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Skolariki K, Vrahatis AG, Krokidis MG, Exarchos TP, Vlamos P. Assessing and Modelling of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Using Molecular and Functional Biomarkers. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1050. [PMID: 37626936 PMCID: PMC10451531 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex psychological disorder that develops following exposure to traumatic events. PTSD is influenced by catalytic factors such as dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, neurotransmitter imbalances, and oxidative stress. Genetic variations may act as important catalysts, impacting neurochemical signaling, synaptic plasticity, and stress response systems. Understanding the intricate gene networks and their interactions is vital for comprehending the underlying mechanisms of PTSD. Focusing on the catalytic factors of PTSD is essential because they provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of the disorder. By understanding these factors and their interplay, researchers may uncover potential targets for interventions and therapies, leading to more effective and personalized treatments for individuals with PTSD. The aforementioned gene networks, composed of specific genes associated with the disorder, provide a comprehensive view of the molecular pathways and regulatory mechanisms involved in PTSD. Through this study valuable insights into the disorder's underlying mechanisms and opening avenues for effective treatments, personalized interventions, and the development of biomarkers for early detection and monitoring are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marios G. Krokidis
- Bioinformatics and Human Electrophysiology Laboratory, Department of Informatics, Ionian University, 49100 Corfu, Greece; (K.S.); (A.G.V.); (T.P.E.); (P.V.)
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2
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Sheng Y, Carpenter JS, Smith BJ, Paul SM, Melisko M, Moslehi J, Levine JD, Conley YP, Kober KM, Miaskowski C. A Pilot Study of Associations Between the Occurrence of Palpitations and Cytokine Gene Variations in Women Prior to Breast Cancer Surgery. Biol Res Nurs 2023; 25:289-299. [PMID: 36255356 PMCID: PMC10236444 DOI: 10.1177/10998004221134684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Palpitations are common and have a negative impact on women's quality of life. While evidence suggests that inflammatory mechanisms may play a role in the development of palpitations, no studies have evaluated for this association in patients with breast cancer who report palpitations prior to surgery. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate for associations between the occurrence of palpitations and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes for pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, their receptors, and transcriptional regulators. METHODS Patients were recruited prior to surgery and completed a self-report questionnaire on the occurrence of palpitations. Genotyping of SNPs in cytokine genes was performed using a custom array. Multiple logistic regression analyses were done to identify associations between the occurrence of palpitations and SNPs in fifteen candidate genes. RESULTS Of the 82 SNPs evaluated in the bivariate analyses, eleven SNPs in 6 genes were associated with the occurrence of palpitations. After controlling for functional status, the occurrence of back pain, and self-reported and genomic estimates of race/ethnicity, 3 SNPs in 3 different genes (i.e., interleukin (IL) 1-beta (IL1B) rs1143643, IL10 rs3024505, IL13 rs1295686) were associated with the occurrence of palpitations prior to surgery (all p ≤ .038). CONCLUSIONS While these preliminary findings warrant replication, they suggest that inflammatory mechanisms may contribute to the subjective sensation of palpitations in women prior to breast cancer surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sheng
- School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University,
Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Brenda J. Smith
- School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Steven M. Paul
- School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Melisko
- School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Javid Moslehi
- School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jon D. Levine
- School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yvette P. Conley
- School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kord M. Kober
- School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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3
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Zhan B, Zhu Y, Xia J, Li W, Tang Y, Beesetty A, Ye JH, Fu R. Comorbidity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder: Animal Models and Associated Neurocircuitry. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010388. [PMID: 36613829 PMCID: PMC9820348 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders and frequently co-occur concomitantly. Individuals suffering from this dual diagnosis often exhibit increased symptom severity and poorer treatment outcomes than those with only one of these diseases. Lacking standard preclinical models limited the exploration of neurobiological mechanisms underlying PTSD and AUD comorbidity. In this review, we summarize well-accepted preclinical model paradigms and criteria for developing successful models of comorbidity. We also outline how PTSD and AUD affect each other bidirectionally in the nervous nuclei have been heatedly discussed recently. We hope to provide potential recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhan
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Yingxin Zhu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Jianxun Xia
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunkang School of Medicine and Health, Nanfang College, Guangzhou 510970, China
| | - Wenfu Li
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Anju Beesetty
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Jiang-Hong Ye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Correspondence: (J.-H.Y.); (R.F.)
| | - Rao Fu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
- Correspondence: (J.-H.Y.); (R.F.)
