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Mitra S, Werner CT, Shwani T, Lopez AG, Federico D, Higdon K, Li X, Gobira PH, Thomas SA, Martin JA, An C, Chandra R, Maze I, Neve R, Lobo MK, Gancarz AM, Dietz DM. A Novel Role for the Histone Demethylase JMJD3 in Mediating Heroin-Induced Relapse-Like Behaviors. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01452-5. [PMID: 39019389 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic changes that lead to long-term neuroadaptations following opioid exposure are not well understood. We examined how histone demethylase JMJD3 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) influences heroin seeking after abstinence from self-administration. METHODS Male Sprague Dawley rats were trained to self-administer heroin. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to quantify JMJD3 and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway expression in the NAc (n = 7-11/group). Pharmacological inhibitors or viral expression vectors were microinfused into the NAc to manipulate JMJD3 or the BMP pathway member SMAD1 (n = 9-11/group). The RiboTag capture method (n = 3-5/group) and viral vectors (n = 7-8/group) were used in male transgenic rats to identify the contributions of D1- and D2-expressing medium spiny neurons in the NAc. Drug seeking was tested by cue-induced response previously paired with drug infusion. RESULTS Levels of JMJD3 and phosphorylated SMAD1/5 in the NAc were increased after 14 days of abstinence from heroin self-administration. Pharmacological and virus-mediated inhibition of JMJD3 or the BMP pathway attenuated cue-induced seeking. Pharmacological inhibition of BMP signaling reduced JMJD3 expression and H3K27me3 levels. JMJD3 bidirectionally affected seeking: expression of the wild-type increased cue-induced seeking whereas expression of a catalytic dead mutant decreased it. JMJD3 expression was increased in D2+ but not D1+ medium spiny neurons. Expression of the mutant JMJD3 in D2+ neurons was sufficient to decrease cue-induced heroin seeking. CONCLUSIONS JMJD3 mediates persistent cellular and behavioral adaptations that underlie heroin relapse, and this activity is regulated by the BMP pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swarup Mitra
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Craig T Werner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Treefa Shwani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Ana Garcia Lopez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Dale Federico
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Kate Higdon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Xiaofang Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Pedro H Gobira
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Shruthi A Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Jennifer A Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Chunna An
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ian Maze
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Rachel Neve
- Gene Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, California
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Program in Neuroscience, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York.
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Zheng F, Dahlmanns M, Kessler P, Alzheimer C. Increase in activin A may counteract decline in synaptic plasticity with age. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1382492. [PMID: 38646448 PMCID: PMC11026702 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1382492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family, is widely recognized for its neurotrophic and neuroprotective function in the developing and injured brain, respectively. Moreover, in the healthy adult brain, activin A has been shown to tune signal processing at excitatory synapses in a fashion that improves cognitive performance. Because its level in human cerebrospinal fluid rises with age, we wondered whether activin A has a role in mitigating the gradual cognitive decline that healthy individuals experience in late-life. To interrogate the role of activin A in synaptic plasticity in the aging brain, we used an established transgenic mouse line, in which expression of a dominant-negative mutant of activin receptor IB (dnActRIB) serves to disrupt activin receptor signaling in a forebrain-specific fashion. In brain slices of young adult dnActRIB mice (2-4 months old), the NMDA receptor-dependent and -independent forms of long-term potentiation (LTP) at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 pyramidal cell synapse of the hippocampus were equally impaired relative to the extent of LTP measured in the wild-type preparation. Unexpectedly, the difference between the genotypes disappeared when the two forms of LTP were re-examined in slices from middle-aged mice (13-16 months old). Since the level of activin A and endogenous ActRIB both displayed a significant elevation in middle-aged hippocampus, we reasoned that with such a rise, the dominant-negative effect of the mutant receptors could be overcome. Substantiating this idea, we found that administration of recombinant activin A was indeed capable of restoring full-blown LTP in slices from young dnActRIB mice. Our data suggest that, beginning in the middle-aged brain, endogenous activin receptor signaling appears to become strengthened in an attempt to stave off cognitive decline. If further corroborated, this concept would also hold promise for new therapeutic venues to preserve cognitive functions in the aged brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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3
