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League AF, Gorman BL, Hermes DJ, Johnson CT, Jacobs IR, Yadav-Samudrala BJ, Poklis JL, Niphakis MJ, Cravatt BF, Lichtman AH, Ignatowska-Jankowska BM, Fitting S. Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitor MJN110 Reduces Neuronal Hyperexcitability, Restores Dendritic Arborization Complexity, and Regulates Reward-Related Behavior in Presence of HIV-1 Tat. Front Neurol 2021; 12:651272. [PMID: 34484091 PMCID: PMC8415271 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.651272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
While current therapeutic strategies for people living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) suppress virus replication peripherally, viral proteins such as transactivator of transcription (Tat) enter the central nervous system early upon infection and contribute to chronic inflammatory conditions even alongside antiretroviral treatment. As demand grows for supplemental strategies to combat virus-associated pathology presenting frequently as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), the present study aimed to characterize the potential utility of inhibiting monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) activity to increase inhibitory activity at cannabinoid receptor-type 1 receptors through upregulation of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and downregulation of its degradation into proinflammatory metabolite arachidonic acid (AA). The MAGL inhibitor MJN110 significantly reduced intracellular calcium and increased dendritic branching complexity in Tat-treated primary frontal cortex neuron cultures. Chronic MJN110 administration in vivo increased 2-AG levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum across Tat(+) and Tat(–) groups and restored PFC N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) levels in Tat(+) subjects. While Tat expression significantly increased rate of reward-related behavioral task acquisition in a novel discriminative stimulus learning and cognitive flexibility assay, MJN110 altered reversal acquisition specifically in Tat(+) mice to rates indistinguishable from Tat(–) controls. Collectively, our results suggest a neuroprotective role of MAGL inhibition in reducing neuronal hyperexcitability, restoring dendritic arborization complexity, and mitigating neurocognitive alterations driven by viral proteins associated with latent HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis F League
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Benjamin L Gorman
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Douglas J Hermes
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Clare T Johnson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Ian R Jacobs
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Barkha J Yadav-Samudrala
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Justin L Poklis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Micah J Niphakis
- Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Benjamin F Cravatt
- Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | | | - Sylvia Fitting
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Kaluba L, Goma F, Guure C, Munsaka S, Mutale W, Heimburger DC, Chikopela T, Koethe JR. Immune activation and arterial stiffness in lean adults with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. South Afr J HIV Med 2021; 22:1190. [PMID: 33824734 PMCID: PMC8008040 DOI: 10.4102/sajhivmed.v22i1.1190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Greater T-cell activation was associated with reduced vascular compliance amongst persons living with HIV (PLWH) especially among overweight and obese individuals. There is a paucity of data regarding immune activation and arterial stiffness amongst PLWH in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Objective To determine the association between immune activation and arterial stiffness in lean PLWH in SSA. Method Forty-eight human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) adults on antiretroviral therapy (ART) >5 years and 26 HIV-negative adults, all with BMI < 25 kg/m2 and no history of CVD, were enrolled. The relationship of vascular compliance with circulating CD4+ and CD8+ naïve, memory, activated and senescent T cells, and serum 8-isoprostane was assessed by HIV status. Results Increased immune activation was observed in the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells of PLWH, 16.7% vs. 8.9% and 22.0% vs. 12.4% respectively; p < 0.001 (both). Furthermore, a higher proportion of senescent CD4+ T cells were associated with a lower carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV; p = 0.01), whilst a higher proportion of activated CD8+ T cells were associated with a lower carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (crPWV; p = 0.04), after adjustment for BMI and age. However, PLWH also had a higher median carotid-femoral augmentation index (cfAiX) (21.1% vs. 6.0%; p < 0.05) in comparison to their HIV controls. Conclusion Our population of lean PLWH had increased immune activation and higher cfAiX, a marker of arterial stiffness, compared to HIV-negative persons. The negative association between immune activation and arterial stiffness as measured by crPWV in PLHW on long-term treatment needs further elucidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longa Kaluba
- School of Medicine, Cavendish University Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Fastone Goma
- Eden University, Lusaka, Zambia.,Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Chris Guure
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Sody Munsaka
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Wilbroad Mutale
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Douglas C Heimburger
- Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health and Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Theresa Chikopela
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Lusaka Apex University, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - John R Koethe
- Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health and Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, Nashville, TN, United States of America
