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Privitera M, von Ziegler LM, Floriou-Servou A, Duss SN, Zhang R, Waag R, Leimbacher S, Sturman O, Roessler FK, Heylen A, Vermeiren Y, Van Dam D, De Deyn PP, Germain PL, Bohacek J. Noradrenaline release from the locus coeruleus shapes stress-induced hippocampal gene expression. eLife 2024; 12:RP88559. [PMID: 38477670 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Exposure to an acute stressor triggers a complex cascade of neurochemical events in the brain. However, deciphering their individual impact on stress-induced molecular changes remains a major challenge. Here, we combine RNA sequencing with selective pharmacological, chemogenetic, and optogenetic manipulations to isolate the contribution of the locus coeruleus-noradrenaline (LC-NA) system to the acute stress response in mice. We reveal that NA release during stress exposure regulates a large and reproducible set of genes in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus via β-adrenergic receptors. For a smaller subset of these genes, we show that NA release triggered by LC stimulation is sufficient to mimic the stress-induced transcriptional response. We observe these effects in both sexes, and independent of the pattern and frequency of LC activation. Using a retrograde optogenetic approach, we demonstrate that hippocampus-projecting LC neurons directly regulate hippocampal gene expression. Overall, a highly selective set of astrocyte-enriched genes emerges as key targets of LC-NA activation, most prominently several subunits of protein phosphatase 1 (Ppp1r3c, Ppp1r3d, Ppp1r3g) and type II iodothyronine deiodinase (Dio2). These results highlight the importance of astrocytic energy metabolism and thyroid hormone signaling in LC-mediated hippocampal function and offer new molecular targets for understanding how NA impacts brain function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Privitera
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas M von Ziegler
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Amalia Floriou-Servou
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sian N Duss
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Runzhong Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Waag
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Leimbacher
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Sturman
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne K Roessler
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annelies Heylen
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Experimental Neurobiology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yannick Vermeiren
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Experimental Neurobiology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Chair Group of Nutritional Biology, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Debby Van Dam
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Experimental Neurobiology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Peter P De Deyn
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Experimental Neurobiology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Memory Clinic of Hospital Network Antwerp (ZNA) Middelheim and Hoge Beuken, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pierre-Luc Germain
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
- Computational Neurogenomics, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Statistical Bioinformatics, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Bohacek
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
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2
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Campeau S, McNulty C, Stanley JT, Gerber AN, Sasse SK, Dowell RD. Determination of steady-state transcriptome modifications associated with repeated homotypic stress in the rat rostral posterior hypothalamic region. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1173699. [PMID: 37360161 PMCID: PMC10288150 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1173699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress is epidemiologically correlated with physical and psychiatric disorders. Whereas many animal models of chronic stress induce symptoms of psychopathology, repeated homotypic stressors to moderate intensity stimuli typically reduce stress-related responses with fewer, if any, pathological symptoms. Recent results indicate that the rostral posterior hypothalamic (rPH) region is a significant component of the brain circuitry underlying response reductions (habituation) associated with repeated homotypic stress. To test whether posterior hypothalamic transcriptional regulation associates with the neuroendocrine modifications induced by repeated homotypic stress, RNA-seq was performed in the rPH dissected from adult male rats that experienced either no stress, 1, 3, or 7 stressful loud noise exposures. Plasma samples displayed reliable increases of corticosterone in all stressed groups, with the smallest increase in the group exposed to 7 loud noises, indicating significant habituation compared to the other stressed groups. While few or no differentially expressed genes were detected 24-h after one or three loud noise exposures, relatively large numbers of transcripts were differentially expressed between the group exposed to 7 loud noises when compared to the control or 3-stress groups, respectively, which correlated with the corticosterone response habituation observed. Gene ontology analyses indicated multiple significant functional terms related to neuron differentiation, neural membrane potential, pre- and post-synaptic elements, chemical synaptic transmission, vesicles, axon guidance and projection, glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission. Some of the differentially expressed genes (Myt1l, Zmat4, Dlx6, Csrnp3) encode transcription factors that were independently predicted by transcription factor enrichment analysis to target other differentially regulated genes in this study. A similar experiment employing in situ hybridization histochemical analysis in additional animals validated the direction of change of the 5 transcripts investigated (Camk4, Gabrb2, Gad1, Grin2a and Slc32a) with a high level of temporal and regional specificity for the rPH. In aggregate, the results suggest that distinct patterns of gene regulation are obtained in response to a repeated homotypic stress regimen; they also point to a significant reorganization of the rPH region that may critically contribute to the phenotypic modifications associated with repeated homotypic stress habituation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Campeau
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Connor McNulty
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Jacob T. Stanley
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Anthony N. Gerber
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Sarah K. Sasse
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Robin D. Dowell
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
- Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
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3
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Gil-Marti B, Barredo CG, Pina-Flores S, Trejo JL, Turiegano E, Martin FA. The elusive transcriptional memory trace. OXFORD OPEN NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 1:kvac008. [PMID: 38596710 PMCID: PMC10913820 DOI: 10.1093/oons/kvac008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Memory is the brain faculty to store and remember information. It is a sequential process in which four different phases can be distinguished: encoding or learning, consolidation, storage and reactivation. Since the discovery of the first Drosophila gene essential for memory formation in 1976, our knowledge of its mechanisms has progressed greatly. The current view considers the existence of engrams, ensembles of neuronal populations whose activity is temporally coordinated and represents the minimal correlate of experience in brain circuits. In order to form and maintain the engram, protein synthesis and, probably, specific transcriptional program(s) is required. The immediate early gene response during learning process has been extensively studied. However, a detailed description of the transcriptional response for later memory phases was technically challenging. Recent advances in transcriptomics have allowed us to tackle this biological problem. This review summarizes recent findings in this field, and discusses whether or not it is possible to identify a transcriptional trace for memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Gil-Marti
- Molecular Physiology of Behavior Laboratory, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biology, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Celia G Barredo
- Molecular Physiology of Behavior Laboratory, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Pina-Flores
- Molecular Physiology of Behavior Laboratory, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Trejo
- Neurogenesis of the Adult Animal Laboratory. Department of Translational Neuroscience, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique Turiegano
- Department of Biology, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco A Martin
- Molecular Physiology of Behavior Laboratory, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