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Dahlmanns M, Valero-Aracama MJ, Dahlmanns JK, Zheng F, Alzheimer C. Tonic activin signaling shapes cellular and synaptic properties of CA1 neurons mainly in dorsal hippocampus. iScience 2023; 26:108001. [PMID: 37829200 PMCID: PMC10565779 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Dorsal and ventral hippocampus serve different functions in cognition and affective behavior, but the underpinnings of this diversity at the cellular and synaptic level are not well understood. We found that the basal level of activin A, a member of the TGF-β family, which regulates hippocampal circuits in a behaviorally relevant fashion, is much higher in dorsal than in ventral hippocampus. Using transgenic mice with a forebrain-specific disruption of activin receptor signaling, we identified the pronounced dorsal-ventral gradient of activin A as a major factor determining the distinct neurophysiologic signatures of dorsal and ventral hippocampus, ranging from pyramidal cell firing, tuning of frequency-dependent synaptic facilitation, to long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), and de-potentiation. Thus, the strong activin A tone in dorsal hippocampus appears crucial to establish cellular and synaptic phenotypes that are tailored specifically to the respective network operations in dorsal and ventral hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Dahlmanns
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maria Jesus Valero-Aracama
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jana Katharina Dahlmanns
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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4
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Valero-Aracama MJ, Zheng F, Alzheimer C. Dorsal-Ventral Gradient of Activin Regulates Strength of GABAergic Inhibition along Longitudinal Axis of Mouse Hippocampus in an Activity-Dependent Fashion. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13145. [PMID: 37685952 PMCID: PMC10487617 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The functional and neurophysiological distinction between the dorsal and ventral hippocampus affects also GABAergic inhibition. In line with this notion, ventral CA1 pyramidal cells displayed a more dynamic and effective response to inhibitory input compared to their dorsal counterparts. We posit that this difference is effected by the dorsal-ventral gradient of activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-β family, which is increasingly recognized for its modulatory role in brain regions involved in cognitive functions and affective behavior. Lending credence to this hypothesis, we found that in slices from transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative mutant of activin receptor IB (dnActRIB), inhibitory transmission was enhanced only in CA1 neurons of the dorsal hippocampus, where the basal activin A level is much higher than in the ventral hippocampus. We next asked how a rise in endogenous activin A would affect GABAergic inhibition along the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus. We performed ex vivo recordings in wild-type and dnActRIB mice after overnight exposure to an enriched environment (EE), which engenders a robust increase in activin A levels in both dorsal and ventral hippocampi. Compared to control mice from standard cages, the behaviorally induced surge in activin A produced a decline in ventral inhibition, an effect that was absent in slices from dnActRIB mice. Underscoring the essential role of activin in the EE-associated modulation of ventral inhibition, this effect was mimicked by acute application of recombinant activin A in control slices. In summary, both genetic and behavioral manipulations of activin receptor signaling affected the dorsal-ventral difference in synaptic inhibition, suggesting that activin A regulates the strength of GABAergic inhibition in a region-specific fashion.
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Kajabadi N, Low M, Jacques E, Lad H, Tung LW, Babaeijandaghi F, Gamu D, Zelada D, Wong CK, Chang C, Yi L, Wosczyna MN, Rando TA, Henríquez JP, Gibson WT, Gilbert PM, Rossi FMV. Activation of β-catenin in mesenchymal progenitors leads to muscle mass loss. Dev Cell 2023; 58:489-505.e7. [PMID: 36898377 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Loss of muscle mass is a common manifestation of chronic disease. We find the canonical Wnt pathway to be activated in mesenchymal progenitors (MPs) from cancer-induced cachectic mouse muscle. Next, we induce β-catenin transcriptional activity in murine MPs. As a result, we observe expansion of MPs in the absence of tissue damage, as well as rapid loss of muscle mass. Because MPs are present throughout the organism, we use spatially restricted CRE activation and show that the induction of tissue-resident MP activation is sufficient to induce muscle atrophy. We further identify increased expression of stromal NOGGIN and ACTIVIN-A as key drivers of atrophic processes in myofibers, and we verify their expression by MPs in cachectic muscle. Finally, we show that blocking ACTIVIN-A rescues the mass loss phenotype triggered by β-catenin activation in MPs, confirming its key functional role and strengthening the rationale for targeting this pathway in chronic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Kajabadi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Marcela Low
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Carrera de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, General Lagos 1163, 5090000 Valdivia, Chile
| | - Erik Jacques
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Heta Lad
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Lin Wei Tung
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Farshad Babaeijandaghi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Daniel Gamu
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, C201, 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Diego Zelada
- Neuromuscular Studies Laboratory (NeSt Lab), GDeP, Department of Cell Biology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Chi Kin Wong
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, C201, 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Chihkai Chang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Lin Yi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Michael N Wosczyna
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Musculoskeletal Research Center, Bioengineering Institute, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA; Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Thomas A Rando
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Broad Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Juan Pablo Henríquez
