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de Bartolomeis A, Manchia M, Marmo F, Vellucci L, Iasevoli F, Barone A. Glycine Signaling in the Framework of Dopamine-Glutamate Interaction and Postsynaptic Density. Implications for Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:369. [PMID: 32477178 PMCID: PMC7240307 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) or suboptimal response to antipsychotics affects almost 30% of schizophrenia (SCZ) patients, and it is a relevant clinical issue with significant impact on the functional outcome and on the global burden of disease. Among putative novel treatments, glycine-centered therapeutics (i.e. sarcosine, glycine itself, D-Serine, and bitopertin) have been proposed, based on a strong preclinical rationale with, however, mixed clinical results. Therefore, a better appraisal of glycine interaction with the other major players of SCZ pathophysiology and specifically in the framework of dopamine - glutamate interactions is warranted. New methodological approaches at cutting edge of technology and drug discovery have been applied to study the role of glycine in glutamate signaling, both at presynaptic and post-synaptic level and have been instrumental for unveiling the role of glycine in dopamine-glutamate interaction. Glycine is a non-essential amino acid that plays a critical role in both inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission. In caudal areas of central nervous system (CNS), such as spinal cord and brainstem, glycine acts as a powerful inhibitory neurotransmitter through binding to its receptor, i.e. the Glycine Receptor (GlyR). However, glycine also works as a co-agonist of the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission. Glycine concentration in the synaptic cleft is finely tuned by glycine transporters, i.e. GlyT1 and GlyT2, that regulate the neurotransmitter's reuptake, with the first considered a highly potential target for psychosis therapy. Reciprocal regulation of dopamine and glycine in forebrain, glycine modulation of glutamate, glycine signaling interaction with postsynaptic density proteins at glutamatergic synapse, and human genetics of glycinergic pathways in SCZ are tackled in order to highlight the exploitation of this neurotransmitters and related molecules in SCZ and TRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Translational Psychiatry, Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Mirko Manchia
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Federica Marmo
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Translational Psychiatry, Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Licia Vellucci
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Translational Psychiatry, Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Felice Iasevoli
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Translational Psychiatry, Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Annarita Barone
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Translational Psychiatry, Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Ma CL, Sun H, Yang L, Wang XT, Gao S, Chen XW, Ma ZY, Wang GH, Shi Z, Zheng QY. Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 1a Modulates NMDA Receptor Function Through Targeting NR1/NR2A/NR2B Triheteromeric Receptors. Neuroscience 2019; 406:389-404. [PMID: 30926548 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.03.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The over-activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) is the main cause of neuronal death in brain ischemia. Both the NMDAR and the Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) are present in the postsynaptic membrane of the central nervous system (CNS) and participate in physiological and pathological processes. However, the specific role played by ASIC1a in these processes remains elusive. We hypothesize that NMDARs are the primary mediators of normal synaptic transmission and excitatory neuronal death, while ASIC1a plays a modulatory role in facilitating NMDAR function. Using various experimental approaches including patch-clamp recordings on hippocampal slices and CHO cells, primary cultures of hippocampal neurons, calcium imaging, Western blot, cDNA transfection studies, and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse models, we demonstrate that stimulation of ASIC1a facilitates NMDAR function and inhibition of ASIC1a suppresses NMDAR over-activation. One of our key findings is that activation of ASIC1a selectively facilitates the NR1/NR2A/NR2B triheteromeric subtype of NMDAR currents. In accordance, inhibition of ASIC1a profoundly reduced the NMDAR-mediated EPSCs in older mouse brains, which are known to express much higher levels of triheteromeric NMDARs than younger brains. Furthermore, brain infarct sizes were reduced by a greater degree in older mice compared to younger ones when ASIC1a activity was suppressed. These data suggest that ASIC1a activity selectively enhances the function of triheteromeric NMDARs and exacerbates ischemic neuronal death especially in older animal brains. We propose ASIC1a as a novel therapeutic target for preventing and reducing the detrimental effect of brain ischemia in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Lei Ma
- Department of Physiology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai Campus, 346 Guanhai Road, Laishan District, Yantai, Shandong, China.