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Fang Y, Changavi A, Yang M, Sun L, Zhang A, Sun D, Sun Z, Zhang B, Xu M. Nanopore Whole Transcriptome Analysis and Pathogen Surveillance by a Novel Solid-Phase Catalysis Approach. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2103373. [PMID: 34837482 PMCID: PMC8787394 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The requirement of a large input amount (500 ng) for Nanopore direct RNA-seq presents a major challenge for low input transcriptomic analysis and early pathogen surveillance. The high RNA input requirement is attributed to significant sample loss associated with library preparation using solid-phase reversible immobilization (SPRI) beads. A novel solid-phase catalysis strategy for RNA library preparation to circumvent the need for SPRI bead purification to remove enzymes is reported here. This new approach leverages concurrent processing of non-polyadenylated transcripts with immobilized poly(A) polymerase and T4 DNA ligase, followed by directly loading the prepared library onto a flow cell. Whole transcriptome sequencing, using a human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes as a model, demonstrates this new method displays little sample loss, takes much less time, and generates higher sequencing throughput correlated with reduced nanopore fouling compared to the current library preparation for 500 ng input. Consequently, this approach enables Nanopore low-input direct RNA-seq, improving pathogen detection and transcript identification in a microbial community standard with spike-in transcript controls. Besides, as evident in the bioinformatic analysis, the new method provides accurate RNA consensus with high fidelity and identifies higher numbers of expressed genes for both high and low input RNA amounts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Fang
- New England Biolabs, Inc.IpswichMA01938USA
| | | | - Manyun Yang
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyCornell UniversityIthacaNY14853USA
| | - Luo Sun
- New England Biolabs, Inc.IpswichMA01938USA
| | | | - Daniel Sun
- New England Biolabs, Inc.IpswichMA01938USA
| | - Zhiyi Sun
- New England Biolabs, Inc.IpswichMA01938USA
| | - Boce Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Human NutritionUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFL32603USA
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5
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Bolton JL, Schulmann A, Garcia-Curran MM, Regev L, Chen Y, Kamei N, Shao M, Singh-Taylor A, Jiang S, Noam Y, Molet J, Mortazavi A, Baram TZ. Unexpected Transcriptional Programs Contribute to Hippocampal Memory Deficits and Neuronal Stunting after Early-Life Adversity. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108511. [PMID: 33326786 PMCID: PMC7817243 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Early-life adversity (ELA) is associated with lifelong memory deficits, yet the responsible mechanisms remain unclear. We impose ELA by rearing rat pups in simulated poverty, assess hippocampal memory, and probe changes in gene expression, their transcriptional regulation, and the consequent changes in hippocampal neuronal structure. ELA rats have poor hippocampal memory and stunted hippocampal pyramidal neurons associated with ~140 differentially expressed genes. Upstream regulators of the altered genes include glucocorticoid receptor and, unexpectedly, the transcription factor neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF/REST). NRSF contributes critically to the memory deficits because blocking its function transiently following ELA rescues spatial memory and restores the dendritic arborization of hippocampal pyramidal neurons in ELA rats. Blocking NRSF function in vitro augments dendritic complexity of developing hippocampal neurons, suggesting that NRSF represses genes involved in neuronal maturation. These findings establish important, surprising contributions of NRSF to ELA-induced transcriptional programming that disrupts hippocampal maturation and memory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Bolton
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Anton Schulmann
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Megan M Garcia-Curran
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Limor Regev
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Yuncai Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Noriko Kamei
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Manlin Shao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Akanksha Singh-Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Shan Jiang
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Yoav Noam
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Jenny Molet
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Ali Mortazavi
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA
| | - Tallie Z Baram
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA.
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Ilich JZ, Gilman JC, Cvijetic S, Boschiero D. Chronic Stress Contributes to Osteosarcopenic Adiposity via Inflammation and Immune Modulation: The Case for More Precise Nutritional Investigation. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12040989. [PMID: 32252359 PMCID: PMC7230299 DOI: 10.3390/nu12040989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress and low-grade chronic inflammation (LGCI) are key underlying factors formany diseases, including bone and body composition impairments. Objectives of this narrativereview were to examine the mechanisms by which chronic stress and LGCI may influenceosteosarcopenic adiposity (OSA) syndrome, originally named as ostoesarcopenic obesity (OSO).We also examined the crucial nutrients presumed to be affected by or cause of stress andinflammation and compared/contrasted them to those of our prehistoric ancestors. The evidenceshows that stress (particularly chronic) and its related inflammatory processes, contribute toosteoporosis, sarcopenia, and adiposity ultimately leading to OSA as a final and most derangedstate of body composition, commencing at the mesenchymal cell lineage disturbance. Thefoods/nutrients consumed by modern humans, as well as their altered lifestyle, also contribute tostress, LGCI and subsequently to OSA. The processes can also go in opposite direction when stressand inflammation impact nutritional status, particularly some micronutrients' levels. Whilenutritional management of body composition and LGCI have been studied, the nutrients (and theirquantities) most affected by stressors and those which may act toward the alleviation of stressfulstate, ultimately leading to better body composition outcomes, need to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasminka Z. Ilich
- Institute for Successful Longevity, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Selma Cvijetic
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 11000 Zagreb, Croatia;
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Harris BN. Stress hypothesis overload: 131 hypotheses exploring the role of stress in tradeoffs, transitions, and health. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 288:113355. [PMID: 31830473 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Stress is ubiquitous and thus, not surprisingly, many hypotheses and models have been created to better study the role stress plays in life. Stress spans fields and is found in the literature of biology, psychology, psychophysiology, sociology, economics, and medicine, just to name a few. Stress, and the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal/interrenal (HPA/I) axis and sympathetic nervous system (SNS), are involved in a multitude of behaviors and physiological processes, including life-history and ecological tradeoffs, developmental transitions, health, and survival. The goal of this review is to highlight and summarize the large number of available hypotheses and models, to aid in comparative and interdisciplinary thinking, and to increase reproducibility by a) discouraging hypothesizing after results are known (HARKing) and b) encouraging a priori hypothesis testing. For this review I collected 214 published hypotheses or models dealing broadly with stress. In the main paper, I summarized and categorized 131 of those hypotheses and models which made direct connections among stress and/or HPA/I and SNS, tradeoffs, transitions, and health. Of those 131, the majority made predictions about reproduction (n = 43), the transition from health to disease (n = 38), development (n = 23), and stress coping (n = 18). Additional hypotheses were classified as stage-spanning or models (n = 37). The additional 83 hypotheses found during searches were tangentially related, or pertained to immune function or oxidative stress, and these are listed separately. Many of the hypotheses share underlying rationale and suggest similar, if not identical, predictions, and are thus not mutually exclusive; some hypotheses spanned classification categories. Some of the hypotheses have been tested multiple times, whereas others have only been examined a few times. It is the hope that multi-disciplinary stress researchers will begin to harmonize their naming of hypotheses in the literature so as to build a clearer picture of how stress impacts various outcomes across fields. The paper concludes with some considerations and recommendations for robust testing of stress hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanna N Harris
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States.
