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Clausen M, Christensen RHB, da Re M, Benros ME. Immune Cell Alterations in Psychotic Disorders: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 96:331-341. [PMID: 38185237 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A comprehensive meta-analysis on the composition of circulating immune cells from both the myeloid and the lymphoid lines including specialized subsets in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with psychotic disorders compared with healthy control participants has been lacking. METHODS Multiple databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and PsycINFO) were searched for eligible studies up until October 18, 2022. All studies investigating circulating immune cells in the blood and CSF from patients with psychotic disorders (ICD-10: F20 and F22-29) compared with healthy control participants were included. RESULTS A total of 86 studies were included in the meta-analysis. In the blood, the following categories of immune cells were elevated: leukocyte count (31 studies, standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.46), granulocyte count (4 studies, SMD = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.12 to 1.01), neutrophil granulocyte count (21 studies, SMD = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.54), monocyte count (23 studies, SMD = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.56), and B lymphocyte count (10 studies, SMD = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.48). Additionally, the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (23 studies, SMD = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.60), the monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (9 studies, SMD = 0.31; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.57), and the platelet/lymphocyte ratio (10 studies, SMD = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.43) were elevated. The CSF cell count showed a similar tendency but was not significantly elevated (3 studies, SMD = 0.14; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.32). CONCLUSIONS The results indicate a broad activation of the immune system in psychotic disorders, with cells from both the myeloid and the lymphoid line being elevated. However, CSF analyses were lacking in most of the studies, and many studies were hampered by insufficient adjustment for confounding factors such as body mass index and smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Clausen
- Copenhagen Research Center for Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rune H B Christensen
- Copenhagen Research Center for Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria da Re
- Copenhagen Research Center for Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Michael E Benros
- Copenhagen Research Center for Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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O'Hora KP, Amir CM, Chiem E, Schleifer CH, Grigoryan V, Kushan-Wells L, Chiang JJ, Cole S, Irwin MR, Bearden CE. Differential inflammatory profiles in carriers of reciprocal 22q11.2 copy number variants. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 169:107135. [PMID: 39116521 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107135] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic copy number variants (CNVs; i.e., a deletion or duplication) at the 22q11.2 locus confer increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders and immune dysfunction. Inflammatory profiles of 22q11.2 CNV carriers can shed light on gene-immune relationships that may be related to neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, little is known about inflammation and its relationship to clinical phenotypes in 22q11.2 CNV carriers. Here, we investigate differences in peripheral inflammatory markers in 22q11.2 CNV carriers and explore their relationship with psychosis risk symptoms and sleep disturbance. METHODS Blood samples and clinical assessments were collected from 22q11.2 deletion (22qDel) carriers (n=45), 22q11.2 duplication (22qDup) carriers (n=29), and typically developing (TD) control participants (n=92). Blood plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured using a MesoScale Discovery multiplex immunoassay. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Linear mixed effects models controlling for age, sex, and body mass index were used to: a) examine group differences in inflammatory markers between 22qDel, 22qDup, and TD controls, b) test differences in inflammatory markers between 22qDel carriers with psychosis risk symptoms (22qDelPS+) and those without (22qDelPS-), and c) conduct an exploratory analysis testing the effect of sleep disturbance on inflammation in 22qDel and 22qDup carriers. A false discovery rate correction was used to correct for multiple comparisons. RESULTS 22qDup carriers exhibited significantly elevated levels of IL-8 relative to TD controls (q<0.001) and marginally elevated IL-8 levels relative to 22qDel carriers (q=0.08). There were no other significant differences in inflammatory markers between the three groups (q>0.13). 22qDelPS+ exhibited increased levels of IL-8 relative to both 22qDelPS- (q=0.02) and TD controls (p=0.002). There were no relationships between sleep and inflammatory markers that survived FDR correction (q>0.14). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that CNVs at the 22q11.2 locus may have differential effects on inflammatory processes related to IL-8, a key mediator of inflammation produced by macrophages and microglia. Further, these IL-8-mediated inflammatory processes may be related to psychosis risk symptoms in 22qDel carriers. Additional research is required to understand the mechanisms contributing to these differential levels of IL-8 between 22q11.2 CNV carriers and IL-8's association with psychosis risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen P O'Hora
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carolyn M Amir
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emily Chiem
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Charles H Schleifer
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vardui Grigoryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Leila Kushan-Wells
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Steven Cole
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael R Irwin
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carrie E Bearden
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Akkuş M, Solak H. Elevated levels of oxLDL and LOX-1: Implications for schizophrenia pathophysiology. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 177:140-146. [PMID: 39013288 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.07.015] [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: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Inflammation and oxidative stress are both considered to be factors in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia. LOX-1 (lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1) and ox-LDL (oxidized low-density lipoprotein) have been reported to be active in neuroinflammation pathways in which they are involved in oxidative stress and inflammation. However, its relationship with schizophrenia is unclear. This study aimed to assess the potential connection between serum ox-LDL and LOX-1 levels in schizophrenia patients, their unaffected first-degree relatives, and healthy controls. The study comprised 63 schizophrenia patients, 57 first-degree relatives, and 63 healthy controls who were age, gender, and BMI-matched. Serum ox-LDL and LOX-1 levels were measured. PANSS was used to assess the severity of the disease. Levels of both ox-LDL and LOX-1 were markedly elevated in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia when compared to both their relatives and a control group. While ox-LDL levels were significantly higher in relatives of patients compared to controls, there was no significant difference between relatives of patients and control groups for LOX-1 levels. Significant correlations were observed between PANNS general and total and ox-LDL levels and PANNS negative and LOX-1 levels. The relationship between ox-LDL and LOX-1 and schizophrenia is quite limited in the literature and is a new field of study. Future studies are needed to evaluate their role in etiopathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Akkuş
- Department of Psychiatry, Kütahya Health Sciences University, Faculty of Medicine, Vefa Alayunt Street, 43100, Kutahya Province, Kütahya, Turkey.
| | - Hatice Solak
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kütahya Health Science University, Evliya Çelebi Campus, Tavşanlı Road 10th Km, 43100, Kutahya Province, Kütahya, Turkey.
