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Li H, Wang X, Hu C, Cui J, Li H, Luo X, Hao Y. IL-6 Enhances the Activation of PI3K-AKT/mTOR-GSK-3β by Upregulating GRPR in Hippocampal Neurons of Autistic Mice. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2024; 19:12. [PMID: 38536552 PMCID: PMC10972920 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-024-10111-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder associated with brain inflammation. The underlying mechanisms could be attributed to the activation of PI3K signaling in the inflamed brain of ASD. Multiple studies highlight the role of GRPR in regulating ASD like abnormal behavior and enhancing the PI3K signaling. However, the molecular mechanism by which GRPR regulates PI3K signaling in neurons of individuals with ASD is still unclear. In this study, we utilized a maternal immune activation model to investigate the effects of GRPR on PI3K signaling in the inflamed brain of ASD mice. We used HT22 cells with and without GRPR to examine the impact of GRP-GRPR on the PI3K-AKT pathway with IL-6 treatment. We analyzed a dataset of hippocampus samples from ASD mice to identify hub genes. Our results demonstrated increased expression of IL-6, GRPR, and PI3K-AKT signaling in the hippocampus of ASD mice. Additionally, we observed increased GRPR expression and PI3K-AKT/mTOR activation in HT22 cells after IL-6 treatment, but decreased expression in HT22 cells with GRPR knockdown. NetworkAnalyst identified GSK-3β as the most crucial gene in the PI3K-AKT/mTOR pathway in the hippocampus of ASD. Furthermore, we found that IL-6 upregulated the expression of GSK-3β in HT22 cells by upregulating GRP-GRPR. Our findings suggest that IL-6 can enhance the activation of PI3K-AKT/mTOR-GSK-3β in hippocampal neurons of ASD mice by upregulating GRPR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Li
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xinyuan Wang
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Cong Hu
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jinru Cui
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hao Li
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaoping Luo
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yan Hao
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Wang F, Yang J, Yang X, Wang L, Zheng C, Ming D. Effects of Gastrin-releasing Peptide on Hippocampal Neural Networks in Vascular Dementia Rats .. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2019:4400-4403. [PMID: 31946842 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8857771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) has been confirmed to exhibit a variety of physiological functions in the brain and play a role in many neurological diseases. Our previous research found that GRP could restore the impaired synaptic plasticity and the spatial learning and memory impairments induced by vascular dementia (VD). However, the specific mechanisms of GRP affecting hippocampus, especially the effects on the neuronal oscillations were still poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effects of GRP on the changes of the interactions between theta and gamma oscillations in the hippocampal CA3-CA1 pathway of VD rats and explored the potential electrophysiological mechanism. To this purpose, local field potentials (LFPs) simultaneously collected from hippocampal CA3 and CA1 were measured by the power spectrum, phase synchronization, phase-phase coupling (PPC) and phase-amplitude coupling (PAC). We found that GRP substantially restored the phase synchronization of the theta and gamma oscillations. The GRP also significantly improved the strength of theta-gamma cross-frequency coupling (including theta-gamma PPC and theta-gamma PAC) in the CA3-CA1 network. The results indicated that GRP could alleviate the changes of neural activities in hippocampal CA3-CA1 pathway induced by VD. This might be an electrophysiological mechanism for GRP preventing cognitive impairments induced by VD.
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A Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial of Gastrin-Releasing Peptide in Childhood Autism. Clin Neuropharmacol 2017; 40:108-112. [PMID: 28452904 DOI: 10.1097/wnf.0000000000000213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) compared with placebo in autism spectrum disorder symptoms. METHODOLOGY This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial using GRP 160 pmol/kg for 4 consecutive days in 10 children with autism. Outcomes were measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) scale. RESULTS All participants were boys, aged between 4 and 9 years. There was a reduction in the scores of the ABC range and its subscales after use GRP and placebo. The reduction was more prominent with GRP, particularly in the subscale "hyperactivity and noncompliance," but there was no statistical difference between the results (P = 0.334). After a week of infusion, 5 children showed improvement of 25% or greater in the total score of the ABC scale with GRP use and 2 with placebo use; however, there was no statistical difference (P = 0.375). There were no adverse effects, changes in vital signs, or laboratory abnormalities associated with the use of GRP. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study, despite the small sample size, reinforce previous data on the safety of the GRP in short-term use. There is a need for further research with other designs and a larger sample size to evaluate the efficacy and safety of GRP in children with autism.