- Neuromuscular Studies Laboratory (NeSt Lab), GDeP, Department of Cell Biology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - William T Gibson
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, C201, 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Penney M Gilbert
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Fabio M V Rossi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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Dahlmanns M, Dahlmanns JK, Schmidt CC, Valero-Aracama MJ, Zheng F, Alzheimer C. Environmental enrichment recruits activin A to recalibrate neural activity in mouse hippocampus. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:663-675. [PMID: 35257169 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The TGF-β family member activin A modulates neural underpinnings of cognitive and affective functions in an activity-dependent fashion. We have previously shown that exploration of a novel and enriched environment (EE) strongly enhanced activin signaling. Whereas the many beneficial effects of EE are amply documented, the underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive. Here, we examined the hypothesis that EE recruits activin to regulate synaptic plasticity in a coordinated, cognition-promoting manner. Elevated activin levels after EE enhanced CA1 pyramidal cell excitability, facilitated synaptic transmission, and promoted long-term potentiation. These EE-induced changes were largely absent in mice expressing a dominant-negative mutant of activin receptor IB. We then interrogated the impact of activin on network oscillations and functional connectivity, using high-speed Ca 2+ imaging to study spike routing within networks formed by dissociated primary hippocampal cultures. Activin facilitated Ca2+ signaling, enhanced the network strength, and shortened the weighted characteristic path length. In the slice preparation, activin promoted theta oscillations during cholinergic stimulation. Thus, we advance activin as an activity-dependent and very early molecular effector that translates behavioral stimuli experienced during EE exposure into a set of synchronized changes in neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity, and network activity that are all tuned to improve cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Dahlmanns
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jana Katharina Dahlmanns
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Carla C Schmidt
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maria Jesus Valero-Aracama
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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7
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Zheng F, Valero-Aracama MJ, Schaefer N, Alzheimer C. Activin A Reduces GIRK Current to Excite Dentate Gyrus Granule Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:920388. [PMID: 35711474 PMCID: PMC9197229 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.920388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin A, a member of the TGF-β family, is recognized as a multifunctional protein in the adult brain with a particular impact on neuronal circuits associated with cognitive and affective functions. Activin receptor signaling in mouse hippocampus is strongly enhanced by the exploration of an enriched environment (EE), a behavioral paradigm known to improve performance in learning and memory tasks and to ameliorate depression-like behaviors. To interrogate the relationship between EE, activin signaling, and cellular excitability in the hippocampus, we performed ex vivo whole-cell recordings from dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells (GCs) of wild type mice and transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative mutant of activin receptor IB (dnActRIB), which disrupts activin signaling in a forebrain-specific fashion. We found that, after overnight EE housing, GC excitability was strongly enhanced in an activin-dependent fashion. Moreover, the effect of EE on GC firing was mimicked by pre-treatment of hippocampal slices from control mice with recombinant activin A for several hours. The excitatory effect of activin A was preserved when canonical SMAD-dependent signaling was pharmacologically suppressed but was blocked by inhibitors of ERK-MAPK and PKA signaling. The involvement of a non-genomic signaling cascade was supported by the fact that the excitatory effect of activin A was already achieved within minutes of application. With respect to the ionic mechanism underlying the increase in intrinsic excitability, voltage-clamp recordings revealed that activin A induced an apparent inward current, which resulted from the suppression of a standing G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) current. The link between EE, enhanced activin signaling, and inhibition of GIRK current was strengthened by the following findings: (i) The specific GIRK channel blocker tertiapin Q (TQ) occluded the characteristic electrophysiological effects of activin A in both current- and voltage-clamp recordings. (ii) The outward current evoked by the GIRK channel activator adenosine was significantly reduced by preceding EE exploration as well as by recombinant activin A in control slices. In conclusion, our study identifies GIRK current suppression via non-canonical activin signaling as a mechanism that might at least in part contribute to the beneficial effects of EE on cognitive performance and affective behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology
and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Christian Alzheimer Fang Zheng
| | - Maria Jesus Valero-Aracama
- Institute of Physiology
and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Natascha Schaefer
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology
and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Christian Alzheimer Fang Zheng