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Chen Y, Wang S, Zhang X, Yang Q, Hua M, Li Y, Qin W, Liu F, Liang M. Functional Connectivity-Based Searchlight Multivariate Pattern Analysis for Discriminating Schizophrenia Patients and Predicting Clinical Variables. Schizophr Bull 2024:sbae084. [PMID: 38819252 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbae084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia, a multifaceted psychiatric disorder characterized by functional dysconnectivity, poses significant challenges in clinical practice. This study explores the potential of functional connectivity (FC)-based searchlight multivariate pattern analysis (CBS-MVPA) to discriminate between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls while also predicting clinical variables. STUDY DESIGN We enrolled 112 schizophrenia patients and 119 demographically matched healthy controls. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected, and whole-brain FC subnetworks were constructed. Additionally, clinical assessments and cognitive evaluations yielded a dataset comprising 36 clinical variables. Finally, CBS-MVPA was utilized to identify subnetworks capable of effectively distinguishing between the patient and control groups and predicting clinical scores. STUDY RESULTS The CBS-MVPA approach identified 63 brain subnetworks exhibiting significantly high classification accuracies, ranging from 62.2% to 75.6%, in distinguishing individuals with schizophrenia from healthy controls. Among them, 5 specific subnetworks centered on the dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus, superior occipital gyrus, hippocampus, and parahippocampal gyrus showed predictive capabilities for clinical variables within the schizophrenia cohort. CONCLUSION This study highlights the potential of CBS-MVPA as a valuable tool for localizing the information related to schizophrenia in terms of brain network abnormalities and capturing the relationship between these abnormalities and clinical variables, and thus, deepens our understanding of the neurological mechanisms of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yayuan Chen
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging and Tianjin Institute of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging and The Province and Ministry Cosponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Sijia Wang
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging and Tianjin Institute of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging and The Province and Ministry Cosponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qingqing Yang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minghui Hua
- Department of Radiology, Chest Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yifan Li
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging and The Province and Ministry Cosponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wen Qin
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging and Tianjin Institute of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging and Tianjin Institute of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Meng Liang
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging and The Province and Ministry Cosponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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Nisha Aji K, Cisbani G, Weidenauer A, Koppel A, Hafizi S, Da Silva T, Kiang M, Rusjan PM, Bazinet RP, Mizrahi R. Neurofilament light-chain (NfL) and 18 kDa translocator protein in early psychosis and its putative high-risk. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 37:100742. [PMID: 38495956 PMCID: PMC10940889 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Evidence of elevated peripheral Neurofilament light-chain (NfL) as a biomarker of neuronal injury can be utilized to reveal nonspecific axonal damage, which could reflect altered neuroimmune function. To date, only a few studies have investigated NfL as a fluid biomarker in schizophrenia primarily, though none in its putative prodrome (Clinical High-Risk, CHR) or in untreated first-episode psychosis (FEP). Further, it is unknown whether peripheral NfL is associated with 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a validated neuroimmune marker. In this secondary study, we investigated for the first time (1) serum NfL in early stages of psychosis including CHR and FEP as compared to healthy controls, and (2) examined its association with brain TSPO, using [18F]FEPPA positron emission tomography (PET). Further, in the exploratory analyses, we aimed to assess associations between serum NfL and symptom severity in patient group and cognitive impairment in the combined cohort. A large cohort of 84 participants including 27 FEP (24 antipsychotic-naive), 41 CHR (34 antipsychotic-naive) and 16 healthy controls underwent structural brain MRI and [18F]FEPPA PET scan and their blood samples were obtained and assessed for serum NfL concentrations. We found no significant differences in serum NfL levels across clinical groups, controlling for age. We also found no significant association between NfL levels and brain TSPO in the entire cohort. We observed a negative association between serum NfL and negative symptom severity in CHR. Our findings suggest that neither active neuroaxonal deterioration as measured with NfL nor associated neuroimmune activation (TSPO) is clearly identifiable in an early mostly untreated psychosis sample including its putative high-risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kankana Nisha Aji
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Douglas Research Centre, Clinical and Translational Sciences Lab, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Giulia Cisbani
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ana Weidenauer
- Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alex Koppel
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sina Hafizi
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tania Da Silva
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Kiang
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pablo M. Rusjan
- Douglas Research Centre, Clinical and Translational Sciences Lab, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Richard P. Bazinet
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Romina Mizrahi
- Douglas Research Centre, Clinical and Translational Sciences Lab, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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6
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Koskuvi M, Pörsti E, Hewitt T, Räsänen N, Wu YC, Trontti K, McQuade A, Kalyanaraman S, Ojansuu I, Vaurio O, Cannon TD, Lönnqvist J, Therman S, Suvisaari J, Kaprio J, Blurton-Jones M, Hovatta I, Lähteenvuo M, Rolova T, Lehtonen Š, Tiihonen J, Koistinaho J. Genetic contribution to microglial activation in schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02529-1. [PMID: 38519640 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02529-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence indicate the involvement of neuroinflammatory processes in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (SCZ). Microglia are brain resident immune cells responding toward invading pathogens and injury-related products, and additionally, have a critical role in improving neurogenesis and synaptic functions. Aberrant activation of microglia in SCZ is one of the leading hypotheses for disease pathogenesis, but due to the lack of proper human cell models, the role of microglia in SCZ is not well studied. We used monozygotic twins discordant for SCZ and healthy individuals to generate human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia to assess the transcriptional and functional differences in microglia between healthy controls, affected twins and unaffected twins. The microglia from affected twins had increased expression of several common inflammation-related genes compared to healthy individuals. Microglia from affected twins had also reduced response to interleukin 1 beta (IL1β) treatment, but no significant differences in migration or phagocytotic activity. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) showed abnormalities related to extracellular matrix signaling. RNA sequencing predicted downregulation of extracellular matrix structure constituent Gene Ontology (GO) terms and hepatic fibrosis pathway activation that were shared by microglia of both affected and unaffected twins, but the upregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II receptors was observed only in affected twin microglia. Also, the microglia of affected twins had heterogeneous response to clozapine, minocycline, and sulforaphane treatments. Overall, despite the increased expression of inflammatory genes, we observed no clear functional signs of hyperactivation in microglia from patients with SCZ. We conclude that microglia of the patients with SCZ have gene expression aberrations related to inflammation response and extracellular matrix without contributing to increased microglial activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marja Koskuvi
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elina Pörsti
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tristen Hewitt
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Noora Räsänen
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ying-Chieh Wu
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kalevi Trontti
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- SleepWell Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Amanda McQuade
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | - Ilkka Ojansuu
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Olli Vaurio
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tyrone D Cannon
- Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jouko Lönnqvist
- Mental Health Unit, Department of Public Health Solutions, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sebastian Therman
- Mental Health Unit, Department of Public Health Solutions, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaana Suvisaari
- Mental Health Unit, Department of Public Health Solutions, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine FIMM, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mathew Blurton-Jones
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Iiris Hovatta
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- SleepWell Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markku Lähteenvuo
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Taisia Rolova
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Šárka Lehtonen
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jari Koistinaho
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Liu D, Jin Z, Wei H, Zhu C, Liu K, You P, Ju J, Xu J, Zhu W, Xu Q. Anti-SFT2D2 autoantibodies alter dendrite spine and cause psychotic behavior in mice. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 171:99-107. [PMID: 38262166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autoimmunity plays an important role in schizophrenia (SCZ). Autoantibodies against SFT2D2 have been reported in patients with SCZ; however, the specific mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to describe an autoimmune model, namely, mice immunized against SFT2D2-peptides. METHODS ApoE-/- and WT mice (C57BL/6) were immunized four times (day 0, day 14, day 21, day 35) with SFT2D2 peptide or KLH via subcutaneous injection. Behavioral tests were conducted after the third immunization, and immunochemistry of brain tissue were performed after the sacrifice of the mice. RESULTS Active immunization with KLH-coupled SFT2D2-derived peptides in both WT and ApoE-/- (compromised blood-brain barrier) mice led to high circulating levels of anti-SFT2D2 IgG. While there was no detectable deficit in WT mice, impaired pre-pulse inhibition, motor impairments, and reduced cognition in ApoE-/- mice, without signs of anxiety and depression were observed. In addition, immunohistochemical assays demonstrated that activated microglia and astrocytes were increased but neuronal dendritic spine densities were decreased, accompanied by increased expression of complement molecule C4 across brain regions in ApoE-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS In model mice with compromised blood-brain barrier, endogenous anti-SFT2D2 IgG can activate glial cells and modulate synaptic plasticity, and induce a series of psychosis-like changes. These antibodies may reveal valuable therapeutic targets, which may improve the treatment strategies for a subgroup of SCZ patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duilin Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongman Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Caiyun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kejiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Pengsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahang Ju
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jinming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wanwan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
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8
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Yang C, Tian Y, Yang X, Liu L, Ling C, Xia L, Liu H. Hematological and inflammatory markers in Han Chinese patients with drug-free schizophrenia: relationship with symptom severity. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1337103. [PMID: 38352871 PMCID: PMC10861680 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1337103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background There is a growing amount of evidence suggesting that immunity and inflammation play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between hematological and inflammatory markers with symptom severity in Han Chinese patients with drug-free schizophrenia. Methods This retrospective study was conducted at Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University and data were extracted from the electronic medical record system over a 5-year period (May 2017 to April 2022), including participants' general and clinical information as well as Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores and hematological parameters. Results A total of 2,899 patients with schizophrenia were identified through the initial search. After screening, 91 patients and 141 healthy controls (HCs) were included. The patients had a higher value of neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) than HCs (all P < 0.001). MLR was positively correlated with BPRS total score (r = 0.337, P = 0.001) and resistance subscale score (r = 0.350, P = 0.001). Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that severely ill was significantly associated with being male and a higher value of MLR (Natural Logaruthm, Ln) (all P < 0.05), and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed good performance of a regression model with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.787. Conclusion Patients with drug-free schizophrenia have an unbalanced distribution of peripheral blood granulocytes, and elevated NLR, MLR and PLR. Patients with higher value of MLR tend to have more psychotic symptoms, especially those symptoms of hostility, uncooperativeness, and suspiciousness. Our study gives a preliminary indication that MLR is a potential predictor of disease severity in patients with drug-free schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yinghan Tian
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaoxue Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lewei Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chen Ling
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lei Xia
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Huanzhong Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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9
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Stankovic I, Notaras M, Wolujewicz P, Lu T, Lis R, Ross ME, Colak D. Schizophrenia endothelial cells exhibit higher permeability and altered angiogenesis patterns in patient-derived organoids. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:53. [PMID: 38263175 PMCID: PMC10806043 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02740-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the manifestation of psychiatric symptoms in early adulthood. While many research avenues into the origins of SCZ during brain development have been explored, the contribution of endothelial/vascular dysfunction to the disease remains largely elusive. To model the neuropathology of SCZ during early critical periods of brain development, we utilized patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate 3D cerebral organoids and define cell-specific signatures of disease. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that while SCZ organoids were similar in their macromolecular diversity to organoids generated from healthy controls (CTRL), SCZ organoids exhibited a higher percentage of endothelial cells when normalized to total cell numbers. Additionally, when compared to CTRL, differential gene expression analysis revealed a significant enrichment in genes that function in vessel formation, vascular regulation, and inflammatory response in SCZ endothelial cells. In line with these findings, data from 23 donors demonstrated that PECAM1+ microvascular vessel-like structures were increased in length and number in SCZ organoids in comparison to CTRL organoids. Furthermore, we report that patient-derived endothelial cells displayed higher paracellular permeability, implicating elevated vascular activity. Collectively, our data identified altered gene expression patterns, vessel-like structural changes, and enhanced permeability of endothelial cells in patient-derived models of SCZ. Hence, brain microvascular cells could play a role in the etiology of SCZ by modulating the permeability of the developing blood brain barrier (BBB).