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Brivio E, Lopez JP, Chen A. Sex differences: Transcriptional signatures of stress exposure in male and female brains. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 19:e12643. [PMID: 31989757 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
More than two-thirds of patients suffering from stress-related disorders are women but over two-thirds of suicide completers are men. These are just some examples of the many sex differences in the prevalence and manifestations of stress-related disorders, such as major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety disorders, which have been extensively documented in clinical research. Nonetheless, the molecular origins of this sex dimorphism are still quite obscure. In response to this lack of knowledge, the NIH recently advocated implementing sex as biological variable in the design of preclinical studies across disciplines. As a result, a newly emerging field within psychiatry is trying to elucidate the molecular causes underlying the clinically described sex dimorphism. Several studies in rodents and humans have already identified many stress-related genes that are regulated by acute and chronic stress in a sex-specific fashion. Furthermore, current transcriptomic studies have shown that pathways and networks in male and female individuals are not equally affected by stress exposure. In this review, we give an overview of transcriptional studies designed to understand how sex influences stress-specific transcriptomic changes in rodent models, as well as human psychiatric patients, highlighting the use of different methodological techniques. Understanding which mechanisms are more affected in males, and which in females, may lead to the identification of sex-specific mechanisms, their selective contribution to stress susceptibility, and their role in the development of stress-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Brivio
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Juan Pablo Lopez
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Alon Chen
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.,Department of Neurobiology, Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for Neurological Diseases, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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Mandelboum S, Manber Z, Elroy-Stein O, Elkon R. Recurrent functional misinterpretation of RNA-seq data caused by sample-specific gene length bias. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000481. [PMID: 31714939 PMCID: PMC6850523 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Data normalization is a critical step in RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis, aiming to remove systematic effects from the data to ensure that technical biases have minimal impact on the results. Analyzing numerous RNA-seq datasets, we detected a prevalent sample-specific length effect that leads to a strong association between gene length and fold-change estimates between samples. This stochastic sample-specific effect is not corrected by common normalization methods, including reads per kilobase of transcript length per million reads (RPKM), Trimmed Mean of M values (TMM), relative log expression (RLE), and quantile and upper-quartile normalization. Importantly, we demonstrate that this bias causes recurrent false positive calls by gene-set enrichment analysis (GSEA) methods, thereby leading to frequent functional misinterpretation of the data. Gene sets characterized by markedly short genes (e.g., ribosomal protein genes) or long genes (e.g., extracellular matrix genes) are particularly prone to such false calls. This sample-specific length bias is effectively removed by the conditional quantile normalization (cqn) and EDASeq methods, which allow the integration of gene length as a sample-specific covariate. Consequently, using these normalization methods led to substantial reduction in GSEA false results while retaining true ones. In addition, we found that application of gene-set tests that take into account gene–gene correlations attenuates false positive rates caused by the length bias, but statistical power is reduced as well. Our results advocate the inspection and correction of sample-specific length biases as default steps in RNA-seq analysis pipelines and reiterate the need to account for intergene correlations when performing gene-set enrichment tests to lessen false interpretation of transcriptomic data. Analysis of numerous RNA-seq datasets reveals a recurrent sample-specific length bias that causes frequent false positive calls by gene-set enrichment analyses, leading to functional misinterpretation of the data. Its removal requires methods that allow the integration of gene length as sample-specific covariate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shir Mandelboum
- School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Zohar Manber
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Orna Elroy-Stein
- School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- * E-mail: (OE-S); (RE)
| | - Ran Elkon
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- * E-mail: (OE-S); (RE)
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10
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The EXPANDER Integrated Platform for Transcriptome Analysis. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:2398-2406. [PMID: 31100387 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide analysis of cellular transcriptomes using RNA-seq or expression arrays is a major mainstay of current biological and biomedical research. EXPANDER (EXPression ANalyzer and DisplayER) is a comprehensive software package for analysis of expression data, with built-in support for 18 different organisms. It is designed as a "one-stop shop" platform for transcriptomic analysis, allowing for execution of all analysis steps starting with gene expression data matrix. Analyses offered include low-level preprocessing and normalization, differential expression analysis, clustering, bi-clustering, supervised grouping, high-level functional and pathway enrichment tests, and networks and motif analyses. A variety of options is offered for each step, using established algorithms, including many developed and published by our laboratory. EXPANDER has been continuously developed since 2003, having to date over 18,000 downloads and 540 citations. One of the innovations in the recent version is support for combined analysis of gene expression and ChIP-seq data to enhance the inference of transcriptional networks and their functional interpretation. EXPANDER implements cutting-edge algorithms and makes them accessible to users through user-friendly interface and intuitive visualizations. It is freely available to users at http://acgt.cs.tau.ac.il/expander/.
