:332-44. [PMID: 25921815 DOI: 10.1038/nrn3818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 321] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental programming - the implementation of the genetic and epigenetic blueprints that guide and coordinate normal brain development - requires tight regulation of transcriptional processes. During prenatal and postnatal time periods, epigenetic processes fine-tune neurodevelopment towards an end product that determines how an organism interacts with and responds to exposures and experiences throughout life. Epigenetic processes also have the ability to reprogramme the epigenome in response to environmental challenges, such as maternal stress, making the organism more or less adaptive depending on the future challenges presented. Epigenetic marks generated within germ cells as a result of environmental influences throughout life can also shape future generations long before conception occurs.
Collapse
|
89
|
Chen J, Lin M, Hrabovsky A, Pedrosa E, Dean J, Jain S, Zheng D, Lachman HM. ZNF804A Transcriptional Networks in Differentiating Neurons Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells of Human Origin. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124597. [PMID: 25905630 PMCID: PMC4408091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
ZNF804A (Zinc Finger Protein 804A) has been identified as a candidate gene for schizophrenia (SZ), autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and bipolar disorder (BD) in replicated genome wide association studies (GWAS) and by copy number variation (CNV) analysis. Although its function has not been well-characterized, ZNF804A contains a C2H2-type zinc-finger domain, suggesting that it has DNA binding properties, and consequently, a role in regulating gene expression. To further explore the role of ZNF804A on gene expression and its downstream targets, we used a gene knockdown (KD) approach to reduce its expression in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). KD was accomplished by RNA interference (RNAi) using lentiviral particles containing shRNAs that target ZNF804A mRNA. Stable transduced NPC lines were generated after puromycin selection. A control cell line expressing a random (scrambled) shRNA was also generated. Neuronal differentiation was induced, RNA was harvested after 14 days and transcriptome analysis was carried out using RNA-seq. 1815 genes were found to be differentially expressed at a nominally significant level (p<0.05); 809 decreased in expression in the KD samples, while 1106 increased. Of these, 370 achieved genome wide significance (FDR<0.05); 125 were lower in the KD samples, 245 were higher. Pathway analysis showed that genes involved in interferon-signaling were enriched among those that were down-regulated in the KD samples. Correspondingly, ZNF804A KD was found to affect interferon-alpha 2 (IFNA2)-mediated gene expression. The findings suggest that ZNF804A may affect a differentiating neuron’s response to inflammatory cytokines, which is consistent with models of SZ and ASD that support a role for infectious disease, and/or autoimmunity in a subgroup of patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Mingyan Lin
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Anastasia Hrabovsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Erika Pedrosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Jason Dean
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Swati Jain
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Dominick Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DZ); (HML)
| | - Herbert M. Lachman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Dominick Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DZ); (HML)
| |
Collapse
|
90
|
Schmidt MJ, Mirnics K. Neurodevelopment, GABA system dysfunction, and schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:190-206. [PMID: 24759129 PMCID: PMC4262918 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Revised: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The origins of schizophrenia have eluded clinicians and researchers since Kraepelin and Bleuler began documenting their findings. However, large clinical research efforts in recent decades have identified numerous genetic and environmental risk factors for schizophrenia. The combined data strongly support the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia and underscore the importance of the common converging effects of diverse insults. In this review, we discuss the evidence that genetic and environmental risk factors that predispose to schizophrenia disrupt the development and normal functioning of the GABAergic system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Schmidt
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Karoly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
91
|
Der Perng M, Quinlan RA. The Dynamic Duo of Small Heat Proteins and IFs Maintain Cell Homeostasis, Resist Cellular Stress and Enable Evolution in Cells and Tissues. HEAT SHOCK PROTEINS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-16077-1_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
92
|
Haldipur P, Gillies GS, Janson OK, Chizhikov VV, Mithal DS, Miller RJ, Millen KJ. Foxc1 dependent mesenchymal signalling drives embryonic cerebellar growth. eLife 2014; 3. [PMID: 25513817 PMCID: PMC4281880 DOI: 10.7554/elife.03962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of Foxc1 is associated with Dandy-Walker malformation, the most common human cerebellar malformation characterized by cerebellar hypoplasia and an enlarged posterior fossa and fourth ventricle. Although expressed in the mouse posterior fossa mesenchyme, loss of Foxc1 non-autonomously induces a rapid and devastating decrease in embryonic cerebellar ventricular zone radial glial proliferation and concurrent increase in cerebellar neuronal differentiation. Subsequent migration of cerebellar neurons is disrupted, associated with disordered radial glial morphology. In vitro, SDF1α, a direct Foxc1 target also expressed in the head mesenchyme, acts as a cerebellar radial glial mitogen and a chemoattractant for nascent Purkinje cells. Its receptor, Cxcr4, is expressed in cerebellar radial glial cells and conditional Cxcr4 ablation with Nes-Cre mimics the Foxc1-/- cerebellar phenotype. SDF1α also rescues the Foxc1-/- phenotype. Our data emphasizes that the head mesenchyme exerts a considerable influence on early embryonic brain development and its disruption contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Parthiv Haldipur
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, United States
| | - Gwendolyn S Gillies
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, United States
| | - Olivia K Janson
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, United States
| | - Victor V Chizhikov