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidora Stankovic
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Notaras
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul Wolujewicz
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tyler Lu
- Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Raphael Lis
- Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - M Elizabeth Ross
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dilek Colak
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
- Gale and Ira Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
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10
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Gou M, Chen W, Li Y, Chen S, Feng W, Pan S, Luo X, Tan S, Tian B, Li W, Tong J, Zhou Y, Li H, Yu T, Wang Z, Zhang P, Huang J, Kochunov P, Tian L, Li CSR, Hong LE, Tan Y. Immune-Inflammatory Response And Compensatory Immune-Regulatory Reflex Systems And White Matter Integrity in Schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 2024; 50:199-209. [PMID: 37540273 PMCID: PMC10754202 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad114] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Low-grade neural and peripheral inflammation are among the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms of schizophrenia. White matter impairment is one of the more consistent findings in schizophrenia but the underlying mechanism remains obscure. Many cerebral white matter components are sensitive to neuroinflammatory conditions that can result in demyelination, altered oligodendrocyte differentiation, and other changes. We tested the hypothesis that altered immune-inflammatory response system (IRS) and compensatory immune-regulatory reflex system (IRS/CIRS) dynamics are associated with reduced white matter integrity in patients with schizophrenia. STUDY DESIGN Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ, 70M/50F, age = 40.76 ± 13.10) and healthy controls (HCs, 38M/27F, age = 37.48 ± 12.31) underwent neuroimaging and plasma collection. A panel of cytokines were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. White matter integrity was measured by fractional anisotropy (FA) from diffusion tensor imaging using a 3-T Prisma MRI scanner. The cytokines were used to generate 3 composite scores: IRS, CIRS, and IRS/CIRS ratio. STUDY RESULTS The IRS/CIRS ratio in SCZ was significantly higher than that in HCs (P = .009). SCZ had a significantly lower whole-brain white matter average FA (P < .001), and genu of corpus callosum (GCC) was the most affected white matter tract and its FA was significantly associated with IRS/CIRS (r = 0.29, P = .002). FA of GCC was negatively associated with negative symptom scores in SCZ (r = -0.23, P = .016). There was no mediation effect taking FA of GCC as mediator, for that IRS/CIRS was not associated with negative symptom score significantly (P = .217) in SCZ. CONCLUSIONS Elevated IRS/CIRS might partly account for the severity of negative symptoms through targeting the integrity of GCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengzhuang Gou
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjin Chen
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanli Li
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Song Chen
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Feng
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shujuan Pan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xingguang Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shuping Tan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Baopeng Tian
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Li
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jinghui Tong
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanfang Zhou
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hongna Li
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Yu
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiren Wang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Junchao Huang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Peter Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Li Tian
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yunlong Tan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
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11
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Uranova NA, Vikhreva OV, Rakhmanova VI. Microglia-neuron interactions in prefrontal gray matter in schizophrenia: a postmortem ultrastructural morphometric study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:1633-1648. [PMID: 37178237 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01621-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
This study addressed the question of whether the interaction between neurons and satellite microglia (SatMg) is abnormal in schizophrenia. SatMg-neuron communication at direct contacts between neuronal soma is essential for neuroplasticity as SatMg can regulate neuronal activity. A postmortem ultrastructural morphometric study was performed to investigate SatMg and adjacent neurons in layer 5 of the prefrontal cortex in 21 cases of schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls. Density of SatMg was significantly higher in the young schizophrenia group and in the group with illness duration ≤ 26 years as compared to controls. We found lower volume fraction (Vv) and the number (N) of mitochondria and higher Vv and N of lipofuscin granules and vacuoles in endoplasmic reticulum in SatMg in the schizophrenia compared to the control brain. These changes progressed with age and illness duration. A significantly higher soma area and Vv of vacuoles of endoplasmic reticulum were revealed in neurons in schizophrenia as compared to controls. Negative significant correlations between N of vacuoles in neurons and N of mitochondria in SatMg were found in the control group but not in the schizophrenia group. Area of vacuole in neurons was significantly positively correlated with Vv and area of mitochondria in SatMg in the control group and negatively in the schizophrenia group. Correlation coefficients between these parameters differed significantly between the groups. These results indicate disturbed SatMg-neuron interactions in the schizophrenia brain and suggest a key role of mitochondrial abnormalities in SatMg in these disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Uranova
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Center, Kashirskoe Shosse 34, 115522, Moscow, Russia.