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Dioli C, Patrício P, Sousa N, Kokras N, Dalla C, Guerreiro S, Santos-Silva MA, Rego AC, Pinto L, Ferreiro E, Sotiropoulos I. Chronic stress triggers divergent dendritic alterations in immature neurons of the adult hippocampus, depending on their ultimate terminal fields. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:143. [PMID: 31028242 PMCID: PMC6486609 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0477-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress, a suggested precipitant of brain pathologies, such as depression and Alzheimer's disease, is known to impact on brain plasticity by causing neuronal remodeling as well as neurogenesis suppression in the adult hippocampus. Although many studies show that stressful conditions reduce the number of newborn neurons in the adult dentate gyrus (DG), little is known about whether and how stress impacts on dendritic development and structural maturation of these newborn neurons. We, herein, demonstrate that chronic stress impacts differentially on doublecortin (DCX)-positive immature neurons in distinct phases of maturation. Specifically, the density of the DCX-positive immature neurons whose dendritic tree reaches the inner molecular layer (IML) of DG is reduced in stressed animals, whereas their dendritic complexity is increased. On the contrary, no change on the density of DCX-positive neurons whose dendritic tree extends to the medial/outer molecular layer (M/OML) of the DG is found under stress conditions, whereas the dendritic complexity of these cells is diminished. In addition, DCX+ cells displayed a more complex and longer arbor in the dendritic compartments located in the granular cell layer of the DG under stress conditions; on the contrary, their dendritic segments localized into the M/OML were shorter and less complex. These findings suggest that the neuroplastic effects of chronic stress on dendritic maturation and complexity of DCX+ immature neurons vary based on the different maturation stage of DCX-positive cells and the different DG sublayer, highlighting the complex and dynamic stress-driven neuroplasticity of immature neurons in the adult hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysoula Dioli
- 0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal ,0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Patrício
- 0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal ,0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- 0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal ,0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nikolaos Kokras
- 0000 0001 2155 0800grid.5216.0First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece ,0000 0001 2155 0800grid.5216.0Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Dalla
- 0000 0001 2155 0800grid.5216.0Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sara Guerreiro
- 0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal ,0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Miguel A. Santos-Silva
- 0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal ,0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Rego
- 0000 0000 9511 4342grid.8051.cCenter for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ,0000 0000 9511 4342grid.8051.cInstitute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luísa Pinto
- 0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal ,0000 0001 2159 175Xgrid.10328.38ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Ferreiro
- 0000 0000 9511 4342grid.8051.cCenter for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ,0000 0000 9511 4342grid.8051.cInstitute for Interdisciplinary Research of the University of Coimbra (IIIUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ioannis Sotiropoulos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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Bliim N, Leshchyns'ka I, Keable R, Chen BJ, Curry-Hyde A, Gray L, Sytnyk V, Janitz M. Early transcriptome changes in response to chemical long-term potentiation induced via activation of synaptic NMDA receptors in mouse hippocampal neurons. Genomics 2018; 111:1676-1686. [PMID: 30465913 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2018.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Long term potentiation (LTP) is a form of synaptic plasticity. In the present study LTP was induced via activation of synaptic NMDA receptors in primary hippocampal neuron cultures from neonate mice and RNA was isolated for RNA sequencing at 20 min following LTP induction. RNA sequencing and differential expression testing was performed to determine the identity and abundance of protein-coding and non-coding RNAs in control and LTP induced neuron cultures. We show that expression levels of a small group of transcripts encoding proteins involved in negative regulation of gene expression (Adcyap1, Id3), protein translation (Rpl22L1), extracellular structure organization (Bgn), intracellular signalling (Ppm1H, Ntsr2, Cldn10) and protein citrullination (PAD2) are downregulated in the stimulated neurons. Our results suggest that the early stages of LTP are accompanied by the remodelling of the biosynthetic machinery, interactions with the extracellular matrix and intracellular signalling pathways at the transcriptional level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Bliim
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Iryna Leshchyns'ka
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ryan Keable
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Bei Jun Chen
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ashton Curry-Hyde
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Lachlan Gray
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Vladimir Sytnyk
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Michael Janitz
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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Lansade L, Foury A, Reigner F, Vidament M, Guettier E, Bouvet G, Soulet D, Parias C, Ruet A, Mach N, Lévy F, Moisan MP. Progressive habituation to separation alleviates the negative effects of weaning in the mother and foal. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 97:59-68. [PMID: 30005282 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Early and definitive separation between offspring and their mothers has negative consequences on behavioral and physiological responses. This study compared sudden and definitive weaning (Sudd group, N = 16) and weaning involving progressive habituation to separation using a fence line during the month preceding definitive separation (Prog group, N = 18). The impact of these two methods was assessed in both foals and their mothers through behavioral and biological parameters, including salivary cortisol, telomere length and blood transcriptomes. On the day of definitive separation, Prog foals neighed and trotted less and presented lower cortisol levels than Sudd foals. The weaning type also acted on the foals' personality development; Prog foals became more curious, less fearful and less gregarious than Sudd foals, and the effects remained visible for at least 3 months. In principal component analysis, the Sudd and Prog groups were well separated along a factor where fear, reactivity and gregariousness correlated with high cortisol levels, but curiosity was associated with an increased telomere length and higher expression of genes involved in mitochondrial functions. Progressive weaning was also beneficial in mares. Principal component analysis showed that most Sudd group mares had higher cortisol levels and displayed more alert postures, neighs and activity on the day of weaning, indicating higher stress levels, while Prog mares had profiles that were characterized by more time spent resting on the day of weaning and longer telomere lengths. In conclusion, this study shows that progressive habituation to separation alleviates the negative effect of definitive weaning on both the mother and her young compared to sudden separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Lansade
- INRA, PRC, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, Nouzilly, France.