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Schmidt CC, Zheng F, Alzheimer C. Activin A regulates the excitability of hippocampal mossy cells. Hippocampus 2022; 32:401-410. [PMID: 35301773 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mossy cells (MCs) in the hilus of the dentate gyrus (DG) receive increasing attention as a major player controlling information processing in the DG network. Furthermore, disturbed MC activity has been implicated in widespread neuropsychiatric disorders such as epilepsy and major depression. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from MCs in acute hippocampal slices from wild type and transgenic mice, we demonstrate that activin, a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family, has a strong neuromodulatory effect on MC activity. Disruption of activin receptor signaling reduced MC firing, dampened their excitatory input and augmented their inhibitory input. By contrast, acute application of recombinant activin A strongly increased MC activity and promoted excitatory synaptic drive. Notably, similar changes of MC activity have been observed in a rodent model of depression and after antidepressant drug therapy, respectively. Given that a rise in activin signaling particularly in the DG has been proposed as a mechanism of antidepressant action, our data suggest that the effect of activin on MC excitability might make a considerable contribution in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla C Schmidt
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Neuroadaptations and TGF-β signaling: emerging role in models of neuropsychiatric disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:296-306. [PMID: 34131268 PMCID: PMC8671568 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01186-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric diseases are manifested by maladaptive behavioral plasticity. Despite the greater understanding of the neuroplasticity underlying behavioral adaptations, pinpointing precise cellular mediators has remained elusive. This has stymied the development of pharmacological interventions to combat these disorders both at the level of progression and relapse. With increased knowledge on the putative role of the transforming growth factor (TGF- β) family of proteins in mediating diverse neuroadaptations, the influence of TGF-β signaling in regulating maladaptive cellular and behavioral plasticity underlying neuropsychiatric disorders is being increasingly elucidated. The current review is focused on what is currently known about the TGF-β signaling in the central nervous system in mediating cellular and behavioral plasticity related to neuropsychiatric manifestations.
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Dentate gyrus activin signaling mediates the antidepressant response. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:7. [PMID: 33414389 PMCID: PMC7791138 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01156-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antidepressants that target monoaminergic systems, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are widely used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder, several anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, these treatments are not ideal because only a subset of patients achieve remission. The reasons why some individuals remit to antidepressant treatments while others do not are unknown. Here, we developed a paradigm to assess antidepressant treatment resistance in mice. Exposure of male C57BL/6J mice to either chronic corticosterone administration or chronic social defeat stress induces maladaptive affective behaviors. Subsequent chronic treatment with the SSRI fluoxetine reverses these maladaptive affective behavioral changes in some, but not all, of the mice, permitting stratification into persistent responders and non-responders to fluoxetine. We found several differences in expression of Activin signaling-related genes between responders and non-responders in the dentate gyrus (DG), a region that is critical for the beneficial behavioral effects of fluoxetine. Enhancement of Activin signaling in the DG converted behavioral non-responders into responders to fluoxetine treatment more effectively than commonly used second-line antidepressant treatments, while inhibition of Activin signaling in the DG converted responders into non-responders. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the behavioral response to fluoxetine can be bidirectionally modified via targeted manipulations of the DG and suggest that molecular- and neural circuit-based modulations of DG may provide a new therapeutic avenue for more effective antidepressant treatments.
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Arifuzzaman S, Khatun MR, Khatun R. Emerging of lysine demethylases (KDMs): From pathophysiological insights to novel therapeutic opportunities. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 129:110392. [PMID: 32574968 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there have been remarkable scientific advancements in the understanding of lysine demethylases (KDMs) because of their demethylation of diverse substrates, including nucleic acids and proteins. Novel structural architectures, physiological roles in the gene expression regulation, and ability to modify protein functions made KDMs the topic of interest in biomedical research. These structural diversities allow them to exert their function either alone or in complex with numerous other bio-macromolecules. Impressive number of studies have demonstrated that KDMs are localized dynamically across the cellular and tissue microenvironment. Their dysregulation is often associated with human diseases, such as cancer, immune disorders, neurological disorders, and developmental abnormalities. Advancements in the knowledge of the underlying biochemistry and disease associations have led to the development of a series of modulators and technical compounds. Given the distinct biophysical and biochemical properties of KDMs, in this review we have focused on advances related to the structure, function, disease association, and therapeutic targeting of KDMs highlighting improvements in both the specificity and efficacy of KDM modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarder Arifuzzaman
- Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh; Everest Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh.