| | - O V Vikhreva
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Center, Kashirskoe Shosse 34, 115522, Moscow, Russia
| | - V I Rakhmanova
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Center, Kashirskoe Shosse 34, 115522, Moscow, Russia
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12
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Klein HC, Guest PC, Dobrowolny H, Steiner J. Inflammation and viral infection as disease modifiers in schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1231750. [PMID: 37850104 PMCID: PMC10577328 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1231750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have now implicated a role for inflammation in schizophrenia. However, many aspects surrounding this aspect of the disease are still controversial. This controversy has been driven by conflicting evidence on the role of both pro-and anti-inflammatory factors and by often contentious findings concerning cytokine and immune cell profiles in the central nervous system and periphery. Current evidence supports the point that interleukin-6 is elevated in CSF, but does not support activation of microglia, resident macrophage-like cells in the brain. Furthermore, the mechanisms involving transit of the peripheral immune system factors across the blood brain barrier to central parenchyma have still not been completely elucidated. This process appears to involve perivascular macrophages and accompanying dendritic cells retained in the parenchyma by the chemokine and cytokine composition of the surrounding milieu. In addition, a number of studies have shown that this can be modulated by infection with viruses such as herpes simplex virus type I which may disrupt antigen presentation in the perivascular space, with long-lasting consequences. In this review article, we discuss the role of inflammation and viral infection as potential disease modifiers in schizophrenia. The primary viral hit may occur in the fetus in utero, transforming the immune response regulatory T-cells or the virus may secondarily remain latent in immune cells or neurons and modify further immune responses in the developing individual. It is hoped that unraveling this pathway further and solidifying our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved will pave the way for future studies aimed at identification and implementation of new biomarkers and drug targets. This may facilitate the development of more effective personalized therapies for individuals suffering with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans C. Klein
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Research and Education Department Addiction Care Northern Netherlands, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Paul C. Guest
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Laboratory of Neuroproteomics, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Henrik Dobrowolny
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Johann Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Health and Medical Prevention (CHaMP), Magdeburg, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
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13
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Steen NE, Rahman Z, Szabo A, Hindley GFL, Parker N, Cheng W, Lin A, O’Connell KS, Sheikh MA, Shadrin A, Bahrami S, Karthikeyan S, Hoseth EZ, Dale AM, Aukrust P, Smeland OB, Ueland T, Frei O, Djurovic S, Andreassen OA. Shared Genetic Loci Between Schizophrenia and White Blood Cell Counts Suggest Genetically Determined Systemic Immune Abnormalities. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:1345-1354. [PMID: 37319439 PMCID: PMC10483470 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune mechanisms are indicated in schizophrenia (SCZ). Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic variants associated with SCZ and immune-related phenotypes. Here, we use cutting edge statistical tools to identify shared genetic variants between SCZ and white blood cell (WBC) counts and further understand the role of the immune system in SCZ. STUDY DESIGN GWAS results from SCZ (patients, n = 53 386; controls, n = 77 258) and WBC counts (n = 56 3085) were analyzed. We applied linkage disequilibrium score regression, the conditional false discovery rate method and the bivariate causal mixture model for analyses of genetic associations and overlap, and 2 sample Mendelian randomization to estimate causal effects. STUDY RESULTS The polygenicity for SCZ was 7.5 times higher than for WBC count and constituted 32%-59% of WBC count genetic loci. While there was a significant but weak positive genetic correlation between SCZ and lymphocytes (rg = 0.05), the conditional false discovery rate method identified 383 shared genetic loci (53% concordant effect directions), with shared variants encompassing all investigated WBC subtypes: lymphocytes, n = 215 (56% concordant); neutrophils, n = 158 (49% concordant); monocytes, n = 146 (47% concordant); eosinophils, n = 135 (56% concordant); and basophils, n = 64 (53% concordant). A few causal effects were suggested, but consensus was lacking across different Mendelian randomization methods. Functional analyses indicated cellular functioning and regulation of translation as overlapping mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that genetic factors involved in WBC counts are associated with the risk of SCZ, indicating a role of immune mechanisms in subgroups of SCZ with potential for stratification of patients for immune targeted treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Eiel Steen
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Zillur Rahman
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Attila Szabo
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Guy F L Hindley
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Nadine Parker
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Weiqiu Cheng
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Aihua Lin
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kevin S O’Connell
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mashhood A Sheikh
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alexey Shadrin
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Shahram Bahrami
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sandeep Karthikeyan
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eva Z Hoseth
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health, Helse Møre Romsdal HF, Kristiansund, Norway
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Pål Aukrust
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Olav B Smeland
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Thor Ueland
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen—Thrombosis Research and Expertise Center (TREC), University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Oleksandr Frei
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Center for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- NORMENT Centre, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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14
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Lizano P, Pong S, Santarriaga S, Bannai D, Karmacharya R. Brain microvascular endothelial cells and blood-brain barrier dysfunction in psychotic disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3698-3708. [PMID: 37730841 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02255-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Although there is convergent evidence for blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction and peripheral inflammation in schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD), it is unknown whether BBB deficits are intrinsic to brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) or arise via effects of peripheral inflammatory cytokines. We examined BMEC function using stem cell-based models to identify cellular and molecular deficits associated with BBB dysfunction in SZ and BD. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from 4 SZ, 4 psychotic BD and 4 healthy control (HC) subjects were differentiated into BMEC-"like" cells. Gene expression and protein levels of tight junction proteins were assessed. Transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and permeability were assayed to evaluate BBB function. Cytokine levels were measured from conditioned media. BMECs derived from human iPSCs in SZ and BD did not show differences in BBB integrity or permeability compared to HC BMECs. Outlier analysis using TEER revealed a BBB-deficit (n = 3) and non-deficit (n = 5) group in SZ and BD lines. Stratification based on BBB function in SZ and BD patients identified a BBB-deficit subtype with reduced barrier function, tendency for increased permeability to smaller molecules, and decreased claudin-5 (CLDN5) levels. BMECs from the BBB-deficit group show increased matrix metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1) activity, which correlated with reduced CLDN5 and worse BBB function, and was improved by tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and MMP1 inhibition. These results show potential deficits in BMEC-like cells in psychotic disorders that result in BBB disruption and further identify TNFα and MMP1 as promising targets for ameliorating BBB deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Lizano
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- Division of Translational Neuroscience, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sovannarath Pong
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Translational Neuroscience, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephanie Santarriaga
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutic Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Deepthi Bannai
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Translational Neuroscience, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rakesh Karmacharya
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutic Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.
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15
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Nguyen KD, Amerio A, Aguglia A, Magnani L, Parise A, Conio B, Serafini G, Amore M, Costanza A. Microglia and Other Cellular Mediators of Immunological Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: A Narrative Synthesis of Clinical Findings. Cells 2023; 12:2099. [PMID: 37626909 PMCID: PMC10453550 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162099] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric condition that may involve immune system dysregulation. Since most putative disease mechanisms in schizophrenia have been derived from genetic association studies and fluid-based molecular analyses, this review aims to summarize the emerging evidence on clinical correlates to immune system dysfunction in this psychiatric disorder. We conclude this review by attempting to develop a unifying hypothesis regarding the relative contributions of microglia and various immune cell populations to the development of schizophrenia. This may provide important translational insights that can become useful for addressing the multifaceted clinical presentation of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khoa D. Nguyen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA;
- Tranquis Therapeutics, Palo Alto, CA 94065, USA
| | - Andrea Amerio
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Aguglia
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Magnani
- Department of Psychiatry, San Maurizio Hospital of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy;
| | - Alberto Parise
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy;
| | - Benedetta Conio
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Mario Amore
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Costanza
- Department of Psychiatry, Adult Psychiatry Service, University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), 1207 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Italian Switzerland (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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16
