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Saha P, Panda S, Holkar A, Vashishth R, Rana SS, Arumugam M, Ashraf GM, Haque S, Ahmad F. Neuroprotection by agmatine: Possible involvement of the gut microbiome? Ageing Res Rev 2023; 91:102056. [PMID: 37673131 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Agmatine, an endogenous polyamine derived from L-arginine, elicits tremendous multimodal neuromodulant properties. Alterations in agmatinergic signalling are closely linked to the pathogeneses of several brain disorders. Importantly, exogenous agmatine has been shown to act as a potent neuroprotectant in varied pathologies, including brain ageing and associated comorbidities. The antioxidant, anxiolytic, analgesic, antidepressant and memory-enhancing activities of agmatine may derive from its ability to regulate several cellular pathways; including cell metabolism, survival and differentiation, nitric oxide signalling, protein translation, oxidative homeostasis and neurotransmitter signalling. This review briefly discusses mammalian metabolism of agmatine and then proceeds to summarize our current understanding of neuromodulation and neuroprotection mediated by agmatine. Further, the emerging exciting bidirectional links between agmatine and the resident gut microbiome and their implications for brain pathophysiology and ageing are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Saha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Subhrajita Panda
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Aayusha Holkar
- Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Rahul Vashishth
- Department of Biosciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Sandeep Singh Rana
- Department of Biosciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Mohanapriya Arumugam
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- University of Sharjah, College of Health Sciences, and Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Shafiul Haque
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia; Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon; Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Faraz Ahmad
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India.
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Leger RF, Unterwald EM. Assessing the effects of methodological differences on outcomes in the use of psychedelics in the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36:20-30. [PMID: 34519567 DOI: 10.1177/02698811211044688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Classical psychedelics are a group of drugs which act as agonists on the serotonin-2A (5-HT2A) receptor. Evidence suggests they may have a uniquely rapid and enduring positive effect on mood. However, marked heterogeneity between methodological designs in this emerging field remains a significant concern. AIMS To determine how differences in the type of psychedelic agent used and the number of dosing sessions administered affect subjects' depression and anxiety outcomes and adverse drug reactions (ADR). METHODS This review collected and screened 1591 records from the MEDLINE and Web of Science databases for clinical trials reporting objective data on mood for subjects with a known anxiety or depression. RESULTS After screening, nine clinical trials met inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of these studies showed significant, large positive effect sizes for measures of anxiety (Cohen's d = 1.26) and depression (Cohen's d = 1.38) overall. These positive effects were also significant at acute (⩽1 week) and extended (>1 week) time points. No significant differences were observed between trials using different psychedelic agents (psilocybin, ayahuasca or lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)), however, a significant difference was observed in favour of trials with multiple dosing sessions. No serious ADR were reported. CONCLUSION Psilocybin, ayahuasca and LSD all appear to be effective and relatively safe agents capable of producing rapid and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression. Moreover, the findings of the present analysis suggest that they may show a greater efficacy when given to patients over multiple sessions as compared to the more common single session used in many of the existing trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert F Leger
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ellen M Unterwald
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Fraga DB, Camargo A, Olescowicz G, Padilha DA, Mina F, Budni J, Brocardo PS, Rodrigues ALS. Ketamine, but not fluoxetine, rapidly rescues corticosterone-induced impairments on glucocorticoid receptor and dendritic branching in the hippocampus of mice. Metab Brain Dis 2021; 36:2223-2233. [PMID: 33950381 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-021-00743-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Although numerous studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying the fast and sustained antidepressant-like effects of ketamine, the contribution of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and dendritic branching remodeling to its responses remain to be fully established. This study investigated the ability of a single administration of ketamine to modulate the GR and dendritic branching remodeling and complexity in the hippocampus of mice subjected to chronic corticosterone (CORT) administration. CORT was administered for 21 days, followed by a single administration of ketamine (1 mg ∕kg, i.p.) or fluoxetine (10 mg ∕kg, p.o., conventional antidepressant) in mice. On 22nd, 24 h after the treatments, GR immunocontent in the hippocampus was analyzed by western blotting, while the dendritic arborization and dendrite length in the ventral and dorsal dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus was analyzed by Sholl analysis. Chronic CORT administration downregulated hippocampal GR immunocontent, but this alteration was completely reversed by a single administration of ketamine, but not fluoxetine. Moreover, CORT administration significantly decreased dendritic branching in the dorsal and ventral DG areas and caused a mild decrease in dendrite length in both regions. Ketamine, but not fluoxetine, reversed CORT-induced dendritic branching loss in the ventral and dorsal DG areas, regions associated with mood regulation and cognitive functions, respectively. This study provides novel evidence that a single administration of ketamine, but not fluoxetine, rescued the impairments on GR and dendritic branching in the hippocampus of mice subjected to chronic CORT administration, effects that may be associated with its rapid antidepressant response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiane B Fraga