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4
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Zhang J, Kaye AP, Wang J, Girgenti MJ. Transcriptomics of the depressed and PTSD brain. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100408. [PMID: 34703849 PMCID: PMC8524242 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is the response of an organism to demands for change, yet excessive or chronic stress contributes to nearly all psychiatric disorders. The advent of high-throughput transcriptomic methods such as single cell RNA sequencing poses new opportunities to understand the neurobiology of stress, yet substantial barriers to understanding stress remain. Stress adaptation is an organismal survival mechanism conserved across all organisms, yet there is an infinity of potential stressful experiences. Unraveling shared and separate transcriptional programs for adapting to stressful experience remains a challenge, despite methodological and analytic advances. Here we review the state of the field focusing on the technologies used to study the transcriptome for the stress neurobiologist, and also attempt to identify central questions about the heterogeneity of stress for those applying transcriptomic approaches. We further explore how postmortem transcriptome studies aided by preclinical animal models are converging on common molecular pathways for adaptation to aversive experience. Finally, we discuss approaches to integrate large genomic datasets with human neuroimaging and other datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Department of Computer Science, University of California- Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Alfred P. Kaye
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Program of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Matthew J. Girgenti
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, USA
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5
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Logue MW, Zhou Z, Morrison FG, Wolf EJ, Daskalakis NP, Chatzinakos C, Georgiadis F, Labadorf AT, Girgenti MJ, Young KA, Williamson DE, Zhao X, Grenier JG, Huber BR, Miller MW. Gene expression in the dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortices implicates immune-related gene networks in PTSD. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100398. [PMID: 34646915 PMCID: PMC8498459 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies evaluating neuroimaging, genetically predicted gene expression, and pre-clinical genetic models of PTSD, have identified PTSD-related abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the brain, particularly in dorsolateral and ventromedial PFC (dlPFC and vmPFC). In this study, RNA sequencing was used to examine gene expression in the dlPFC and vmPFC using tissue from the VA National PTSD Brain Bank in donors with histories of PTSD with or without depression (dlPFC n = 38, vmPFC n = 35), depression cases without PTSD (n = 32), and psychopathology-free controls (dlPFC n = 24, vmPFC n = 20). Analyses compared PTSD cases to controls. Follow-up analyses contrasted depression cases to controls. Twenty-one genes were differentially expressed in PTSD after strict multiple testing correction. PTSD-associated genes with roles in learning and memory (FOS, NR4A1), immune regulation (CFH, KPNA1) and myelination (MBP, MOBP, ERMN) were identified. PTSD-associated genes partially overlapped depression-associated genes. Co-expression network analyses identified PTSD-associated networks enriched for immune-related genes across the two brain regions. However, the immune-related genes and association patterns were distinct. The immune gene IL1B was significantly associated with PTSD in candidate-gene analysis and was an upstream regulator of PTSD-associated genes in both regions. There was evidence of replication of dlPFC associations in an independent cohort from a recent study, and a strong correlation between the dlPFC PTSD effect sizes for significant genes in the two studies (r = 0.66, p < 2.2 × 10−16). In conclusion, this study identified several novel PTSD-associated genes and brain region specific PTSD-associated immune-related networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark W Logue
- National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Biomedical Genetics, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.,Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Zhenwei Zhou
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Filomene G Morrison
- National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Erika J Wolf
- National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Nikolaos P Daskalakis
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Christos Chatzinakos
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Foivos Georgiadis
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Adam T Labadorf
- Bioinformatics Hub, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Matthew J Girgenti
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.,Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Health Care System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA.,TAMUCOM Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Keith A Young
- TAMUCOM Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA.,VISN17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans at CTVHCS, Waco, TX, 76711, USA
| | - Douglas E Williamson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.,Durham VA Healthcare System, Durham, NC, 27705, USA
| | - Xiang Zhao
- National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Jaclyn Garza Grenier
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | - Bertrand Russell Huber
- National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
| | - Mark W Miller
- National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