| | - Mst Reshma Khatun
- Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh
| | - Rabeya Khatun
- Department of Pediatrics, TMSS Medical College and Rafatullah Community Hospital, Gokul, Bogura, 5800, Bangladesh
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12
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von Wittgenstein J, Zheng F, Wittmann MT, Balta EA, Ferrazzi F, Schäffner I, Häberle BM, Valero-Aracama MJ, Koehl M, Miranda CJ, Kaspar BK, Ekici AB, Reis A, Abrous DN, Alzheimer C, Lie DC. Sox11 is an Activity-Regulated Gene with Dentate-Gyrus-Specific Expression Upon General Neural Activation. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:3731-3743. [PMID: 32080705 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal activity initiates transcriptional programs that shape long-term changes in plasticity. Although neuron subtypes differ in their plasticity response, most activity-dependent transcription factors (TFs) are broadly expressed across neuron subtypes and brain regions. Thus, how region- and neuronal subtype-specific plasticity are established on the transcriptional level remains poorly understood. We report that in young adult (i.e., 6-8 weeks old) mice, the developmental TF SOX11 is induced in neurons within 6 h either by electroconvulsive stimulation or by exploration of a novel environment. Strikingly, SOX11 induction was restricted to the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. In the novel environment paradigm, SOX11 was observed in a subset of c-FOS expressing neurons (ca. 15%); whereas around 75% of SOX11+ DG granule neurons were c-FOS+, indicating that SOX11 was induced in an activity-dependent fashion in a subset of neurons. Environmental enrichment or virus-mediated overexpression of SOX11 enhanced the excitability of DG granule cells and downregulated the expression of different potassium channel subunits, whereas conditional Sox11/4 knock-out mice presented the opposite phenotype. We propose that Sox11 is regulated in an activity-dependent fashion, which is specific to the DG, and speculate that activity-dependent Sox11 expression may participate in the modulation of DG neuron plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia von Wittgenstein
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marie-Theres Wittmann
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Elli-Anna Balta
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fulvia Ferrazzi
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Iris Schäffner
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Benjamin M Häberle
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maria J Valero-Aracama
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Muriel Koehl
- Neurocentre Magendie U1215, INSERM and Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33000, France
| | - Carlos J Miranda
- The Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Brian K Kaspar
- The Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Arif B Ekici
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - André Reis
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Djoher Nora Abrous
- Neurocentre Magendie U1215, INSERM and Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33000, France
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - D Chichung Lie
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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13
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H3.3 Barcoding of Nucleus Accumbens Transcriptional Activity Identifies Novel Molecular Cascades Associated with Cocaine Self-administration in Mice. J Neurosci 2019; 39:5247-5254. [PMID: 31043484 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0015-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although numerous epigenetic modifications have been associated with addiction, little work has explored the turnover of histone variants. Uniquely, the H3.3 variant incorporates stably and preferentially into chromatin independently of DNA replication at active sites of transcription and transcription factor binding. Thus, genomic regions associated with H3.3-containing nucleosomes are particularly likely to be involved in plasticity, such as following repeated cocaine exposure. A recently developed mouse line expressing a neuron-specific hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged H3.3 protein was used to track transcriptionally active sites cumulatively across 19 d of cocaine self-administration. RNA-seq and H3.3-HA ChIP-seq analyses were performed on NAcc tissue collected following cocaine or food self-administration in male mice. RNA sequencing revealed five genes upregulated in cocaine relative to food self-administering mice: Fosb, Npas4, Vgf, Nptx2, and Pmepa1, which reflect known and novel cocaine plasticity-associated genes. Subsequent ChIP-seq analysis confirmed increased H3.3 aggregation at four of these five loci, thus validating H3.3 insertion as a marker of enhanced cocaine-induced transcription. Further motif recognition analysis of the ChIP-seq data showed that cocaine-associated differential H3.3 accumulation correlated with the presence of several transcription factor binding motifs, including RBPJ1, EGR1, and SOX4, suggesting that these are potentially important regulators of molecular cascades associated with cocaine-induced neuronal plasticity. Additional ontological analysis revealed differential H3.3 accumulation mainly near genes involved in neuronal differentiation and dendrite formation. These results establish the H3.3-HA transgenic mouse line as a compelling molecular barcoding tool to identify the cumulative effects of long-term environmental perturbations, such as exposure to drugs of abuse.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Histone H3.3 is a core histone variant that is stably incorporated at active sites of transcription. We used a tagged version of H3.3 expressed exclusively in neurons to delineate active transcription sites following extended cocaine self-administration in mice. This approach revealed the cumulative list of genes expressed in response to cocaine taking over the course of several weeks. We combined this technique with RNA sequencing of tissue collected from the same animals 24 h after the last cocaine exposure. Comparing these datasets provided a full picture of genes that respond to chronic cocaine exposure in NAcc neurons. These studies revealed novel transcription factors that are likely involved in cocaine-induced plasticity and addiction-like behaviors.