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, United States
| | - Divakar S Mithal
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
| | - Richard J Miller
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
| | - Kathleen J Millen
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, United States
| |
Collapse
|
93
|
Brown JA, Sherrod SD, Goodwin CR, Brewer B, Yang L, Garbett KA, Li D, McLean JA, Wikswo JP, Mirnics K. Metabolic consequences of interleukin-6 challenge in developing neurons and astroglia. J Neuroinflammation 2014; 11:183. [PMID: 25374324 PMCID: PMC4233071 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-014-0183-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 10/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal immune activation and subsequent interleukin-6 (IL-6) induction disrupt normal brain development and predispose the offspring to developing autism and schizophrenia. While several proteins have been identified as having some link to these developmental disorders, their prevalence is still small and their causative role, if any, is not well understood. However, understanding the metabolic consequences of environmental predisposing factors could shed light on disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Methods To gain a better understanding of the metabolic consequences of IL-6 exposure on developing central nervous system (CNS) cells, we separately exposed developing neuron and astroglia cultures to IL-6 for 2 hours while collecting effluent from our gravity-fed microfluidic chambers. By coupling microfluidic technologies to ultra-performance liquid chromatography-ion mobility-mass spectrometry (UPLC-IM-MS), we were able to characterize the metabolic response of these CNS cells to a narrow window of IL-6 exposure. Results Our results revealed that 1) the use of this technology, due to its superb media volume:cell volume ratio, is ideally suited for analysis of cell-type-specific exometabolome signatures; 2) developing neurons have low secretory activity at baseline, while astroglia show strong metabolic activity; 3) both neurons and astroglia respond to IL-6 exposure in a cell type-specific fashion; 4) the astroglial response to IL-6 stimulation is predominantly characterized by increased levels of metabolites, while neurons mostly depress their metabolic activity; and 5) disturbances in glycerophospholipid metabolism and tryptophan/kynurenine metabolite secretion are two putative mechanisms by which IL-6 affects the developing nervous system. Conclusions Our findings are potentially critical for understanding the mechanism by which IL-6 disrupts brain function, and they provide information about the molecular cascade that links maternal immune activation to developmental brain disorders. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-014-0183-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn A Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, 465 21st Avenue South, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA. .,Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, 6809 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - Stacy D Sherrod
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, 6809 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Department of Physics and Astronomy, 6301 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - Cody R Goodwin
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, 6809 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, 5421 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - Bryson Brewer
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, 333 Olin Hall, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - Lijie Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, 333 Olin Hall, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - Krassimira A Garbett
- Department of Psychiatry, 465 21st Avenue South, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
| | - Deyu Li
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, 6809 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Department of Mechanical Engineering, 333 Olin Hall, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - John A McLean
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, 6809 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, 5421 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - John P Wikswo
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, 6809 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Department of Physics and Astronomy, 6301 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, 5824 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37235, TN, USA. .,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 702 Light Hall, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
| | - Károly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, 465 21st Avenue South, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA. .,Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, 6809 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, 110 Magnolia Circle, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725, Szeged, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
94
|
Maternal immune activation and abnormal brain development across CNS disorders. Nat Rev Neurol 2014; 10:643-60. [PMID: 25311587 DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2014.187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 593] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have shown a clear association between maternal infection and schizophrenia or autism in the progeny. Animal models have revealed maternal immune activation (mIA) to be a profound risk factor for neurochemical and behavioural abnormalities in the offspring. Microglial priming has been proposed as a major consequence of mIA, and represents a critical link in a causal chain that leads to the wide spectrum of neuronal dysfunctions and behavioural phenotypes observed in the juvenile, adult or aged offspring. Such diversity of phenotypic outcomes in the mIA model are mirrored by recent clinical evidence suggesting that infectious exposure during pregnancy is also associated with epilepsy and, to a lesser extent, cerebral palsy in children. Preclinical research also suggests that mIA might precipitate the development of Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. Here, we summarize and critically review the emerging evidence that mIA is a shared environmental risk factor across CNS disorders that varies as a function of interactions between genetic and additional environmental factors. We also review ongoing clinical trials targeting immune pathways affected by mIA that may play a part in disease manifestation. In addition, future directions and outstanding questions are discussed, including potential symptomatic, disease-modifying and preventive treatment strategies.