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Nisha Aji K, Hafizi S, Da Silva T, Kiang M, Rusjan PM, Weickert CS, Mizrahi R. Interaction between peripheral and central immune markers in clinical high risk for psychosis. Brain Behav Immun Health 2023; 30:100636. [PMID: 37293440 PMCID: PMC10244662 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammatory events prior to the diagnosis of schizophrenia may play a role in transition to illness. To date only one in-vivo study has investigated this association between peripheral proinflammatory cytokines and brain markers of inflammation (e.g., mitochondrial 18 kDa translocator protein, TSPO) in schizophrenia, but none in its putative prodrome. In this study, we primarily aimed to (Barron et al., 2017) test study group (clinical high-risk (CHR) and healthy controls) differences in peripheral inflammatory markers and test for any associations with symptom measures, (Hafizi et al., 2017a) investigate the interaction between brain TSPO levels (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and hippocampus) and peripheral inflammatory clusters (entire cohort and (CHR) group independently) within a relatively large group of individuals at CHR for psychosis (N = 38) and healthy controls (N = 20). Participants underwent structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and TSPO [18F]FEPPA positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Serum samples were assessed for peripheral inflammatory markers (i.e., CRP and interleukins). For exploratory analysis, we aimed to examine cluster differences for symptom measures and identify independent peripheral predictors of brain TSPO expression. Here, we report increased IL-8 levels that are positively correlated with prodromal general symptom severity and showed trend-level association with apathy in CHR. We identified distinct inflammatory clusters characterized by inflammatory markers (IL-1 β, IL-2, IFN-γ) that were comparable between entire cohort and CHR. TSPO levels did not differ between inflammatory clusters (entire cohort or CHR). Finally, we show that CRP, IL-1 β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels were the independent peripheral predictors of brain TSPO expression. Thus, alterations in brain TSPO expression in response to inflammatory processes are not evident in CHR. Taken together, clustering by inflammatory status is a promising strategy to characterize the interaction between brain TSPO and peripheral markers of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kankana Nisha Aji
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Douglas Research Centre, Clinical and Translational Sciences Lab, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sina Hafizi
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Tania Da Silva
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Kiang
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pablo M. Rusjan
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Douglas Research Centre, Clinical and Translational Sciences Lab, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Romina Mizrahi
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Douglas Research Centre, Clinical and Translational Sciences Lab, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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17
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Mawson ER, Morris BJ. A consideration of the increased risk of schizophrenia due to prenatal maternal stress, and the possible role of microglia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 125:110773. [PMID: 37116354 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110773] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is caused by interaction of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Of the latter, prenatal exposure to maternal stress is reportedly associated with elevated disease risk. The main orchestrators of inflammatory processes within the brain are microglia, and aberrant microglial activation/function has been proposed to contribute to the aetiology of schizophrenia. Here, we evaluate the epidemiological and preclinical evidence connecting prenatal stress to schizophrenia risk, and consider the possible mediating role of microglia in the prenatal stress-schizophrenia relationship. Epidemiological findings are rather consistent in supporting the association, albeit they are mitigated by effects of sex and gestational timing, while the evidence for microglial activation is more variable. Rodent models of prenatal stress generally report lasting effects on offspring neurobiology. However, many uncertainties remain as to the mechanisms underlying the influence of maternal stress on the developing foetal brain. Future studies should aim to characterise the exact processes mediating this aspect of schizophrenia risk, as well as focussing on how prenatal stress may interact with other risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor R Mawson
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Brian J Morris
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
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18
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Ai YW, Du Y, Chen L, Liu SH, Liu QS, Cheng Y. Brain Inflammatory Marker Abnormalities in Major Psychiatric Diseases: a Systematic Review of Postmortem Brain Studies. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:2116-2134. [PMID: 36600081 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03199-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD) are common neuropsychiatric disorders that lead to neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis. It is possible to further explore the connection between inflammation in the brain and SCZ, BD, and MDD. Therefore, we systematically reviewed PubMed and Web of Science on brain inflammatory markers measured in SCZ, BD, and MDD postmortem brains. Out of 2166 studies yielded by the search, 46 studies met the inclusion criteria in SCZ, BD, and MDD postmortem brains. The results were variable across inflammatory markers. For example, 26 studies were included to measure the differential expression between SCZ and control subjects. Similarly, seven of the included studies measured the differential expression of inflammatory markers in patients with BD. The heterogeneity from the included studies is not clear at present, which may be caused by several factors, including the measured brain region, disease stage, brain source, medication, and other factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Wen Ai
- School of Pharmacy, Center on Translational Neuroscience, Minzu University of China, Haidian District, 27 Zhongguancun South St, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Du
- School of Pharmacy, Center on Translational Neuroscience, Minzu University of China, Haidian District, 27 Zhongguancun South St, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Center on Translational Neuroscience, Minzu University of China, Haidian District, 27 Zhongguancun South St, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Han Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Center on Translational Neuroscience, Minzu University of China, Haidian District, 27 Zhongguancun South St, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Qing-Shan Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Center on Translational Neuroscience, Minzu University of China, Haidian District, 27 Zhongguancun South St, 100081, Beijing, China.
| | - Yong Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, Center on Translational Neuroscience, Minzu University of China, Haidian District, 27 Zhongguancun South St, 100081, Beijing, China. .,Institute of National Security, Minzu University of China, Haidian District, 27 Zhongguancun South St, 100081, Beijing, China.
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19
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Social interaction, psychotic disorders and inflammation: A triangle of interest. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 122:110697. [PMID: 36521587 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110697] [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: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Social interaction difficulties are a hallmark of psychotic disorders, which in some cases can be definitely traced back to autoimmunological causes. Interestingly, systemic and intrathecal inflammation have been shown to significantly influence social processing by increasing sensitivity to threatening social stimuli, which bears some resemblance to psychosis. In this article, we review evidence for the involvement of systemic and intrathecal inflammatory processes in psychotic disorders and how this might help to explain some of the social impairments associated with this group of disorders. Vice versa, we also discuss evidence for the immunomodulatory function of social interactions and their potential role for therapeutic interventions in psychotic disorders.
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20
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Naggan L, Robinson E, Dinur E, Goldenberg H, Kozela E, Yirmiya R. Suicide in bipolar disorder patients is associated with hippocampal microglia activation and reduction of lymphocytes-activation gene 3 (LAG3) microglial checkpoint expression. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 110:185-194. [PMID: 36863492 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with marked functional impairments along with increased rate of suicide. Although there is ample evidence for the involvement of inflammatory processes and microglia activation in the pathophysiology of BD, the mechanisms that regulate these cells in BD patients, and particularly the role of microglia checkpoints, is still unclear. METHODS Immunohistochemical analyses of hippocampal sections from post-mortem brains of 15 BD patients and 12 control subjects were used to assess microglia density, by staining the microglia-specific receptor P2RY12, and microglia activation, by staining the activation marker MHC II. Given recent findings on the involvement of LAG3, which interacts with MHC II and serves as a negative microglia checkpoint, in depression and electroconvulsive therapy, we assessed the levels of LAG3 expression and their correlations with microglia density and activation. RESULTS There were no overall differences between BD patients and controls, but BD patients who committed suicide (N = 9) displayed a significant elevation in the overall microglia density and the density of MHC II-labeled microglia (but not other MHC II-labeled cells), compared with no suicide BD patients (N = 6) and controls. Furthermore, the percent of microglia expressing LAG3 was significantly reduced only in suicidal BD patients, with significant negative correlations between microglial LAG3 expression levels and the density of microglia, in general, and activated microglia, in particular. CONCLUSION Suicidal BD patients exhibit microglia activation, which is possibly mediated by reduced LAG3 checkpoint expression, suggesting that anti-microglial therapeutics, including LAG3 modulators, may be beneficial for this subgroup of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lior Naggan
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Elad Robinson
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Eyal Dinur
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hagar Goldenberg
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ewa Kozela
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Raz Yirmiya
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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21
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Bejerot S, Sigra Stein S, Welin E, Eklund D, Hylén U, Humble MB. Rituximab as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia spectrum disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder: Two open-label pilot studies on treatment-resistant patients. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 158:319-329. [PMID: 36638622 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.12.003] [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: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In this explorative study, we investigated if an adjunctive treatment with one single dose of the monoclonal antibody rituximab would improve symptoms and function in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD, n = 9) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD, n = 10), based on the inflammatory hypothesis for mental disorders. Patients were followed for one year. Disability was measured with the Personal and Social Performance score (PSP). At baseline, the mean PANSS score in the SSD group was 99 ± 32 and the mean Y-BOCS score in the OCD group was 27.5 ± 7. Mean PSP scores were 32 ± 10.2 and 42.5 ± 9.9 in the SSD and OCD groups, respectively. Seven had Paediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) in retrospect, and 3 SSD patients had schizo-obsessive subtype. 4/8 SSD patients showed a ≥40% reduction in PANSS at endpoint I week 20, however, 7/9 were similarly improved already at week 12. Among the OCD patients, 2/10 showed a ≥35% reduction in Y-BOCS at week 20. Disability was significantly improved only in the SSD group. The percentual decrease of PANSS scores in SSD patients was associated with the increase in immunoglobulin levels week 20 (n = 8: IgG r = 0.85, p = .007; IgA r = 0.79, p = .019; IgM r = 0.73, p = .038). Rituximab was generally well tolerated in these patients. Self-rated improvements since baseline were reported for psychic (p = .021), neurological (p = .059), and autonomic (p < .001) side effects (UKU-SERS-Pat side-effect scale). Anxiety was commonly reported by OCD patients, while an initial increase in psychotic symptoms was seen in a few SSD patients. An RCT is underway to evaluate rituximab in SSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Bejerot
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden; Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre, (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Sofia Sigra Stein
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden.