| | - Aline Foury
- INRA, UMR 1286, Université Bordeaux, Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, Bordeaux, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Céline Parias
- INRA, PRC, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Alice Ruet
- INRA, PRC, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Nuria Mach
- INRA, UMR 1313, AgroParisTech, University Paris-Saclay Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Frédéric Lévy
- INRA, PRC, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Moisan
- INRA, UMR 1286, Université Bordeaux, Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, Bordeaux, France
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14
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Tronson NC. Focus on females: A less biased approach for studying strategies and mechanisms of memory. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2018; 23:92-97. [PMID: 30083579 PMCID: PMC6075684 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Recent work on sex differences in learning and memory has demonstrated that females and males differ in cognitive and behavioral strategies, as well as neural mechanisms required to learn, retrieve and express memory. Although our understanding of the mechanisms of memory is highly sophisticated, this work is based on male animals. As such, the study of female memory is narrowed to a comparison with behavior and mechanisms defined in males, resulting in findings of male-specific mechanisms but little understanding of how females learn and store information. In this paper, we discuss a female-focused framework and experimental approaches to deepen our understanding of the strategies and neural mechanisms engaged by females (and males) in learning, consolidation, and retrieval of memory.
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15
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Abstract
The brain is continuously exposed to varying levels of adrenal corticosteroid hormones such as corticosterone in rodents and cortisol in humans. Natural fluctuations occur due to ultradian and circadian variations or are caused by exposure to stressful situations. Brain cells express two types of corticosteroid receptors, i.e. mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors, which differ in distribution and affinity. These receptors can mediate both rapid non-genomic and slow gene-mediated neuronal actions. As a consequence of these factors, natural (e.g. stress-induced) shifts in corticosteroid level are associated with a complex mosaic of time- and region-dependent changes in neuronal activity. A series of experiments in humans and rodents have revealed that these time- and region-dependent cellular characteristics are also reflected in distinct cognitive patterns after stress. Thus, directly after a peak of corticosteroids, attention and vigilance are increased, and areas involved in emotional responses and simple behavioral strategies show enhanced activity. In the aftermath of stress, areas involved in higher cognitive functions become activated allowing individuals to link stressful events to the specific context and to store information for future use. Both phases of the brain's response to stress are important to face a continuously changing environment, promoting adaptation at the short as well as long term. We argue that a balanced response during the two phases is essential for resilience. This balance may become compromised after repeated stress exposure, particularly in genetically vulnerable individuals and aggravate disease manifestation. This not only applies to psychiatric disorders but also to neurological diseases such as epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Joëls
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceBrain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- University of GroningenUniversity Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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16
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Developmental Exposure to Atrazine Impairs Spatial Memory and Downregulates the Hippocampal D1 Dopamine Receptor and cAMP-Dependent Signaling Pathway in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19082241. [PMID: 30065202 PMCID: PMC6121906 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19082241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrazine (ATR) is a widely used herbicide that has been implicated as a neurotoxicant. Recent experimental evidence has implicated that ATR exposure also appears to have adverse effects on the hippocampus, which is a critical region for learning and memory. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ATR toxicity on the hippocampus of developing rats. Postnatal day (PND) 28 male Sprague⁻Dawley (SD) rats received ATR by oral gavage at 10 or 100 mg/kg bodyweight (BW) for 30 consecutive days and were sacrificed at PND 90. Behavioral test results indicated that spatial learning and memory were affected by ATR treatment. Electron microscopy analysis showed that the ultrastructures of the hippocampus were altered in the ATR-treated groups, as compared to the control group. Additionally, ATR treatment impacted dopamine and D1 dopamine receptor (D1DR) contents through different mechanisms. Reduced mRNA and protein expression levels of factors involved in the cAMP-dependent signaling pathway were also detected. These results indicate that the developmental exposure of rats to ATR can damage the hippocampus and spatial memory, which might be related to the downregulation of expression levels of the D1DR and its downstream signaling pathway.
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17
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Jiménez JP, Botto A, Herrera L, Leighton C, Rossi JL, Quevedo Y, Silva JR, Martínez F, Assar R, Salazar LA, Ortiz M, Ríos U, Barros P, Jaramillo K, Luyten P. Psychotherapy and Genetic Neuroscience: An Emerging Dialog. Front Genet 2018; 9:257. [PMID: 30065751 PMCID: PMC6056612 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research in psychiatric genetics has led to a move away from simple diathesis-stress models to more complex models of psychopathology incorporating a focus on gene–environment interactions and epigenetics. Our increased understanding of the way biology encodes the impact of life events on organisms has also generated more sophisticated theoretical models concerning the molecular processes at the interface between “nature” and “nurture.” There is also increasing consensus that psychotherapy entails a specific type of learning in the context of an emotional relationship (i.e., the therapeutic relationship) that may also lead to epigenetic modifications across different therapeutic treatment modalities. This paper provides a systematic review of this emerging body of research. It is concluded that, although the evidence is still limited at this stage, extant research does indeed suggest that psychotherapy may be associated with epigenetic changes. Furthermore, it is argued that epigenetic studies may play a key role in the identification of biomarkers implicated in vulnerability for psychopathology, and thus may improve diagnosis and open up future research opportunities regarding the mechanism of action of psychotropic drugs as well as psychotherapy. We review evidence suggesting there may be important individual differences in susceptibility to environmental input, including psychotherapy. In addition, given that there is increasing evidence for the transgenerational transmission of epigenetic modifications in animals and humans exposed to trauma and adversity, epigenetic changes produced by psychotherapy may also potentially be passed on to the next generation, which opens up new perspective for prevention science. We conclude this paper stressing the limitations of current research and by proposing a set of recommendations for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P Jiménez
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health - East, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alberto Botto
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health - East, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luisa Herrera
- Human Genetics Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Caroline Leighton
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health - East, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José L Rossi
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yamil Quevedo
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health - East, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jaime R Silva
- Center for Attachment and Emotional Regulation (CARE), Faculty of Psychology, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe Martínez
- Center for Intercultural and Indigenous Research, Anthropology Program, Institute of Sociology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Assar