Collapse
|
95
|
Severance EG, Gressitt KL, Buka SL, Cannon TD, Yolken RH. Maternal complement C1q and increased odds for psychosis in adult offspring. Schizophr Res 2014; 159:14-9. [PMID: 25195065 PMCID: PMC4177507 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.07.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Revised: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 07/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The presence of maternal antibodies to food and infectious antigens may confer an increased risk of developing schizophrenia and psychosis in adult offspring. Complement factor C1q is an immune molecule with multiple functions including clearance of antigen-antibody complexes from circulation and mediation of synaptic pruning during fetal brain development. To determine if maternal C1q was associated with offspring schizophrenia and psychosis, we evaluated 55 matched case-control maternal serum pairs from the National Collaborative Perinatal Project. Sample pairs were composed of mothers whose offspring developed psychoses as adults and those whose offspring were free from psychiatric disease. Matching criteria for offspring included birth date, delivery hospital, race, and gender, with further matching based on mother's age. IgG markers of C1q, bovine milk casein, egg ovalbumin, and wheat gluten were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. C1q levels were compared to food antigen IgG and to previously generated data for C-reactive protein, adenovirus, herpes simplex viruses, influenza viruses, measles virus, and Toxoplasma gondii. C1q was significantly elevated in case mothers with odds ratios of 2.66-6.31 (conditional logistic regressions, p ≤ 0.008-0.05). In case mothers only, C1q was significantly correlated with antibodies to both food and infectious antigens: gluten (R(2)=0.26, p ≤ 0.004), herpes simplex virus type 2 (R(2)=0.21, p ≤ 0.02), and adenovirus (R(2)=0.25, p ≤ 0.006). In conclusion, exposure to maternal C1q activity during pregnancy may be a risk factor for the development of schizophrenia and psychosis in offspring. Prenatal measurement of maternal C1q may be an important and convergent screening tool to identify potentially deleterious immune activation from multiple sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily G. Severance
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Blalock 1105, Baltimore, MD 21287-4933 U.S.A,Correspondence: Emily G. Severance, , tel: +1 410-614-3918, fax: +1 410-955-3723
| | - Kristin L. Gressitt
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Blalock 1105, Baltimore, MD 21287-4933 U.S.A
| | - Stephen L. Buka
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A
| | - Tyrone D. Cannon
- Department of Psychology, 2 Hillhouse Avenue, Yale University, New Haven, CT, U.S.A
| | - Robert H. Yolken
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Blalock 1105, Baltimore, MD 21287-4933 U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
96
|
Tsilioni I, Dodman N, Petra AI, Taliou A, Francis K, Moon-Fanelli A, Shuster L, Theoharides TC. Elevated serum neurotensin and CRH levels in children with autistic spectrum disorders and tail-chasing Bull Terriers with a phenotype similar to autism. Transl Psychiatry 2014; 4:e466. [PMID: 25313509 PMCID: PMC5190146 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2014.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Revised: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by defects in communication and social interactions, as well as stereotypic behaviors. Symptoms typically worsen with anxiety and stress. ASD occur in early childhood, often present with regression and have a prevalence of 1 out of 68 children. The lack of distinct pathogenesis or any objective biomarkers or reliable animal models hampers our understanding and treatment of ASD. Neurotensin (NT) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) are secreted under stress in various tissues, and have proinflammatory actions. We had previously shown that NT augments the ability of CRH to increase mast cell (MC)-dependent skin vascular permeability in rodents. CRH also induced NT receptor gene and protein expression in MCs, which have been implicated in ASD. Here we report that serum of ASD children (4-10 years old) has significantly higher NT and CRH levels as compared with normotypic controls. Moreover, there is a statistically significant correlation between the number of children with gastrointestinal symptoms and high serum NT levels. In Bull Terriers that exhibit a behavioral phenotype similar to the clinical presentation of ASD, NT and CRH levels are also significantly elevated, as compared with unaffected dogs of the same breed. Further investigation of serum NT and CRH, as well as characterization of this putative canine breed could provide useful insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Tsilioni
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - N Dodman
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Grafton, MA, USA
| | - A I Petra
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Taliou
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon General Hospital, Athens University, Athens, Greece
| | - K Francis
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon General Hospital, Athens University, Athens, Greece
| | - A Moon-Fanelli
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Grafton, MA, USA
| | - L Shuster
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - T C Theoharides
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Suite J304, Boston, MA 02111, USA. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
97
|