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Stone LA, Girgenti MJ, Wang J, Ji D, Zhao H, Krystal JH, Duman RS. Cortical Transcriptomic Alterations in Association With Appetitive Neuropeptides and Body Mass Index in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 24:118-129. [PMID: 32951025 PMCID: PMC8611677 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyaa072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The molecular pathology underlying posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains unclear mainly due to a lack of human PTSD postmortem brain tissue. The orexigenic neuropeptides ghrelin, neuropeptide Y, and hypocretin were recently implicated in modulating negative affect. Drawing from the largest functional genomics study of human PTSD postmortem tissue, we investigated whether there were molecular changes of these and other appetitive molecules. Further, we explored the interaction between PTSD and body mass index (BMI) on gene expression. METHODS We analyzed previously reported transcriptomic data from 4 prefrontal cortex regions from 52 individuals with PTSD and 46 matched neurotypical controls. We employed gene co-expression network analysis across the transcriptomes of these regions to uncover PTSD-specific networks containing orexigenic genes. We utilized Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software for pathway annotation. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among individuals with and without PTSD, stratified by sex and BMI. RESULTS Three PTSD-associated networks (P < .01) contained genes in signaling families of appetitive molecules: 2 in females and 1 in all subjects. We uncovered DEGs (P < .05) between PTSD and control subjects stratified by sex and BMI with especially robust changes in males with PTSD with elevated vs normal BMI. Further, we identified putative upstream regulators (P < .05) driving these changes, many of which were enriched for involvement in inflammation. CONCLUSIONS PTSD-associated cortical transcriptomic modules contain transcripts of appetitive genes, and BMI further interacts with PTSD to impact expression. DEGs and inferred upstream regulators of these modules could represent targets for future pharmacotherapies for obesity in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Stone
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven,
CT
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, National Center for PTSD and National PTSD
Brain Bank VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT
| | - Matthew J Girgenti
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven,
CT
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, National Center for PTSD and National PTSD
Brain Bank VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Program of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale
University, New Haven, CT
| | - Dingjue Ji
- Program of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale
University, New Haven, CT
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- Program of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale
University, New Haven, CT
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New
Haven, CT
| | - John H Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven,
CT
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, National Center for PTSD and National PTSD
Brain Bank VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychology, and the Yale Center for Clinical
Investigation, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale New Haven Health System, New
Haven, CT
| | - Ronald S Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven,
CT
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, National Center for PTSD and National PTSD
Brain Bank VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT
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7
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Zhao R, Chen X, Ren W, Dai H, Li H, Li H, Jia A, Wu Y, Han P, Shao Y. IL-1B rs2853550 polymorphism contributes to esophageal cancer susceptibility in Chinese Han population of Northwest China. Mol Med 2020; 26:57. [PMID: 32527212 PMCID: PMC7291710 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-020-00178-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common human cancers, with a particularly aggressive behavior and increased incidence worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-1B with the risk of EC in a northwest Chinese Han population. METHODS In order to evaluate the correlations between IL-1B polymorphisms and EC risk, an Agena MassARRAY platform was used to determine the genotype of the candidate SNPs among 384 EC patients and 499 controls. The associations between IL-1B variants and EC risk were examined using logistic regression analysis with adjustment for gender and age. Haplotype construction and analysis were performed to detect the potential associations between haplotypes within IL-1B and EC susceptibility. Additionally, bioinformatics databases were used for gene expression analysis and SNP functional prediction. RESULTS A significant relationship was found between IL-1B rs2853550 and an increased risk of EC in the allele model [odds ratio (OR) = 1.38, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.01-1.89, p = 0.041), the codominant model (A/G, OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.10-2.42, p = 0.011), and the dominant model (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.02-2.18, p = 0.041). Functional analysis revealed the potential effects of rs2853550, which further reinforced its influence on EC susceptibility. However, there were no statistically significant differences for other SNPs or haplotypes between EC cases and healthy controls. Expression analysis conducted with dataset indicated that the expression level of IL-1B was higher in EC cases than that in normal samples. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that rs2853550 in IL-1B might increase EC susceptibility in the Chinese Han population of Northwest China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruimin Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head Neck, the First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, #227 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head Neck, Baoji Central Hospital, Baoji, 721008, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wanli Ren
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head Neck, the First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, #227 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Hao Dai
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head Neck, the First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, #227 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Huajing Li
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head Neck, the First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, #227 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Honghui Li
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head Neck, the First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, #227 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Ai Jia
- Department of Digestive System, The First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Operation, the First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Peng Han