| | - Hui Sun
- Department of Physiology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai Campus, 346 Guanhai Road, Laishan District, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Physiology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai Campus, 346 Guanhai Road, Laishan District, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Xing-Tao Wang
- Department of Internal Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Su Gao
- Department of Internal Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Chen
- Department of Internal Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Zhi-Yuan Ma
- School of Public Economics and Administration, Shanghai Finance and Economics University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gui-Hua Wang
- Department of Physiology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai Campus, 346 Guanhai Road, Laishan District, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Zhen Shi
- Department of Physiology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai Campus, 346 Guanhai Road, Laishan District, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Qing-Yin Zheng
- Department of Internal Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, China
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Zafra F, Ibáñez I, Bartolomé-Martín D, Piniella D, Arribas-Blázquez M, Giménez C. Glycine Transporters and Its Coupling with NMDA Receptors. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2018; 16:55-83. [PMID: 28828606 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-55769-4_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Glycine plays two roles in neurotransmission. In caudal areas like the spinal cord and the brainstem, it acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, but in all regions of the CNS, it also works as a co-agonist with L-glutamate at N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). The glycine fluxes in the CNS are regulated by two specific transporters for glycine, GlyT1 and GlyT2, perhaps with the cooperation of diverse neutral amino acid transporters like Asc-1 or SNAT5/SN2. While GlyT2 and Asc-1 are neuronal proteins, GlyT1 and SNAT5 are mainly astrocytic, although neuronal forms of GlyT1 also exist. GlyT1 has attracted considerable interest from the medical community and the pharmaceutical industry since compelling evidence indicates a clear association with the functioning of NMDARs, whose activity is decreased in various psychiatric illnesses. By controlling extracellular glycine, transporter inhibitors might potentiate the activity of NMDARs without activating excitotoxic processes. Physiologically, GlyT1 is a central actor in the cross talk between glutamatergic, glycinergic, dopaminergic, and probably other neurotransmitter systems. Many of these relationships begin to be unraveled by studies performed in recent years using genetic and pharmacological models. These studies are also clarifying the interactions between glycine, glycine transporters, and other co-agonists of the glycine site of NMDARs like D-serine. These findings are also relevant to understand the pathophysiology of devastating diseases like schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, stroke, and chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Zafra
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Facultad de Ciencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C / Nicolás Cabrera, 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras and IdiPAZ, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ignacio Ibáñez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Facultad de Ciencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C / Nicolás Cabrera, 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras and IdiPAZ, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Bartolomé-Martín
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Facultad de Ciencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C / Nicolás Cabrera, 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras and IdiPAZ, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dolores Piniella
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Facultad de Ciencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C / Nicolás Cabrera, 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras and IdiPAZ, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Arribas-Blázquez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Facultad de Ciencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C / Nicolás Cabrera, 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras and IdiPAZ, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cecilio Giménez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Facultad de Ciencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C / Nicolás Cabrera, 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras and IdiPAZ, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Wang X, Ma Z, Fu Z, Gao S, Yang L, Jin Y, Sun H, Wang C, Fan W, Chen L, Zheng QY, Bi G, Ma CL. Hydroxysafflor Yellow A Protects Neurons From Excitotoxic Death through Inhibition of NMDARs. ASN Neuro 2016; 8:8/2/1759091416642345. [PMID: 27067428 PMCID: PMC4828664 DOI: 10.1177/1759091416642345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive glutamate release causes overactivation of N-methyl d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), leading to excitatory neuronal damage in cerebral ischemia. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), a compound extracted from Carthamus tinctorius L., has been reported to exert a neuroprotective effect in many pathological conditions, including brain ischemia. However, the underlying mechanism of HSYA's effect on neurons remains elusive. In the present study, we conducted experiments using patch-clamp recording of mouse hippocampal slices. In addition, we performed Ca2+ imaging, Western blots, as well as mitochondrial-targeted circularly permuted yellow fluorescent protein transfection into cultured hippocampal neurons in order to decipher the physiological mechanism underlying HSYA's neuroprotective effect. Through the electrophysiology experiments, we found that HSYA inhibited NMDAR-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents without affecting α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor and γ-aminobutyric acid A-type receptor-mediated currents. This inhibitory effect of HSYA on NMDARs was concentration dependent. HSYA did not show any preferential inhibition of either N-methyl d-aspartate receptor subtype 2A- or N-methyl d-aspartate receptor subtype 2B- subunit-containing NMDARs. Additionally, HSYA exhibits a facilitatory effect on paired NMDAR-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents. Furthermore, HSYA reduced the magnitude of NMDAR-mediated membrane depolarization currents evoked by oxygen-glucose deprivation, and suppressed oxygen-glucose deprivation–induced and NMDAR-dependent ischemic long-term potentiation, which is believed to cause severe reperfusion damage after ischemia. Through the molecular biology experiments, we found that HSYA inhibited the NMDA-induced and NMDAR-mediated intracellular Ca2+ concentration increase in hippocampal cultures, reduced apoptotic and necrotic cell deaths, and prevented mitochondrial damage. Together, our data demonstrate for the first time that HSYA protects hippocampal neurons from excitotoxic damage through the inhibition of NMDARs. This novel finding indicates that HSYA may be a promising pharmacological candidate for the treatment of brain ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingtao Wang