Córdova-Palomera A, Alemany S, Falcón C, Bargalló N, Goldberg X, Crespo-Facorro B, Nenadic I, Fañanás L. Cortical thickness correlates of psychotic experiences: examining the effect of season of birth using a genetically informative design. J Psychiatr Res 2014; 56:144-9. [PMID: 24923523 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Season of birth has been shown to influence risk for several neuropsychiatric diseases. Furthermore, it has been suggested that season of birth modifies a number of brain morphological traits. Since cortical thickness alterations have been reported across some levels of the psychosis-spectrum, this study was aimed at i) assessing the scarcely explored relationship between cortical thickness and severity of subclinical psychotic experiences (PEs) in healthy subjects, and ii) evaluating the potential impact of season of birth in the preceding thickness-PEs relationship. As both PEs and brain cortical features are heritable, the current work used monozygotic twins to separately evaluate familial and unique environmental factors. High-resolution structural MRI scans of 48 twins (24 monozygotic pairs) were analyzed to estimate cortical thickness using FreeSurfer. They were then examined in relation to PEs, accounting for the effects of birth season; putative differential relationships between PEs and cortical thickness depending on season of birth were also tested. Current results support previous findings indicative of cortical thickening in healthy individuals with high psychometrically assessed psychosis scores, probably in line with theories of compensatory aspects of brain features in non-clinical populations. Additionally, they suggest distinct patterns of cortical thickness-PEs relationships depending on birth seasonality. Familial factors underlying the presence of PEs may drive these effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Córdova-Palomera
- Unidad de Antropología, Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Biología and Instituto de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), C/Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain
| | - S Alemany
- Unidad de Antropología, Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Biología and Instituto de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), C/Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain
| | - C Falcón
- Medical Image Core Facility, the Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), C/Rosselló, 149-153, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomedicina y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), C/Poeta Mariano Esquillor, s/n, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - N Bargalló
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), C/Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Medical Image Core Facility, the Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), C/Rosselló, 149-153, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Diagnóstico por Imagen, Hospital Clínico, C/Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - X Goldberg
- Unidad de Antropología, Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Biología and Instituto de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), C/Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain
| | - B Crespo-Facorro
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), C/Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Av. Valdecilla, s/n, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain; IFIMAV, Instituto de Formación e Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, Av. Valdecilla, s/n, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - I Nenadic
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - L Fañanás
- Unidad de Antropología, Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Biología and Instituto de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), C/Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
98
|
Prenatal maternal immune activation causes epigenetic differences in adolescent mouse brain. Transl Psychiatry 2014; 4:e434. [PMID: 25180573 PMCID: PMC4203009 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2014.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Revised: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation have been implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia and autism. Epigenetic changes can be induced by environmental exposures such as inflammation. Here we tested the hypothesis that prenatal inflammation, a recognized risk factor for schizophrenia and related neurodevelopmental conditions, alters DNA methylation in key brain regions linked to schizophrenia, namely the dopamine rich striatum and endocrine regulatory centre, the hypothalamus. DNA methylation across highly repetitive elements (long interspersed element 1 (LINE1) and intracisternal A-particles (IAPs)) were used to proxy global DNA methylation. We also investigated the Mecp2 gene because it regulates transcription of LINE1 and has a known association with neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain tissue was harvested from 6 week old offspring of mice exposed to the viral analog PolyI:C or saline on gestation day 9. We used Sequenom EpiTYPER assay to quantitatively analyze differences in DNA methylation at IAPs, LINE1 elements and the promoter region of Mecp2. In the hypothalamus, prenatal exposure to PolyI:C caused significant global DNA hypomethylation (t=2.44, P=0.019, PolyI:C mean 69.67%, saline mean 70.19%), especially in females, and significant hypomethylation of the promoter region of Mecp2, (t=3.32, P=0.002; PolyI:C mean 26.57%, saline mean 34.63%). IAP methylation was unaltered. DNA methylation in the striatum was not significantly altered. This study provides the first experimental evidence that exposure to inflammation during prenatal life is associated with epigenetic changes, including Mecp2 promoter hypomethylation. This suggests that environmental and genetic risk factors associated with neurodevelopmental disorders may act upon similar pathways. This is important because epigenetic changes are potentially modifiable and their investigation may open new avenues for treatment.