| | - Elisabet Welin
- School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Daniel Eklund
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre, (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Ulrika Hylén
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden; Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre, (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Mats B Humble
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
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22
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Toll A, Blanco-Hinojo L, Berge D, Martín-Subero M, Casanovas F, El-Abidi K, Perez-Solà V, Mané A. Higher lymphocyte count associated with larger hippocampal volume and fewer depressive symptoms in drug-na ïve first-episode psychosis. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2023; 69:47-55. [PMID: 36709614 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Circulating white blood cells (leucocytes), which form the peripheral immune system, are crucial in inflammatory processes but their role in brain structural change in schizophrenia has been scarcely studied. With this study we want to determine how and which type of white blood cells are associated with hippocampal volume (as a key structure in schi- zophrenia etiopathology) in first episode psychosis (FEP) patients. Moreover, to determine the association between white blood cells and clinical symptomatology, including positive and negative symptoms, cognition and depression. For this purpose fifty drug-naïve FEP were included in this study. All patients underwent an assessment at baseline and at 1 year follow-up, including sociodemographic and clinical variables (substance use, DUP, PANSS, GAF and CDSS). Fasting blood samples were obtained before administering any medication at baseline. Structural T1 MRI was performed at baseline and brain volumes were quantified. In the present study, higher lymphocyte count was associated with larger right hippocampal volume at baseline in FEP drug-naive patients. Higher lymphocyte count was associated with lower depressive symptomatology measured with CDSS and Marder depressive factor from PANSS at baseline and 1-year follow -up. These results suggest that lymphocytes may have a protective effect in hippocampal volume at baseli- ne in antipsychotic naïve FEP and also, are associated with a better depressive course over follow up. These results open the door to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Toll
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Fundació Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Laura Blanco-Hinojo
- Fundació Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain; Department of Radiology, MRI Research Unit, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Berge
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Fundació Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Marta Martín-Subero
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Francesc Casanovas
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Khadija El-Abidi
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Víctor Perez-Solà
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Fundació Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Anna Mané
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Fundació Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
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23
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Bernstein HG, Keilhoff G, Dobrowolny H, Steiner J. The many facets of CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase 4 and its inhibitors in disorders of the CNS - a critical overview. Rev Neurosci 2023; 34:1-24. [PMID: 35771831 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2022-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 is a serine protease that cleaves X-proline or X-alanine in the penultimate position. Natural substrates of the enzyme are glucagon-like peptide-1, glucagon inhibiting peptide, glucagon, neuropeptide Y, secretin, substance P, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, endorphins, endomorphins, brain natriuretic peptide, beta-melanocyte stimulating hormone and amyloid peptides as well as some cytokines and chemokines. The enzyme is involved in the maintenance of blood glucose homeostasis and regulation of the immune system. It is expressed in many organs including the brain. DPP4 activity may be effectively depressed by DPP4 inhibitors. Apart from enzyme activity, DPP4 acts as a cell surface (co)receptor, associates with adeosine deaminase, interacts with extracellular matrix, and controls cell migration and differentiation. This review aims at revealing the impact of DPP4 and DPP4 inhibitors for several brain diseases (virus infections affecting the brain, tumours of the CNS, neurological and psychiatric disorders). Special emphasis is given to a possible involvement of DPP4 expressed in the brain.While prominent contributions of extracerebral DPP4 are evident for a majority of diseases discussed herein; a possible role of "brain" DPP4 is restricted to brain cancers and Alzheimer disease. For a number of diseases (Covid-19 infection, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and epilepsy), use of DPP4 inhibitors has been shown to have a disease-mitigating effect. However, these beneficial effects should mostly be attributed to the depression of "peripheral" DPP4, since currently used DPP4 inhibitors are not able to pass through the intact blood-brain barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Gert Bernstein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto v. Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Gerburg Keilhoff
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Otto v. Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Henrik Dobrowolny
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto v. Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Johann Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto v. Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
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Mueller-Buehl C, Wegrzyn D, Bauch J, Faissner A. Regulation of the E/I-balance by the neural matrisome. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1102334. [PMID: 37143468 PMCID: PMC10151766 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1102334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian cortex a proper excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance is fundamental for cognitive functions. Especially γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-releasing interneurons regulate the activity of excitatory projection neurons which form the second main class of neurons in the cortex. During development, the maturation of fast-spiking parvalbumin-expressing interneurons goes along with the formation of net-like structures covering their soma and proximal dendrites. These so-called perineuronal nets (PNNs) represent a specialized form of the extracellular matrix (ECM, also designated as matrisome) that stabilize structural synapses but prevent the formation of new connections. Consequently, PNNs are highly involved in the regulation of the synaptic balance. Previous studies revealed that the formation of perineuronal nets is accompanied by an establishment of mature neuronal circuits and by a closure of critical windows of synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, it has been shown that PNNs differentially impinge the integrity of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. In various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders alterations of PNNs were described and aroused more attention in the last years. The following review gives an update about the role of PNNs for the maturation of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons and summarizes recent findings about the impact of PNNs in different neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia or epilepsy. A targeted manipulation of PNNs might provide an interesting new possibility to indirectly modulate the synaptic balance and the E/I ratio in pathological conditions.
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Safari H, Mashayekhan S. Inflammation and Mental Health Disorders: Immunomodulation as a Potential Therapy for Psychiatric Conditions. Curr Pharm Des 2023; 29:2841-2852. [PMID: 37946352 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128251883231031054700] [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: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Mood disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide and their incidence has significantly increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the continuous surge in the number of people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, the treatment methods for these conditions remain limited. A significant number of people either do not respond to therapy or discontinue the drugs due to their severe side effects. Therefore, alternative therapeutic interventions are needed. Previous studies have shown a correlation between immunological alterations and the occurrence of mental health disorders, yet immunomodulatory therapies have been barely investigated for combating psychiatric conditions. In this article, we have reviewed the immunological alterations that occur during the onset of mental health disorders, including microglial activation, an increased number of circulating innate immune cells, reduced activity of natural killer cells, altered T cell morphology and functionality, and an increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This article also examines key studies that demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of anti-inflammatory medications in mental health disorders. These studies suggest that immunomodulation can potentially be used as a complementary therapy for controlling psychiatric conditions after careful screening of candidate drugs and consideration of their efficacy and side effects in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanieh Safari
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shohreh Mashayekhan
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
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26
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Hughes HK, Yang H, Lesh TA, Carter CS, Ashwood P. Evidence of innate immune dysfunction in first-episode psychosis patients with accompanying mood disorder. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:287. [DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02648-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Inflammation and increases in inflammatory cytokines are common findings in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). Meta-analyses of studies that measured circulating cytokines have provided evidence of innate inflammation across all three disorders, with some overlap of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α. However, differences across disorders were also identified, including increased IL-4 in BD that suggest different immune mechanisms may be involved depending on the type of disorder present.
Methods
We sought to identify if the presence or absence of an affective disorder in first-episode psychotic (FEP) patients was associated with variations in cytokine production after stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). 98 participants were recruited and grouped into healthy controls (n = 45) and first-episode psychosis patients (n = 53). Psychosis patients were further grouped by presence (AFF; n = 22) or lack (NON; n = 31) of an affective disorder. We cultured isolated PBMC from all participants for 48 h at 37 °C under four separate conditions; (1) culture media alone for baseline, or the following three stimulatory conditions: (2) 25 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS), (3) 10 ng/mL phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and (4) 125 ng/ml α-CD3 plus 250 ng/ml α-CD28. Supernatants collected at 48 h were analyzed using multiplex Luminex assay to identify differences in cytokine and chemokine production. Results from these assays were then correlated to patient clinical assessments for positive and negative symptoms common to psychotic disorders.
Results
We found that PBMC from affective FEP patients produced higher concentrations of cytokines associated with both innate and adaptive immunity after stimulation than non-affective FEP patients and healthy controls. More specifically, the AFF PBMC produced increased tumor necrosis fctor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and others associated with innate inflammation. PBMC from AFF also produced increased IL-4, IL-17, interferon (IFN)γ, and other cytokines associated with adaptive immune activation, depending on stimulation. Additionally, inflammatory cytokines that differed at rest and after LPS stimulation correlated with Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) scores.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that immune dysfunction in affective psychosis may differ from that of primary psychotic disorders, and inflammation may be associated with increased negative symptoms. These findings could be helpful in determining clinical diagnosis after first psychotic episode.