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Anderson Camargo
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Gislaine Olescowicz
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Dayane Azevedo Padilha
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Francielle Mina
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Josiane Budni
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Patricia S Brocardo
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Ana Lúcia S Rodrigues
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
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mTOR Knockdown in the Infralimbic Cortex Evokes A Depressive-like State in Mouse. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168671. [PMID: 34445375 PMCID: PMC8395521 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fast and sustained antidepressant effects of ketamine identified the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway as the main modulator of its antidepressive effects. Thus, mTOR signaling has become integral for the preclinical evaluation of novel compounds to treat depression. However, causality between mTOR and depression has yet to be determined. To address this, we knocked down mTOR expression in mice using an acute intracerebral infusion of small interfering RNAs (siRNA) in the infralimbic (IL) or prelimbic (PrL) cortices of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and evaluated depressive- and anxious-like behaviors. mTOR knockdown in IL, but not PrL, cortex produced a robust depressive-like phenotype in mice, as assessed in the forced swimming test (FST) and the tail suspension test (TST). This phenotype was associated with significant reductions of mTOR mRNA and protein levels 48 h post-infusion. In parallel, decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression was found bilaterally in both IL and PrL cortices along with a dysregulation of serotonin (5-HT) and glutamate (Glu) release in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Overall, our results demonstrate causality between mTOR expression in the IL cortex and depressive-like behaviors, but not in anxiety.
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Gruhn K, Siteneski A, Camargo A, Freitas AE, Olescowicz G, Brocardo PS, Rodrigues ALS. Physical exercise stimulates hippocampal mTORC1 and FNDC5/irisin signaling pathway in mice: Possible implication for its antidepressant effect. Behav Brain Res 2020; 400:113040. [PMID: 33279634 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence have consistently indicated that physical exercise has antidepressant effects by improving hippocampal function, although the signaling pathways underpinning these responses are not well established. Therefore, this study investigated the role of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5)/irisin signaling in the antidepressant-like effect of physical exercise. We showed that physical exercise (treadmill running - 45 min/day/5 days/week for 4 weeks) produced an antidepressant-like effect as indicated by a reduction on the immobility time in mice subjected to the forced swimming test (FST) without altering locomotor activity in the open field test (OFT). Rapamycin (a selective mTORC1 inhibitor, 0.2 nmol/site, i.c.v.) administration completely abolished the antidepressant-like effect of physical exercise in the FST, suggesting that mTORC1 activation plays a role for its behavioral effect. Accordingly, physical exercise increased the number of phosphorylated mTORC1 (Ser2448)-positive cells in the entire and ventral subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Physical exercise was also effective in augmenting the hippocampal FNDC5/irisin immunocontent, but rapamycin administration did not alter this effect. Our results reinforce the notion that physical exercise exerts an antidepressant-like effect and identifies the mTORC1-mediated signaling pathway as a target for its behavioral effects. This study provides additional evidence that physical exercise increases hippocampal FNDC5/irisin immunocontent, but this effect seems to be independent on hippocampal mTORC1 activation. Altogether the results contribute to elucidate possible molecular targets implicated in the antidepressant effects of physical exercise and highlight the role of mTORC1 signaling for its behavioral response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Gruhn
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Aline Siteneski
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Institute of Investigation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Technical University of Manabí, 130103, Portoviejo, Manabí, Ecuador
| | - Anderson Camargo
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Andiara E Freitas
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Gislaine Olescowicz
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Patricia S Brocardo
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Ana Lúcia S Rodrigues
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
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