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Merali Z, Presti-Torres J, Mackay JC, Johnstone J, Du L, St-Jean A, Levesque D, Kent P, Schwartsmann G, Roesler R, Schroder N, Anisman H. Long-term behavioral effects of neonatal blockade of gastrin-releasing peptide receptors in rats: similarities to autism spectrum disorders. Behav Brain Res 2014; 263:60-9. [PMID: 24462726 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Revised: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Gastrin releasing peptide, the mammalian counterpart of the amphibian peptide, bombesin, has been increasingly implicated in regulating normal brain function as well as in the pathogenesis of psychiatric and/or neurodevelopmental disorders. We have previously shown that the neonatal blockade of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPr) in rats produces long-lasting consequences during central nervous system development that are commonly observed in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders. The present investigation assessed in further detail, long-term behavioral effects of neonatal GRPr blockade. During postnatal days 1-10, male Wistar rat pups (n=5-10/litter) were injected (subcutaneously) with the GRPr antagonist, RC-3095 (1 mg/kg), or a vehicle (control), twice daily. Following the drug treatment regimen, several behaviors were assessed (starting on postnatal day 14) including specific social behaviors (namely, group huddling characteristics, social interaction, and social approach), restrictive/repetitive and stereotyped behaviors (y-maze, repetitive novel object contact task, observation for stereotypies) and anxiety/fear-related responses (open field, elevated plus maze and contextual fear conditioning). Rats treated neonatally with RC-3095 showed reduced sociability, restrictive interests, motor stereotypies and enhanced learned fear response compared to the controls (vehicle-treated rats). These behavioral abnormalities are consistent with those observed in autism spectrum disorders and provide further evidence that neonatal blockade of GRPr could potentially serve as a useful model to gain a better understanding of the underlying neurodevelopmental disruptions contributing to the expression of autism-relevant phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Merali
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada.
| | - J Presti-Torres
- University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada; Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Pontifical Catholic University, Porto Alegre, 90619-900, Brazil
| | - J C Mackay
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada
| | - J Johnstone
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada
| | - L Du
- University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada
| | - A St-Jean
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - D Levesque
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - P Kent
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada
| | - G Schwartsmann
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Cancer Research Laboratory, University Hospital Research Center (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - R Roesler
- Cancer Research Laboratory, University Hospital Research Center (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Neural Tumor Biology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90050-170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - N Schroder
- Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Pontifical Catholic University, Porto Alegre, 90619-900, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - H Anisman
- Institute of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada; University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada
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Taylor GT, Smith SE, Kirchhoff BA. Differential effects of antipsychotics on lateral bias and social attention in female rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2013; 225:453-60. [PMID: 22885914 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-012-2828-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Prior research has demonstrated that individuals with schizophrenia may exhibit lateral biases in attention and deficits in social behavior. The use of a noninvasive animal model of attentional impairments in schizophrenia and antipsychotic drugs can help elucidate the biological underpinnings of attentional processes and facilitate the study of novel therapeutics. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three antipsychotic drugs on measures of lateral bias and social attention in healthy, unoperated female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Female Long-Evans rats selected for a preexisting lateral bias in attention, a right behavioral orientation preference (BOP), were administered clozapine, haloperidol, sulpiride, or vehicle. Lateral bias in attention was assessed by determining which forelimb rats removed a nuisance stimulus from first. Social attention was examined by comparing the latency to remove nuisance stimuli in the presence of a social (inaccessible female rat) versus non-social (blinking clock) distractor. RESULTS All antipsychotic drugs eliminated right lateral bias in attention, while control animals retained their initial bias. Clozapine eliminated right lateral bias more rapidly than the other drugs. Animals receiving clozapine also selectively displayed increased attention to another rat. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the antipsychotic medication clozapine rapidly alters attentional bias and uniquely influences attention to a social stimulus. The right BOP paradigm is a useful animal model for comparing antipsychotic drug effects on lateralized attentional bias and attention to social stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- George T Taylor
- Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, One University Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA
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Roesler R, Schwartsmann G. Gastrin-releasing peptide receptors in the central nervous system: role in brain function and as a drug target. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2012; 3:159. [PMID: 23251133 PMCID: PMC3523293 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2012.00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 11/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides acting on specific cell membrane receptors of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily regulate a range of important aspects of nervous and neuroendocrine function. Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is a mammalian neuropeptide that binds to the GRP receptor (GRPR, BB2). Increasing evidence indicates that GRPR-mediated signaling in the central nervous system (CNS) plays an important role in regulating brain function, including aspects related to emotional responses, social interaction, memory, and feeding behavior. In addition, some alterations in GRP or GRPR expression or function have been described in patients with neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental, and psychiatric disorders, as well as in brain tumors. Findings from preclinical models are consistent with the view that the GRPR might play a role in brain disorders, and raise the possibility that GRPR agonists might ameliorate cognitive and social deficits associated with neurological diseases, while antagonists may reduce anxiety and inhibit the growth of some types of brain cancer. Further preclinical and translational studies evaluating the potential therapeutic effects of GRPR ligands are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Roesler
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Neural Tumor Biology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
- Cancer Research Laboratory, University Hospital Research Center (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
- National Institute for Translational MedicinePorto Alegre, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Rafael Roesler, Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Neural Tumor Biology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90050-170 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. e-mail:
| | - Gilberto Schwartsmann
- Cancer Research Laboratory, University Hospital Research Center (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
- National Institute for Translational MedicinePorto Alegre, Brazil
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
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