- Department of Physiology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China "Brain stroke" Key Lab of Shandong Health Administration Institute, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China Department of Internal Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Zhiyuan Ma
- School of Public Economics and Administration, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongxiao Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Su Gao
- Department of Internal Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Physiology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China "Brain stroke" Key Lab of Shandong Health Administration Institute, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Yan Jin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Sun
- Department of Physiology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China "Brain stroke" Key Lab of Shandong Health Administration Institute, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Chaoyun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Weiming Fan
- Department of Internal Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Lin Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qing-Yin Zheng
- Department of Internal Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Guoqiang Bi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chun-Lei Ma
- Department of Physiology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China "Brain stroke" Key Lab of Shandong Health Administration Institute, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
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Wang Y, Ma Y, Hu J, Cheng W, Jiang H, Zhang X, Li M, Ren J, Li X. Prenatal chronic mild stress induces depression-like behavior and sex-specific changes in regional glutamate receptor expression patterns in adult rats. Neuroscience 2015; 301:363-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Guedj F, Pennings JLA, Ferres MA, Graham LC, Wick HC, Miczek KA, Slonim DK, Bianchi DW. The fetal brain transcriptome and neonatal behavioral phenotype in the Ts1Cje mouse model of Down syndrome. Am J Med Genet A 2015; 167A:1993-2008. [PMID: 25975229 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Human fetuses with Down syndrome demonstrate abnormal brain growth and reduced neurogenesis. Despite the prenatal onset of the phenotype, most therapeutic trials have been conducted in adults. Here, we present evidence for fetal brain molecular and neonatal behavioral alterations in the Ts1Cje mouse model of Down syndrome. Embryonic day 15.5 brain hemisphere RNA from Ts1Cje embryos (n = 5) and wild type littermates (n = 5) was processed and hybridized to mouse gene 1.0 ST arrays. Bioinformatic analyses were implemented to identify differential gene and pathway regulation during Ts1Cje fetal brain development. In separate experiments, the Fox scale, ultrasonic vocalization and homing tests were used to investigate behavioral deficits in Ts1Cje pups (n = 29) versus WT littermates (n = 64) at postnatal days 3-21. Ts1Cje fetal brains displayed more differentially regulated genes (n = 71) than adult (n = 31) when compared to their age-matched euploid brains. Ts1Cje embryonic brains showed up-regulation of cell cycle markers and down-regulation of the solute-carrier amino acid transporters. Several cellular processes were dysregulated at both stages, including apoptosis, inflammation, Jak/Stat signaling, G-protein signaling, and oxidoreductase activity. In addition, early behavioral deficits in surface righting, cliff aversion, negative geotaxis, forelimb grasp, ultrasonic vocalization, and the homing tests were observed. The Ts1Cje mouse model exhibits abnormal gene expression during fetal brain development, and significant neonatal behavioral deficits in the pre-weaning period. In combination with human studies, this suggests that the Down syndrome phenotype manifests prenatally and provides a rationale for prenatal therapy to improve perinatal brain development and postnatal neurocognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faycal Guedj
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center and the Floating Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeroen L A Pennings
- Center for Health Protection (GZB), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Millie A Ferres
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center and the Floating Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Leah C Graham
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center and the Floating Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Heather C Wick
- Department of Computer Science, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Klaus A Miczek
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Donna K Slonim
- Department of Computer Science, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Diana W Bianchi
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center and the Floating Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts
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Glycine modulates membrane potential, cell volume, and phagocytosis in murine microglia. Amino Acids 2014; 46:1907-17. [PMID: 24760586 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-014-1745-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 04/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Phagocytes form engulfment pseudopodia at the contact area with their target particle by a process resembling cell volume (CV) regulatory mechanisms. We evaluated whether the osmoregulatory active neutral amino acid glycine, which contributes to CV regulation via activation of sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporters (SNATs) improves phagocytosis in isotonic and hypertonic conditions in the murine microglial cell line BV-2 and primary microglial cells (pMG). In BV-2 cells and pMG, RT-PCR analysis revealed expression of SNATs (Slc38a1, Slc38a2), but not of GlyRs (Glra1-4). In BV-2 cells, glycine (5 mM) led to a rapid Na(+)-dependent depolarization of membrane potential (V mem). Furthermore, glycine increased CV by about 9%. Visualizing of phagocytosis of polystyrene microspheres by scanning electron microscopy revealed that glycine (1 mM) increased the number of BV-2 cells containing at least one microsphere by about 13%. Glycine-dependent increase in phagocytosis was suppressed by the SNAT inhibitor α-(methylamino)isobutyric acid (MeAIB), by replacing extracellular Na(+) with choline, and under hypertonic conditions, but not by the GlyR antagonist strychnine or the GlyR agonist taurine. Interestingly, hypertonicity-induced suppression of phagocytosis was rescued by glycine. These findings demonstrate that glycine increases phagocytosis in iso- and hypertonic conditions by activation of SNATs.
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