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27
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Rodrigues-Neves AC, Ambrósio AF, Gomes CA. Microglia sequelae: brain signature of innate immunity in schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:493. [PMID: 36443303 PMCID: PMC9705537 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02197-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder with significant impact on individuals and society. The current pharmacologic treatment, which principally alleviates psychosis, is focused on neurotransmitters modulation, relying on drugs with severe side effects and ineffectiveness in a significant percentage of cases. Therefore, and due to difficulties inherent to diagnosis and treatment, it is vital to reassess alternative cellular and molecular drug targets. Distinct risk factors - genetic, developmental, epigenetic, and environmental - have been associated with disease onset and progression, giving rise to the proposal of different pathophysiological mechanisms and putative pharmacological targets. Immunity is involved and, particularly microglia - innate immune cells of the central nervous system, critically involved in brain development - have captured attention as cellular players. Microglia undergo marked morphologic and functional alterations in the human disease, as well as in animal models of schizophrenia, as reported in several original papers. We cluster the main findings of clinical studies by groups of patients: (1) at ultra-high risk of psychosis, (2) with a first episode of psychosis or recent-onset schizophrenia, and (3) with chronic schizophrenia; in translational studies, we highlight the time window of appearance of particular microglia alterations in the most well studied animal model in the field (maternal immune activation). The organization of clinical and translational findings based on schizophrenia-associated microglia changes in different phases of the disease course may help defining a temporal pattern of microglia changes and may drive the design of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Catarina Rodrigues-Neves
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Faculty of Pharmacy, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António. F. Ambrósio
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Catarina A. Gomes
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Faculty of Pharmacy, Coimbra, Portugal
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North HF, Weissleder C, Fullerton JM, Webster MJ, Weickert CS. Increased immune cell and altered microglia and neurogenesis transcripts in an Australian schizophrenia subgroup with elevated inflammation. Schizophr Res 2022; 248:208-218. [PMID: 36108465 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We previously identified a subgroup of schizophrenia cases (~40 %) with heightened inflammation in the neurogenic subependymal zone (SEZ) (North et al., 2021b). This schizophrenia subgroup had changes indicating reduced microglial activity, increased peripheral immune cells, increased stem cell dormancy/quiescence and reduced neuronal precursor cells. The present follow-up study aimed to replicate and extend those novel findings in an independent post-mortem cohort of schizophrenia cases and controls from Australia. RNA was extracted from SEZ tissue from 20 controls and 22 schizophrenia cases from the New South Wales Brain Tissue Resource Centre, and gene expression analysis was performed. Cluster analysis of inflammation markers (IL1B, IL1R1, SERPINA3 and CXCL8) revealed a high-inflammation schizophrenia subgroup comprising 52 % of cases, which was a significantly greater proportion than the 17 % of high-inflammation controls. Consistent with our previous report (North et al., 2021b), those with high-inflammation and schizophrenia had unchanged mRNA expression of markers for steady-state and activated microglia (IBA1, HEXB, CD68), decreased expression of phagocytic microglia markers (P2RY12, P2RY13), but increased expression of markers for macrophages (CD163), monocytes (CD14), natural killer cells (FCGR3A), and the adhesion molecule ICAM1. Similarly, the high-inflammation schizophrenia subgroup emulated increased quiescent stem cell marker (GFAPD) and decreased neuronal progenitor (DLX6-AS1) and immature neuron marker (DCX) mRNA expression; but also revealed a novel increase in a marker of immature astrocytes (VIM). Replicating primary results in an independent cohort demonstrates that inflammatory subgroups in the SEZ in schizophrenia are reliable, robust and enhance understanding of neuropathological heterogeneity when studying schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley F North
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Christin Weissleder
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany; Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Janice M Fullerton
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maree J Webster
- Laboratory of Brain Research, Stanley Medical Research Institute, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
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Brisch R, Wojtylak S, Saniotis A, Steiner J, Gos T, Kumaratilake J, Henneberg M, Wolf R. The role of microglia in neuropsychiatric disorders and suicide. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 272:929-945. [PMID: 34595576 PMCID: PMC9388452 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-021-01334-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
This narrative review examines the possible role of microglial cells, first, in neuroinflammation and, second, in schizophrenia, depression, and suicide. Recent research on the interactions between microglia, astrocytes and neurons and their involvement in pathophysiological processes of neuropsychiatric disorders is presented. This review focuses on results from postmortem, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies, and animal models of schizophrenia and depression. Third, the effects of antipsychotic and antidepressant drug therapy, and of electroconvulsive therapy on microglial cells are explored and the upcoming development of therapeutic drugs targeting microglia is described. Finally, there is a discussion on the role of microglia in the evolutionary progression of human lineage. This view may contribute to a new understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Brisch
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Szymon Wojtylak
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Arthur Saniotis
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
- Department of Pharmacy, Knowledge University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Johann Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tomasz Gos
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jaliya Kumaratilake
- Biological Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy Research Unit, Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Maciej Henneberg
- Biological Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy Research Unit, Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rainer Wolf
- Department of Nursing and Health, Hochschule Fulda, University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany.
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Khakpour M, Ibáñez FG, Bordeleau M, Picard K, Mckee-Reid L, Ben-Azu B, Maggi L, Tremblay MÈ. Manual versus automatic analysis of microglial density and distribution: a comparison in the hippocampus of healthy and lipopolysaccharide-challenged mature male mice. Micron 2022; 161:103334. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2022.103334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Petty A, Glass LJ, Rothmond DA, Purves-Tyson T, Sweeney A, Kondo Y, Kubo S, Matsumoto M, Weickert CS. Increased levels of a pro-inflammatory IgG receptor in the midbrain of people with schizophrenia. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:188. [PMID: 35841099 PMCID: PMC9287858 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02541-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing evidence that neuroinflammation may contribute to schizophrenia neuropathology. Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines are evident in the midbrain from schizophrenia subjects, findings that are driven by a subgroup of patients, characterised as a "high inflammation" biotype. Cytokines trigger the release of antibodies, of which immunoglobulin G (IgG) is the most common. The level and function of IgG is regulated by its transporter (FcGRT) and by pro-inflammatory IgG receptors (including FcGR3A) in balance with the anti-inflammatory IgG receptor FcGR2B. Testing whether abnormalities in IgG activity contribute to the neuroinflammatory abnormalities schizophrenia patients, particularly those with elevated cytokines, may help identify novel treatment targets. METHODS Post-mortem midbrain tissue from healthy controls and schizophrenia cases (n = 58 total) was used to determine the localisation and abundance of IgG and IgG transporters and receptors in the midbrain of healthy controls and schizophrenia patients. Protein levels of IgG and FcGRT were quantified using western blot, and gene transcript levels of FcGRT, FcGR3A and FcGR2B were assessed using qPCR. The distribution of IgG in the midbrain was assessed using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Results were compared between diagnostic (schizophrenia vs control) and inflammatory (high vs low inflammation) groups. RESULTS We found that IgG and FcGRT protein abundance (relative to β-actin) was unchanged in people with schizophrenia compared with controls irrespective of inflammatory subtype. In contrast, FcGRT and FcGR3A mRNA levels were elevated in the midbrain from "high inflammation" schizophrenia cases (FcGRT; p = 0.02, FcGR3A; p < 0.0001) in comparison to low-inflammation patients and healthy controls, while FcGR2B mRNA levels were unchanged. IgG immunoreactivity was evident in the midbrain, and approximately 24% of all individuals (control subjects and schizophrenia cases) showed diffusion of IgG from blood vessels into the brain. However, the intensity and distribution of IgG was comparable across schizophrenia cases and control subjects. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that an increase in the pro-inflammatory Fcγ receptor FcGR3A, rather than an overall increase in IgG levels, contribute to midbrain neuroinflammation in schizophrenia patients. However, more precise information about IgG-Fcγ receptor interactions is needed to determine their potential role in schizophrenia neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Petty
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - L J Glass
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
- Centre for Immunology and Allergy Research, Westmead Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - D A Rothmond
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - T Purves-Tyson
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - A Sweeney
- NSW Brain Tissue Resource Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Y Kondo
- Astellas Research Institute of America LLC, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - S Kubo
- Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan
| | - M Matsumoto
- Astellas Research Institute of America LLC, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - C Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia.