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Nakajima T, Hata R, Kunieda Y, Kondo T. Distribution of Smad mRNA and proteins in the rat brain. J Chem Neuroanat 2017; 90:11-39. [PMID: 29196107 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2017.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Smad proteins are known to transduce the action of TGF-β superfamily proteins including TGF-βs, activins, and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). In this study, we examined the expression of Smad1, -2, -3, -4, -5, and -8 mRNA in the rat brain by means of RT-PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH). In addition, we examined the nuclear accumulation of Smad1, -2, -3, -5, and -8 proteins after intracerebroventricular injection of TGF-β1, activin A, or BMP6 with immunohistochemistry to investigate whether TGF-β, activin, and/or BMP activate Smads in the rat brain. RT-PCR analysis revealed that Smad1, -2, -3, -4, -5, and -8 mRNA was expressed in the brain and that the Smad3 and Smad8 mRNA differed in the expression level between brain regions. For example, there were high levels of expression of Smad3 mRNA in the cerebral cortex, caudate putamen/globus pallidus, and cerebellum, but low levels in the thalamus and midbrain. Expression of Smad8 mRNA was higher in the midbrain, cerebellum, and pons/medulla oblongata in comparison to the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, caudate putamen/globus pallidus, hippocampus/dentate gyrus, and thalamus. ISH signals for Smad1 mRNA were widely detected in the brain except for a small number of regions including the olfactory tubercle, posterior region of hypothalamus, and cerebellar nuclei. ISH signals for Smad2 mRNA were abundantly observed in several brain regions including the olfactory bulb, piriform cortex, basal ganglia, cingulate cortex, epithalamus, including the pineal gland and medial habenular nuclei, hypothalamus, inferior colliculi of the midbrain, and some nuclei in the pons, cerebellar cortex, and choroid plexus. ISH signals for Smad3 mRNA were also abundantly observed in several brain regions. Especially strong signals for Smad3 mRNA were observed in the olfactory tubercle, piriform cortex, basal ganglia, dentate gyrus, and cingulate cortex. ISH signals for Smad5 and Smad8 mRNA were restricted to a small number of brain regions, the signal intensity of which was weak. ISH signals for Smad4 mRNA were detected in all regions examined. Intracerebroventricular injection of activin A induced nuclear accumulation of Smad2 and Smad3 immunoreactivity in neurons. In contrast, intracerebroventricular injection of TGF-β1 or BMP6 did not induce nuclear accumulation of the immunoreactivity for any Smad in neurons. These results suggest that activin-Smad signaling plays an important role in brain homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Nakajima
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku-Ohraikita, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531, Japan.