Collapse
|
99
|
Foley KA, MacFabe DF, Vaz A, Ossenkopp KP, Kavaliers M. Sexually dimorphic effects of prenatal exposure to propionic acid and lipopolysaccharide on social behavior in neonatal, adolescent, and adult rats: implications for autism spectrum disorders. Int J Dev Neurosci 2014; 39:68-78. [PMID: 24747144 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2014.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2014] [Revised: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiome plays an important role in immune functioning, behavioral regulation and neurodevelopment. Altered microbiome composition, including altered short chain fatty acids, and/or immune system dysfunction, may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), with some children with ASD exhibiting both abnormal gut bacterial metabolite composition and immune system dysfunction. This study describes the effects of prenatal propionic acid (PPA), a short chain fatty acid and metabolic product of many antibiotic resistant enteric bacteria, and of prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial mimetic and microbiome component, on social behavior in male and female neonatal, adolescent and adult rats. Pregnant Long-Evans rats were injected once a day with either a low level of PPA (500 mg/kg SC) on gestation days G12-16, LPS (50 μg/kg SC) on G12, or vehicle control on G12 or G12-16. Sex- and age-specific, subtle effects on behavior were observed. Both male and female PPA treated pups were impaired in a test of their nest seeking response, suggesting impairment in olfactory-mediated neonatal social recognition. As well, adolescent males, born to PPA treated dams, approached a novel object more than control animals and showed increased levels of locomotor activity compared to prenatal PPA females. Prenatal LPS produced subtle impairments in social behavior in adult male and female rats. These findings raise the possibility that brief prenatal exposure to elevated levels of microbiome products, such as PPA or LPS, can subtly influence neonatal, adolescent and adult social behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A Foley
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada.
| | - Derrick F MacFabe
- Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada; The Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Division of Developmental Disabilities, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada.
| | - Alisha Vaz
- Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada.
| | - Klaus-Peter Ossenkopp
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada; The Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada.
| | - Martin Kavaliers
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada; The Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
100
|
Lin M, Zhao D, Hrabovsky A, Pedrosa E, Zheng D, Lachman HM. Heat shock alters the expression of schizophrenia and autism candidate genes in an induced pluripotent stem cell model of the human telencephalon. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94968. [PMID: 24736721 PMCID: PMC3988108 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are highly heritable neuropsychiatric disorders, although environmental factors, such as maternal immune activation (MIA), play a role as well. Cytokines mediate the effects of MIA on neurogenesis and behavior in animal models. However, MIA stimulators can also induce a febrile reaction, which could have independent effects on neurogenesis through heat shock (HS)-regulated cellular stress pathways. However, this has not been well-studied. To help understand the role of fever in MIA, we used a recently described model of human brain development in which induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differentiate into 3-dimensional neuronal aggregates that resemble a first trimester telencephalon. RNA-seq was carried out on aggregates that were heat shocked at 39°C for 24 hours, along with their control partners maintained at 37°C. 186 genes showed significant differences in expression following HS (p<0.05), including known HS-inducible genes, as expected, as well as those coding for NGFR and a number of SZ and ASD candidates, including SMARCA2, DPP10, ARNT2, AHI1 and ZNF804A. The degree to which the expression of these genes decrease or increase during HS is similar to that found in copy loss and copy gain copy number variants (CNVs), although the effects of HS are likely to be transient. The dramatic effect on the expression of some SZ and ASD genes places HS, and perhaps other cellular stressors, into a common conceptual framework with disease-causing genetic variants. The findings also suggest that some candidate genes that are assumed to have a relatively limited impact on SZ and ASD pathogenesis based on a small number of positive genetic findings, such as SMARCA2 and ARNT2, may in fact have a much more substantial role in these disorders - as targets of common environmental stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingyan Lin
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Dejian Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Anastasia Hrabovsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Erika Pedrosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Dominick Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (HML); (D. Zheng)
| | - Herbert M. Lachman
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Dominick Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (HML); (D. Zheng)
| |
Collapse
|