- ICBM Human Genetics Program, Centre for Medical Informatics and Telemedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis A Salazar
- Center of Molecular Biology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Manuel Ortiz
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Humanities, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Ulises Ríos
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Paulina Barros
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health - East, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karina Jaramillo
- Ph.D. Program in Public Health, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patrick Luyten
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Bottaccioli AG, Bottaccioli F, Minelli A. Stress and the psyche-brain-immune network in psychiatric diseases based on psychoneuroendocrineimmunology: a concise review. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2018; 1437:31-42. [PMID: 29762862 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the last decades, psychoneuroendocrineimmunology research has made relevant contributions to the fields of neuroscience, psychobiology, epigenetics, molecular biology, and clinical research by studying the effect of stress on human health and highlighting the close interrelations between psyche, brain, and bodily systems. It is now well recognized that chronic stress can alter the physiological cross-talk between brain and biological systems, leading to long-lasting maladaptive effects (allostatic overload) on the nervous, immune, endocrine, and metabolic systems, which compromises stress resiliency and health. Stressful conditions in early life have been associated with profound alterations in cortical and subcortical brain regions involved in emotion regulation and the salience network, showing relevant overlap with different psychiatric conditions. This paper provides a summary of the available literature concerning the notable effects of stress on the brain and immune system. We highlight the role of epigenetics as a mechanistic pathway mediating the influences of the social and physical environment on brain structure and connectivity, the immune system, and psycho-physical health in psychiatric diseases. We also summarize the evidence regarding the effects of stress management techniques (mainly psychotherapy and meditation practice) on clinical outcomes, brain neurocircuitry, and immune-inflammatory network in major psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Giulia Bottaccioli
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Biotecnologie Medico-Chirurgiche, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Internal Medicine Unit, ICOT Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Francesco Bottaccioli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila, Sanita Pubblica Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrea Minelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
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Novati A, Hentrich T, Wassouf Z, Weber JJ, Yu-Taeger L, Déglon N, Nguyen HP, Schulze-Hentrich JM. Environment-dependent striatal gene expression in the BACHD rat model for Huntington disease. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5803. [PMID: 29643462 PMCID: PMC5895842 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24243-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene which results in progressive neurodegeneration in the striatum, cortex, and eventually most brain areas. Despite being a monogenic disorder, environmental factors influence HD characteristics. Both human and mouse studies suggest that mutant HTT (mHTT) leads to gene expression changes that harbor potential to be modulated by the environment. Yet, the underlying mechanisms integrating environmental cues into the gene regulatory program have remained largely unclear. To better understand gene-environment interactions in the context of mHTT, we employed RNA-seq to examine effects of maternal separation (MS) and environmental enrichment (EE) on striatal gene expression during development of BACHD rats. We integrated our results with striatal consensus modules defined on HTT-CAG length and age-dependent co-expression gene networks to relate the environmental factors with disease progression. While mHTT was the main determinant of expression changes, both MS and EE were capable of modulating these disturbances, resulting in distinctive and in several cases opposing effects of MS and EE on consensus modules. This bivalent response to maternal separation and environmental enrichment may aid in explaining their distinct effects observed on disease phenotypes in animal models of HD and related neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Novati
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Hentrich
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Zinah Wassouf
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jonasz J Weber
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Libo Yu-Taeger
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nicole Déglon
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DNC), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Huu Phuc Nguyen
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. .,Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
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20
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McEwen BS. Redefining neuroendocrinology: Epigenetics of brain-body communication over the life course. Front Neuroendocrinol 2018; 49:8-30. [PMID: 29132949 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2017.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The brain is the central organ of stress and adaptation to stress that perceives and determines what is threatening, as well as the behavioral and physiological responses to the stressor, and it does so somewhat differently in males and females. The expression of steroid hormone receptors throughout the brain has broadened the definition of 'neuroendocrinology' to include the reciprocal communication between the entire brain and body via hormonal and neural pathways. Mediated in part via systemic hormonal influences, the adult and developing brain possess remarkable structural and functional plasticity in response to stress, including neuronal replacement, dendritic remodeling, and synapse turnover. This article is both an account of an emerging field elucidating brain-body interactions at multiple levels, from molecules to social organization, as well as a personal account of my laboratory's role and, most importantly, the roles of trainees and colleagues, along with my involvement in interdisciplinary groups working on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce S McEwen
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA. http://www.rockefeller.edu/labheads/mcewen/mcewen-lab.php
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21
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Freytag S, Burgess R, Oliver KL, Bahlo M. brain-coX: investigating and visualising gene co-expression in seven human brain transcriptomic datasets. Genome Med 2017; 9:55. [PMID: 28595657 PMCID: PMC5465565 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-017-0444-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The pathogenesis of neurological and mental health disorders often involves multiple genes, complex interactions, as well as brain- and development-specific biological mechanisms. These characteristics make identification of disease genes for such disorders challenging, as conventional prioritisation tools are not specifically tailored to deal with the complexity of the human brain. Thus, we developed a novel web-application—brain-coX—that offers gene prioritisation with accompanying visualisations based on seven gene expression datasets in the post-mortem human brain, the largest such resource ever assembled. Results We tested whether our tool can correctly prioritise known genes from 37 brain-specific KEGG pathways and 17 psychiatric conditions. We achieved average sensitivity of nearly 50%, at the same time reaching a specificity of approximately 75%. We also compared brain-coX’s performance to that of its main competitors, Endeavour and ToppGene, focusing on the ability to discover novel associations. Using a subset of the curated SFARI autism gene collection we show that brain-coX’s prioritisations are most similar to SFARI’s own curated gene classifications. Conclusions brain-coX is the first prioritisation and visualisation web-tool targeted to the human brain and can be freely accessed via http://shiny.bioinf.wehi.edu.au/freytag.s/. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13073-017-0444-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Freytag
- Population Health and Immunity Divison, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royale Parade, 3052, Parkville, Australia. .,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, 1G Royale Parade, 3052, Parkville, Australia.