| | - Ryusuke Hata
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku-Ohraikita, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531, Japan
| | - Yuji Kunieda
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku-Ohraikita, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kondo
- Department of Integrated Structural Biosciences, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku-Ohraikita, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531, Japan
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15
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Haridoss S, Yovchev MI, Schweizer H, Megherhi S, Beecher M, Locker J, Oertel M. Activin A is a prominent autocrine regulator of hepatocyte growth arrest. Hepatol Commun 2017; 1:852-870. [PMID: 29404498 PMCID: PMC5721463 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Activin A, a multifunctional cytokine, plays an important role in hepatocyte growth suppression and is involved in liver size control. The present study was aimed to determine the cell location of activin A in the normal rat liver microenvironment and the contribution of activin A signaling to the hepatocyte phenotype to obtain insight into molecular mechanisms. Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization analyses identified hepatocytes as the major activin A‐positive cell population in normal liver and identified mast cells as an additional activin A source. To investigate paracrine and autocrine activin A‐stimulated effects, hepatocytes were cocultured with engineered activin A‐secreting cell lines (RF1, TL8) or transduced with an adeno‐associated virus vector encoding activin βA, which led to strikingly altered expression of cell cycle‐related genes (Ki‐67, E2F transcription factor 1 [E2F1], minichromosome maintenance complex component 2 [Mcm2], forkhead box M1 [FoxM1]) and senescence‐related genes (cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 2B [p15INK4b/CDKN2B], differentiated embryo‐chondrocyte expressed gene 1 [DEC1]) and reduced proliferation and induction of senescence. Microarray analyses identified 453 differentially expressed genes, many of which were not yet recognized as activin A downstream targets (e.g., ADAM metallopeptidase domain 12 [Adam12], semaphorin 7A [Sema7a], LIM and cysteine‐rich domains‐1 [Lmcd1], DAB2, clathrin adaptor protein [Dab2]). Among the main activin A‐mediated molecular/cellular functions are cellular growth/proliferation and movement, molecular transport, and metabolic processes containing highly down‐regulated genes, such as cytochrome P450, subfamily 2, polypeptide 11 (Cyp2C11), sulfotransferase family 1A, member 1 (Sult1a1), glycine‐N‐acyltransferase (Glyat), and bile acid‐CoA:amino acid N‐acyltransferase (Baat). Moreover, Ingenuity Pathway Analyses identified particular gene networks regulated by hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)‐4α and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) as key targets of activin A signaling. Conclusion: Our in vitro models demonstrated that activin A‐stimulated growth inhibition and cellular senescence is mediated through p15INK4b/CDKN2B and is associated with up‐ and down‐regulation of numerous target genes involved in multiple biological processes performed by hepatocytes, suggesting that activin A fulfills a critical role in normal liver function. (Hepatology Communications 2017;1:852‐870)
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Maria Beecher
- Department of Pathology University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
| | - Joseph Locker
- Department of Pathology University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
| | - Michael Oertel
- Department of Pathology University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA.,McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
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16
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Activin Controls Ethanol Potentiation of Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission Through GABAA Receptors and Concomitant Behavioral Sedation. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:2024-33. [PMID: 26717882 PMCID: PMC4908639 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Activin, a member of the transforming growth factor-β family, exerts multiple functions in the nervous system. Originally identified as a neurotrophic and -protective agent, increasing evidence implicates activin also in the regulation of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission in brain regions associated with cognitive and affective functions. To explore how activin impacts on ethanol potentiation of GABA synapses and related behavioral paradigms, we used an established transgenic model of disrupted activin receptor signaling, in which mice express a dominant-negative activin receptor IB mutant (dnActRIB) under the control of the CaMKIIα promoter. Comparison of GABAA receptor currents in hippocampal neurons from dnActRIB mice and wild-type mice showed that all concentrations of ethanol tested (30-150 mM) produced much stronger potentiation of phasic inhibition in the mutant preparation. In dentate granule cells of dnActRIB mice, tonic GABA inhibition was more pronounced than in wild-type neurons, but remained insensitive to low ethanol (30 mM) in both preparations. The heightened ethanol sensitivity of phasic inhibition in mutant hippocampi resulted from both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms, the latter probably involving PKCɛ. At the behavioral level, ethanol produced significantly stronger sedation in dnActRIB mice than in wild-type mice, but did not affect consumption of ethanol or escalation after withdrawal. We link the abnormal narcotic response of dnActRIB mice to ethanol to the excessive potentiation of inhibitory neurotransmission. Our study suggests that activin counteracts oversedation from ethanol by curtailing its augmenting effect at GABA synapses.