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Wigner P, Synowiec E, Czarny P, Bijak M, Jóźwiak P, Szemraj J, Gruca P, Papp M, Śliwiński T. Effects of venlafaxine on the expression level and methylation status of genes involved in oxidative stress in rats exposed to a chronic mild stress. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:5675-5694. [PMID: 32281745 PMCID: PMC7214168 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent human and animal studies indicate that oxidative and nitrosative stress may play a role in the aetiology and pathogenesis of depression. This study investigates the effect of chronic administration of the serotonin‐norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, venlafaxine, on the expression and methylation status of SOD1, SOD2, GPx1, GPx4, CAT, NOS1 and NOS2 in the brain and blood of rats exposed to a chronic mild stress (CMS) model of depression. Separate groups of animals were exposed to CMS for 2 or 7 weeks; the second group received saline or venlafaxine (10 mg/kg/d, IP) for 5 weeks. After completion of both stress conditions and drug administration, the mRNA and protein expression of selected genes and the methylation status of their promoters were measured in peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs) and in brain structures (hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, midbrain, cortex, basal ganglia) with the use of TaqMan Gene Expression Assay, Western blot and methylation‐sensitive high‐resolution melting techniques. CMS caused a decrease in sucrose consumption, and this effect was normalized by fluoxetine. In PBMCs, SOD1, SOD2 and NOS2 mRNA expression changed only after venlafaxine administration. In brain, CAT, Gpx1, Gpx4 and NOS1 gene expression changed following CMS or venlafaxine exposure, most prominently in the hippocampus, midbrain and basal ganglia. CMS increased the methylation of the Gpx1 promoter in PBMCs, the second Gpx4 promoter in midbrain and basal ganglia, and SOD1 and SOD2 in hippocampus. The CMS animals treated with venlafaxine displayed a significantly higher CAT level in midbrain and cerebral cortex. CMS caused an elevation of Gpx4 in the hippocampus, which was lowered in cerebral cortex by venlafaxine. The results indicate that CMS and venlafaxine administration affect the methylation of promoters of genes involved in oxidative and nitrosative stress. They also indicate that peripheral and central tissue differ in their response to stress or antidepressant treatments. It is possible that that apart from DNA methylation, a crucial role of expression level of genes may be played by other forms of epigenetic regulation, such as histone modification or microRNA interference. These findings provide strong evidence for thesis that analysis of the level of mRNA and protein expression as well as the status of promoter methylation can help in understanding the pathomechanisms of mental diseases, including depression, and the mechanisms of action of drugs effective in their therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Wigner
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ewelina Synowiec
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Piotr Czarny
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Michal Bijak
- Department of General Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Paweł Jóźwiak
- Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Janusz Szemraj
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Piotr Gruca
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Mariusz Papp
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Tomasz Śliwiński
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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Douet V, Tanizaki N, Franke A, Li X, Chang L. Polymorphism of Kynurenine Pathway-Related Genes, Kynurenic Acid, and Psychopathological Symptoms in HIV. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2016; 11:549-61. [PMID: 27072370 PMCID: PMC6502481 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-016-9668-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
HIV-infection is associated with neuroinflammation and greater psychopathological symptoms, which may be mediated by imbalances in the kynurenic pathway (KP). Two key KP enzymes that catabolize kynurenine include kynurenine-aminotransferase II (KATII), which yields antioxidative kynurenine acid [KYNA] in astrocytes, and kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO), which produces neurotoxic metabolites in microglia. The relationships between polymorphisms in KMO and KATII, psychopathological symptoms, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) [KYNA] were evaluated in subjects with and without HIV-infection. Seventy-two HIV-positive and 72-seronegative (SN) participants were genotyped for KATII-rs1480544 and KMO-rs1053230. Although our participants were not currently diagnosed with depression or anxiety, they were assessed for psychopathological distress with Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. CSF-[KYNA] was also measured in 100 subjects (49 HIV/51 SN). HIV-participants had more psychopathological distress than SN, especially for anxiety. KATII-by-HIV interactions were found on anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity and obsessive compulsivity; KATII-C-carriers had lower scores than TT-carriers in SN but not in HIV. In contrast, the KMO-polymorphism had no influence on psychopathological symptoms in both groups. Overall, CSF-[KYNA] increased with age independently of HIV-serostatus, except KATII-TT-carriers tended to show no age-dependent variations. Therefore, the C-allele in KATII-rs1480544 appears to be protective against psychopathological distress in SN but not in HIV individuals, who had more psychopathological symptoms and likely greater neuroinflammation. The age-dependent increase in CSF-[KYNA] may reflect a compensatory response to age-related inflammation, which may be deficient in KATII-TT-carriers. Targeted treatments that decrease neuroinflammation and increase KYNA in at risk KATII-TT-carriers may reduce psychopathological symptoms in HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Douet
- Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i and Queen's Medical Center, 1356 Lusitana Street, 7th Floor, Room 716, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.