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head Neck, the First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, #227 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
| | - Yuan Shao
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head Neck, the First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, #227 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
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8
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Kim YK, Amidfar M, Won E. A review on inflammatory cytokine-induced alterations of the brain as potential neural biomarkers in post-traumatic stress disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 91:103-112. [PMID: 29932946 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The heterogeneity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms indicates that multiple neurobiological mechanisms underlie the pathophysiology of the condition. However, no generally accepted PTSD biomarkers in clinical practice currently exist. The sequential responses to recurrent and chronic stress by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) system are considered to play a significant role in the onset and progression of PTSD. Decreased activity of the HPA axis and parasympathetic nervous system, along with increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system, have been observed in PTSD, which may lead to increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Such heightened activity of the immune system may cause alterations in the structure and function of brain regions-for example, the amygdala, hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and insula-through changes in levels of serotonin and kynurenine pathway metabolites, and direct neurotoxic effects of cytokines. Although chronic inflammation-induced alterations in brain regions critical in controlling emotional behavior and fear regulation may represent a strong candidate biomarker of PTSD, future studies are necessary to further elucidate inflammation-associated neural biomarkers of PTSD. Continued research on therapeutic methods that involve the normalization of the HPA axis, ANS, and immune system is expected to contribute to the development of novel ways to treat PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Ku Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Meysam Amidfar
- Department of Neuroscience, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Eunsoo Won
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Richter-Levin G, Stork O, Schmidt MV. Animal models of PTSD: a challenge to be met. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:1135-1156. [PMID: 30816289 PMCID: PMC6756084 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0272-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2017] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent years have seen increased interest in psychopathologies related to trauma exposure. Specifically, there has been a growing awareness to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in part due to terrorism, climate change-associated natural disasters, the global refugee crisis, and increased violence in overpopulated urban areas. However, notwithstanding the increased awareness to the disorder, the increasing number of patients, and the devastating impact on the lives of patients and their families, the efficacy of available treatments remains limited and highly unsatisfactory. A major scientific effort is therefore devoted to unravel the neural mechanisms underlying PTSD with the aim of paving the way to developing novel or improved treatment approaches and drugs to treat PTSD. One of the major scientific tools used to gain insight into understanding physiological and neuronal mechanisms underlying diseases and for treatment development is the use of animal models of human diseases. While much progress has been made using these models in understanding mechanisms of conditioned fear and fear memory, the gained knowledge has not yet led to better treatment options for PTSD patients. This poor translational outcome has already led some scientists and pharmaceutical companies, who do not in general hold opinions against animal models, to propose that those models should be abandoned. Here, we critically examine aspects of animal models of PTSD that may have contributed to the relative lack of translatability, including the focus on the exposure to trauma, overlooking individual and sex differences, and the contribution of risk factors. Based on findings from recent years, we propose research-based modifications that we believe are required in order to overcome some of the shortcomings of previous practice. These modifications include the usage of animal models of PTSD which incorporate risk factors and of the behavioral profiling analysis of individuals in a sample. These modifications are aimed to address factors such as individual predisposition and resilience, thus taking into consideration the fact that only a fraction of individuals exposed to trauma develop PTSD. We suggest that with an appropriate shift of practice, animal models are not only a valuable tool to enhance our understanding of fear and memory processes, but could serve as effective platforms for understanding PTSD, for PTSD drug development and drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gal Richter-Levin
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. .,The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. .,Psychology Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Oliver Stork
- 0000 0001 1018 4307grid.5807.aDepartment of Genetics & Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany ,grid.452320.2Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Mathias V. Schmidt
- 0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
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10
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Abstract
The principal focus of this paper is to consider the implications of head and neck transplantation surgery on the issue of personal identity. To this end, it is noted that the immune system has not only been established to impose a level of self-identity on bodily cells, it has also been implicated in mental development and the regulation of mental state. In this it serves as a paradigm for the mind as the product of cephalic and extracephalic systems. The importance of bodily systems in identity is then discussed in relation to phantom tissue syndrome. The data strongly indicate that, even if surgically successful, head and neck transplantation will result in the loss of the continuity of personal identity.
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