| | - Rosemary Burgess
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, 245 Burgundy Street, 3084, Heidelberg, Australia
| | - Karen L Oliver
- Population Health and Immunity Divison, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royale Parade, 3052, Parkville, Australia.,Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, 245 Burgundy Street, 3084, Heidelberg, Australia
| | - Melanie Bahlo
- Population Health and Immunity Divison, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royale Parade, 3052, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, 1G Royale Parade, 3052, Parkville, Australia.,School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne, 3010, Parkville, Australia
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22
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Optimizing laboratory animal stress paradigms: The H-H* experimental design. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 75:5-14. [PMID: 27768983 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Major advances in behavioral neuroscience have been facilitated by the development of consistent and highly reproducible experimental paradigms that have been widely adopted. In contrast, many different experimental approaches have been employed to expose laboratory mice and rats to acute versus chronic intermittent stress. An argument is advanced in this review that more consistent approaches to the design of chronic intermittent stress experiments would provide greater reproducibility of results across laboratories and greater reliability relating to various neural, endocrine, immune, genetic, and behavioral adaptations. As an example, the H-H* experimental design incorporates control, homotypic (H), and heterotypic (H*) groups and allows for comparisons across groups, where each animal is exposed to the same stressor, but that stressor has vastly different biological and behavioral effects depending upon each animal's prior stress history. Implementation of the H-H* experimental paradigm makes possible a delineation of transcriptional changes and neural, endocrine, and immune pathways that are activated in precisely defined stressor contexts.
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23
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Luoni A, Berry A, Raggi C, Bellisario V, Cirulli F, Riva MA. Sex-Specific Effects of Prenatal Stress on Bdnf Expression in Response to an Acute Challenge in Rats: a Role for Gadd45β. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 53:7037-7047. [PMID: 26676568 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9569-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to early adversities represents a major risk factor for psychiatric disorders. We have previously shown that exposure to prenatal stress (PNS) in rats alters the developmental expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) with a specific temporal profile. However, exposure to early-life stress is known to alter the ability to cope with challenging events later in life, which may contribute to the enhanced vulnerability to stress-related disorders. Since Bdnf is also an important player for activity-dependent plasticity, we investigated whether the exposure to PNS in rats could alter Bdnf responsiveness to an acute challenge at adulthood. We found that exposure to PNS produces significant changes in Bdnf responsiveness with brain region- and gender-specific selectivity. Indeed, exposure to an acute stress upregulates Bdnf expression in the prefrontal cortex, but not in the hippocampus, of control animals. Moreover, such modulatory activity is selectively impaired in PNS female rats, an effect that was associated with changes in the modulation of the DNA demethylase Gadd45β. Our results suggest that exposure to PNS may reprogram gene transcription through epigenetic mechanisms reducing the ability to cope under adverse conditions, a trait that is disrupted in psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Luoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - A Berry
- Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - C Raggi
- Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - V Bellisario
- Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - F Cirulli
- Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - M A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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24
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Abstract
In this review, nonassociative learning is advanced as an organizing principle to draw together findings from both sympathetic-adrenal medullary and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis responses to chronic intermittent exposure to a variety of stressors. Studies of habituation, facilitation and sensitization of stress effector systems are reviewed and linked to an animal's prior experience with a given stressor, the intensity of the stressor and the appraisal by the animal of its ability to mobilize physiological systems to adapt to the stressor. Brain pathways that regulate physiological and behavioral responses to stress are discussed, especially in light of their regulation of nonassociative processes in chronic intermittent stress. These findings may have special relevance to various psychiatric diseases, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard McCarty
- a Department of Psychology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , TN , USA
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25
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Papale LA, Li S, Madrid A, Zhang Q, Chen L, Chopra P, Jin P, Keleş S, Alisch RS. Sex-specific hippocampal 5-hydroxymethylcytosine is disrupted in response to acute stress. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 96:54-66. [PMID: 27576189 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental stress is among the most important contributors to increased susceptibility to develop psychiatric disorders. While it is well known that acute environmental stress alters gene expression, the molecular mechanisms underlying these changes remain largely unknown. 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is a novel environmentally sensitive epigenetic modification that is highly enriched in neurons and is associated with active neuronal transcription. Recently, we reported a genome-wide disruption of hippocampal 5hmC in male mice following acute stress that was correlated to altered transcript levels of genes in known stress related pathways. Since sex-specific endocrine mechanisms respond to environmental stimulus by altering the neuronal epigenome, we examined the genome-wide profile of hippocampal 5hmC in female mice following exposure to acute stress and identified 363 differentially hydroxymethylated regions (DhMRs) linked to known (e.g., Nr3c1 and Ntrk2) and potentially novel genes associated with stress response and psychiatric disorders. Integration of hippocampal expression data from the same female mice found stress-related hydroxymethylation correlated to altered transcript levels. Finally, characterization of stress-induced sex-specific 5hmC profiles in the hippocampus revealed 778 sex-specific acute stress-induced DhMRs some of which were correlated to altered transcript levels that produce sex-specific isoforms in response to stress. Together, the alterations in 5hmC presented here provide a possible molecular mechanism for the adaptive sex-specific response to stress that may augment the design of novel therapeutic agents that will have optimal effectiveness in each sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ligia A Papale
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sisi Li
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Andy Madrid
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Statistics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Pankaj Chopra
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Peng Jin
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sündüz Keleş
- Department of Statistics, Biostatistics, and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Reid S Alisch
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
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26
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Stress and corticosteroids regulate rat hippocampal mitochondrial DNA gene expression via the glucocorticoid receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:9099-104. [PMID: 27457949 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1602185113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are involved in stress and circadian regulation, and produce many actions via the GC receptor (GR), which is classically understood to function as a nuclear transcription factor. However, the nuclear genome is not the only genome in eukaryotic cells. The mitochondria also contain a small circular genome, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), that encodes 13 polypeptides. Recent work has established that, in the brain and other systems, the GR is translocated from the cytosol to the mitochondria and that stress and corticosteroids have a direct influence on mtDNA transcription and mitochondrial physiology. To determine if stress affects mitochondrially transcribed mRNA (mtRNA) expression, we exposed adult male rats to both acute and chronic immobilization stress and examined mtRNA expression using quantitative RT-PCR. We found that acute stress had a main effect on mtRNA expression and that expression of NADH dehydrogenase 1, 3, and 6 (ND-1, ND-3, ND-6) and ATP synthase 6 (ATP-6) genes was significantly down-regulated. Chronic stress induced a significant up-regulation of ND-6 expression. Adrenalectomy abolished acute stress-induced mtRNA regulation, demonstrating GC dependence. ChIP sequencing of GR showed that corticosterone treatment induced a dose-dependent association of the GR with the control region of the mitochondrial genome. These findings demonstrate GR and stress-dependent transcriptional regulation of the mitochondrial genome in vivo and are consistent with previous work linking stress and GCs with changes in the function of brain mitochondria.