| | - Naomi Tanizaki
- Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i and Queen's Medical Center, 1356 Lusitana Street, 7th Floor, Room 716, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
| | - Adrian Franke
- The University of Hawai'i Cancer Center, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Xingnan Li
- The University of Hawai'i Cancer Center, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Linda Chang
- Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i and Queen's Medical Center, 1356 Lusitana Street, 7th Floor, Room 716, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.
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Kesby JP, Markou A, Semenova S. The effects of HIV-1 regulatory TAT protein expression on brain reward function, response to psychostimulants and delay-dependent memory in mice. Neuropharmacology 2016; 109:205-215. [PMID: 27316905 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Depression and psychostimulant abuse are common comorbidities among humans with immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. The HIV regulatory protein TAT is one of multiple HIV-related proteins associated with HIV-induced neurotoxicity. TAT-induced dysfunction of dopamine and serotonin systems in corticolimbic brain areas may result in impaired reward function, thus, contributing to depressive symptoms and psychostimulant abuse. Transgenic mice with doxycycline-induced TAT protein expression in the brain (TAT+, TAT- control) show neuropathology resembling brain abnormalities in HIV+ humans. We evaluated brain reward function in response to TAT expression, nicotine and methamphetamine administration in TAT+ and TAT- mice using the intracranial self-stimulation procedure. We evaluated the brain dopamine and serotonin systems with high-performance liquid chromatography. The effects of TAT expression on delay-dependent working memory in TAT+ and TAT- mice using the operant delayed nonmatch-to-position task were also assessed. During doxycycline administration, reward thresholds were elevated by 20% in TAT+ mice compared with TAT- mice. After the termination of doxycycline treatment, thresholds of TAT+ mice remained significantly higher than those of TAT- mice and this was associated with changes in mesolimbic serotonin and dopamine levels. TAT+ mice showed a greater methamphetamine-induced threshold lowering compared with TAT- mice. TAT expression did not alter delay-dependent working memory. These results indicate that TAT expression in mice leads to reward deficits, a core symptom of depression, and a greater sensitivity to methamphetamine-induced reward enhancement. Our findings suggest that the TAT protein may contribute to increased depressive-like symptoms and continued methamphetamine use in HIV-positive individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Kesby
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Athina Markou
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Svetlana Semenova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Mediouni S, Marcondes MCG, Miller C, McLaughlin JP, Valente ST. The cross-talk of HIV-1 Tat and methamphetamine in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1164. [PMID: 26557111 PMCID: PMC4615951 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy has dramatically improved the lives of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infected individuals. Nonetheless, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), which range from undetectable neurocognitive impairments to severe dementia, still affect approximately 50% of the infected population, hampering their quality of life. The persistence of HAND is promoted by several factors, including longer life expectancies, the residual levels of virus in the central nervous system (CNS) and the continued presence of HIV-1 regulatory proteins such as the transactivator of transcription (Tat) in the brain. Tat is a secreted viral protein that crosses the blood–brain barrier into the CNS, where it has the ability to directly act on neurons and non-neuronal cells alike. These actions result in the release of soluble factors involved in inflammation, oxidative stress and excitotoxicity, ultimately resulting in neuronal damage. The percentage of methamphetamine (MA) abusers is high among the HIV-1-positive population compared to the general population. On the other hand, MA abuse is correlated with increased viral replication, enhanced Tat-mediated neurotoxicity and neurocognitive impairments. Although several strategies have been investigated to reduce HAND and MA use, no clinically approved treatment is currently available. Here, we review the latest findings of the effects of Tat and MA in HAND and discuss a few promising potential therapeutic developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Mediouni
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, FL, USA
| | | | - Courtney Miller
- Department of Metabolism and Aging, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, FL, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Jay P McLaughlin
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Susana T Valente
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, FL, USA
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