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17
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Link AS, Zheng F, Alzheimer C. Activin Signaling in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Neuropsychiatric Diseases. Front Mol Neurosci 2016; 9:32. [PMID: 27242425 PMCID: PMC4861723 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2016.00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Activins are members of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family and serve as multifunctional regulatory proteins in many tissues and organs. In the brain, activin A, which is formed by two disulfide-linked βA subunits, is recognized as the predominant player in activin signaling. Over the last years, considerable progress has been made in elucidating novel and unexpected functions of activin in the normal and diseased brain and in deciphering the underlying molecular mechanisms. Initially identified as a neurotrophic and protective factor during development and in several forms of acute injury, the scope of effects of activin A in the adult central nervous system (CNS) has been considerably broadened by now. Here, we will highlight recent findings that bear significance for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric diseases and might hold promise for novel therapeutic strategies. While the basal level of activin A in the adult brain is low, significant short-term up-regulation occurs in response to increased neuronal activity. In fact, brief exposure to an enriched environment (EE) is already sufficient to considerably strengthen activin signaling. Enhancement of this pathway tunes the performance of glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses in a fashion that impacts on cognitive functions and affective behavior, counteracts death-inducing signals through extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (NMDARs), and stimulates adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus. We will discuss how impaired activin signaling is involved in anxiety disorders, depression, drug dependence, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and how reinforcement of activin signaling might be exploited for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Link
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Erlangen, Germany
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18
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Pusalkar M, Ghosh S, Jaggar M, Husain BFA, Galande S, Vaidya VA. Acute and Chronic Electroconvulsive Seizures (ECS) Differentially Regulate the Expression of Epigenetic Machinery in the Adult Rat Hippocampus. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2016; 19:pyw040. [PMID: 27207907 PMCID: PMC5043647 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyw040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electroconvulsive seizure treatment is a fast-acting antidepressant therapy that evokes rapid transcriptional, neurogenic, and behavioral changes. Epigenetic mechanisms contribute to altered gene regulation, which underlies the neurogenic and behavioral effects of electroconvulsive seizure. We hypothesized that electroconvulsive seizure may modulate the expression of epigenetic machinery, thus establishing potential alterations in the epigenetic landscape. METHODS We examined the influence of acute and chronic electroconvulsive seizure on the gene expression of histone modifiers, namely histone acetyltransferases, histone deacetylases, histone methyltransferases, and histone (lysine) demethylases as well as DNA modifying enzymes, including DNA methyltransferases, DNA demethylases, and methyl-CpG-binding proteins in the hippocampi of adult male Wistar rats using quantitative real time-PCR analysis. Further, we examined the influence of acute and chronic electroconvulsive seizure on global and residue-specific histone acetylation and methylation levels within the hippocampus, a brain region implicated in the cellular and behavioral effects of electroconvulsive seizure. RESULTS Acute and chronic electroconvulsive seizure induced a primarily unique, and in certain cases bidirectional, regulation of histone and DNA modifiers, and methyl-CpG-binding proteins, with an overlapping pattern of gene regulation restricted to Sirt4, Mll3, Jmjd3, Gadd45b, Tet2, and Tet3. Global histone acetylation and methylation levels were predominantly unchanged, with the exception of a significant decline in H3K9 acetylation in the hippocampus following chronic electroconvulsive seizure. CONCLUSIONS Electroconvulsive seizure treatment evokes the transcriptional regulation of several histone and DNA modifiers, and methyl-CpG-binding proteins within the hippocampus, with a predominantly distinct pattern of regulation induced by acute and chronic electroconvulsive seizure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhavi Pusalkar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (Dr Pusalkar, Ms Ghosh, Ms Jaggar, Ms Husain, and Dr Vaidya); Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India (Dr Galande)
| | - Shreya Ghosh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (Dr Pusalkar, Ms Ghosh, Ms Jaggar, Ms Husain, and Dr Vaidya); Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India (Dr Galande)
| | - Minal Jaggar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (Dr Pusalkar, Ms Ghosh, Ms Jaggar, Ms Husain, and Dr Vaidya); Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India (Dr Galande)
| | - Basma Fatima Anwar Husain
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (Dr Pusalkar, Ms Ghosh, Ms Jaggar, Ms Husain, and Dr Vaidya); Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India (Dr Galande)
| | - Sanjeev Galande
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (Dr Pusalkar, Ms Ghosh, Ms Jaggar, Ms Husain, and Dr Vaidya); Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India (Dr Galande)
| | - Vidita A Vaidya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (Dr Pusalkar, Ms Ghosh, Ms Jaggar, Ms Husain, and Dr Vaidya); Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India (Dr Galande).
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