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27
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Transcriptional regulation of long-term potentiation. Neurogenetics 2016; 17:201-210. [PMID: 27318935 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-016-0489-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Long-term potentiation (LTP), the persistent strengthening of synapses following high levels of stimulation, is a form of synaptic plasticity that has been studied extensively as a possible mechanism for learning and memory formation. The strengthening of the synapse that occurs during LTP requires cascades of complex molecular processes and the coordinated remodeling of pre-synaptic and post-synaptic neurons. Despite over four decades of research, our understanding of the transcriptional mechanisms and molecular processes underlying LTP remains incomplete. Identification of all the proteins and non-coding RNA transcripts expressed during LTP may provide greater insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in learning and memory formation.
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28
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McEwen BS, Nasca C, Gray JD. Stress Effects on Neuronal Structure: Hippocampus, Amygdala, and Prefrontal Cortex. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:3-23. [PMID: 26076834 PMCID: PMC4677120 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 835] [Impact Index Per Article: 104.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Revised: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampus provided the gateway into much of what we have learned about stress and brain structural and functional plasticity, and this initial focus has expanded to other interconnected brain regions, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Starting with the discovery of adrenal steroid, and later, estrogen receptors in the hippocampal formation, and subsequent discovery of dendritic and spine synapse remodeling and neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus, mechanistic studies have revealed both genomic and rapid non-genomic actions of circulating steroid hormones in the brain. Many of these actions occur epigenetically and result in ever-changing patterns of gene expression, in which there are important sex differences that need further exploration. Moreover, glucocorticoid and estrogen actions occur synergistically with an increasing number of cellular mediators that help determine the qualitative nature of the response. The hippocampus has also been a gateway to understanding lasting epigenetic effects of early-life experiences. These findings in animal models have resulted in translation to the human brain and have helped change thinking about the nature of brain malfunction in psychiatric disorders and during aging, as well as the mechanisms of the effects of early-life adversity on the brain and the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce S McEwen
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA,Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Tel: +1 212 327 8624, Fax: +1 212 327 8634, E-mail: or http://www.rockefeller.edu/labheads/mcewen/mcewen-lab.php
| | - Carla Nasca
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jason D Gray
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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29
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McEwen BS, Bowles NP, Gray JD, Hill MN, Hunter RG, Karatsoreos IN, Nasca C. Mechanisms of stress in the brain. Nat Neurosci 2015; 18:1353-63. [PMID: 26404710 PMCID: PMC4933289 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 843] [Impact Index Per Article: 93.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The brain is the central organ involved in perceiving and adapting to social and physical stressors via multiple interacting mediators, from the cell surface to the cytoskeleton to epigenetic regulation and nongenomic mechanisms. A key result of stress is structural remodeling of neural architecture, which may be a sign of successful adaptation, whereas persistence of these changes when stress ends indicates failed resilience. Excitatory amino acids and glucocorticoids have key roles in these processes, along with a growing list of extra- and intracellular mediators that includes endocannabinoids and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The result is a continually changing pattern of gene expression mediated by epigenetic mechanisms involving histone modifications and CpG methylation and hydroxymethylation as well as by the activity of retrotransposons that may alter genomic stability. Elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of plasticity and vulnerability of the brain provides a basis for understanding the efficacy of interventions for anxiety and depressive disorders as well as age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce S McEwen
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nicole P Bowles
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jason D Gray
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Richard G Hunter
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ilia N Karatsoreos
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Carla Nasca
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
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30
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Metz GAS, Ng JWY, Kovalchuk I, Olson DM. Ancestral experience as a game changer in stress vulnerability and disease outcomes. Bioessays 2015; 37:602-11. [PMID: 25759985 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201400217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Stress is one of the most powerful experiences to influence health and disease. Through epigenetic mechanisms, stress may generate a footprint that propagates to subsequent generations. Programming by prenatal stress or adverse experience in parents, grandparents, or earlier generations may thus be a critical determinant of lifetime health trajectories. Changes in regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) by stress may enhance the vulnerability to certain pathogenic factors. This review explores the hypothesis that miRNAs represent stress-responsive elements in epigenetic regulation that are potentially heritable. Recent findings suggest that miRNAs are key players linking adverse early environments or ancestral stress with disease risk, thus they represent useful predictive disease biomarkers. Since miRNA signatures of disease are potentially heritable, big data management platforms will be vital to harness multi-generational information and capture succinct yet potent biomarkers capable of directing preventative treatments. This feature would offer a unique window of opportunity to advance personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerlinde A S Metz
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Jane W Y Ng
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Igor Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - David M Olson
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Alberta, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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