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA.
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Zhu Y, Webster MJ, Murphy CE, Middleton FA, Massa PT, Liu C, Dai R, Weickert CS. Distinct Phenotypes of Inflammation Associated Macrophages and Microglia in the Prefrontal Cortex Schizophrenia Compared to Controls. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:858989. [PMID: 35844224 PMCID: PMC9279891 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.858989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 40% of people with schizophrenia are classified as having "high inflammation." This subgroup has worse neuropathology than patients with "low inflammation." Thus, one would expect the resident microglia and possibly monocyte-derived macrophages infiltrating from the periphery to be "activated" in those with schizophrenia with elevated neuroinflammation. To test whether microglia and/or macrophages are associated with increased inflammatory signaling in schizophrenia, we measured microglia- and macrophage-associated transcripts in the postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of 69 controls and 72 people with schizophrenia. Both groups were stratified by neuroinflammatory status based on cortical mRNA levels of cytokines and SERPINA3. We found microglial mRNAs levels were either unchanged (IBA1 and Hexb, p > 0.20) or decreased (CD11c, <62% p < 0.001) in high inflammation schizophrenia compared to controls. Conversely, macrophage CD163 mRNA levels were increased in patients, substantially so in the high inflammation schizophrenia subgroup compared to low inflammation subgroup (>250%, p < 0.0001). In contrast, high inflammation controls did not have elevated CD163 mRNA compared to low inflammation controls (p > 0.05). The pro-inflammatory macrophage marker (CD64 mRNA) was elevated (>160%, all p < 0.05) and more related to CD163 mRNA in the high inflammation schizophrenia subgroup compared to high inflammation controls, while anti-inflammatory macrophage and cytokine markers (CD206 and IL-10 mRNAs) were either unchanged or decreased in schizophrenia. Finally, macrophage recruitment chemokine CCL2 mRNA was increased in schizophrenia (>200%, p < 0.0001) and CCL2 mRNA levels positively correlated with CD163 mRNA (r = 0.46, p < 0.0001). Collectively, our findings support the co-existence of quiescent microglia and increased pro-inflammatory macrophages in the cortex of people with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunting Zhu
- Department of Neuroscience, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Maree J. Webster
- Stanley Medical Research Institute, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Caitlin E. Murphy
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Frank A. Middleton
- Department of Neuroscience, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Paul T. Massa
- Department of Neurology and Microbiology and Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Rujia Dai
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Cyndi Shannon Weickert
- Department of Neuroscience, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Structural and Functional Deviations of the Hippocampus in Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105482. [PMID: 35628292 PMCID: PMC9143100 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a grave neuropsychiatric disease which frequently onsets between the end of adolescence and the beginning of adulthood. It is characterized by a variety of neuropsychiatric abnormalities which are categorized into positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. Most therapeutical strategies address the positive symptoms by antagonizing D2-dopamine-receptors (DR). However, negative and cognitive symptoms persist and highly impair the life quality of patients due to their disabling effects. Interestingly, hippocampal deviations are a hallmark of schizophrenia and can be observed in early as well as advanced phases of the disease progression. These alterations are commonly accompanied by a rise in neuronal activity. Therefore, hippocampal formation plays an important role in the manifestation of schizophrenia. Furthermore, studies with animal models revealed a link between environmental risk factors and morphological as well as electrophysiological abnormalities in the hippocampus. Here, we review recent findings on structural and functional hippocampal abnormalities in schizophrenic patients and in schizophrenia animal models, and we give an overview on current experimental approaches that especially target the hippocampus. A better understanding of hippocampal aberrations in schizophrenia might clarify their impact on the manifestation and on the outcome of this severe disease.
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34
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Kos MZ, Puppala S, Cruz D, Neary JL, Kumar A, Dalan E, Li C, Nathanielsz P, Carless MA. Blood-Based miRNA Biomarkers as Correlates of Brain-Based miRNA Expression. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:817290. [PMID: 35392269 PMCID: PMC8981579 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.817290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of easily accessible peripheral samples, such as blood or saliva, to investigate neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders is well-established in genetic and epigenetic research, but the pathological implications of such biomarkers are not easily discerned. To better understand the relationship between peripheral blood- and brain-based epigenetic activity, we conducted a pilot study on captive baboons (Papio hamadryas) to investigate correlations between miRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and 14 different cortical and subcortical brain regions, represented by two study groups comprised of 4 and 6 animals. Using next-generation sequencing, we identified 362 miRNAs expressed at ≥ 10 read counts in 80% or more of the brain samples analyzed. Nominally significant pairwise correlations (one-sided P < 0.05) between peripheral blood and mean brain expression levels of individual miRNAs were observed for 39 and 44 miRNAs in each group. When miRNA expression levels were averaged for tissue type across animals within the groups, Spearman's rank correlations between PBMCs and the brain regions are all highly significant (r s = 0.47-0.57; P < 2.2 × 10-16), although pairwise correlations among the brain regions are markedly stronger (r s = 0.86-0.99). Principal component analysis revealed differentiation in miRNA expression between peripheral blood and the brain regions for the first component (accounting for ∼75% of variance). Linear mixed effects modeling attributed most of the variance in expression to differences between miRNAs (>70%), with non-significant 7.5% and 13.1% assigned to differences between blood and brain-based samples in the two study groups. Hierarchical UPGMA clustering revealed a major co-expression branch in both study groups, comprised of miRNAs globally upregulated in blood relative to the brain samples, exhibiting an enrichment of miRNAs expressed in immune cells (CD14+, CD15+, CD19+, CD3+, and CD56 + leukocytes) among the top blood-brain correlates, with the gene MYC, encoding a master transcription factor that regulates angiogenesis and neural stem cell activation, representing the most prevalent miRNA target. Although some differentiation was observed between tissue types, these preliminary findings reveal wider correlated patterns between blood- and brain-expressed miRNAs, suggesting the potential utility of blood-based miRNA profiling for investigating by proxy certain miRNA activity in the brain, with implications for neuroinflammatory and c-Myc-mediated processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Z. Kos
- Department of Human Genetics, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, TX, United States
| | - Sobha Puppala
- Department of Internal Medicine-Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Dianne Cruz
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jennifer L. Neary
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Ashish Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine-Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Emma Dalan
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Cun Li
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, United States,Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States
| | - Peter Nathanielsz
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, United States,Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States
| | - Melanie A. Carless
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States,Population Health, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Melanie A. Carless,
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Glial Cell Abnormalities in Major Psychiatric Diseases: A Systematic Review of Postmortem Brain Studies. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:1665-1692. [PMID: 35013935 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02672-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
There have been a large number of reports about glial cell dysfunction being related to major psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). In this review, we provide an overview of postmortem studies analyzing the structural changes of glial cells in these three major psychiatric diseases, including the density, number and size of glial cells, and the expression of related markers. Up to May 1, 2021, 108 articles that met the inclusion criteria were identified by searching PubMed and Web of Science. Although most studies evaluating total glial cells did not show abnormalities in the brains of postmortem patients, astrocytes, microglial cells, and oligodendrocytes seem to have specific patterns of changes in each disease. For example, out of 20 studies that evaluated astrocyte markers in MDD, 11 studies found decreased astrocyte marker expression in MDD patients. Similarly, out of 25 studies evaluating oligodendrocyte markers in SCZ, 15 studies showed decreased expression of oligodendrocyte markers in different brain regions of SCZ patients. In addition, activated microglial cells were observed in patients with SCZ, BD, and MDD, but suicide may be a confounding factor for the observed effects. Although the data from the included studies were heterogeneous and this cannot be fully explained at present, it is likely that there are a variety of contributing factors, including the measured brain regions, methods of measurement, gender, age at time of death, and medications.
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36
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Ermakov EA, Melamud MM, Buneva VN, Ivanova SA. Immune System Abnormalities in Schizophrenia: An Integrative View and Translational Perspectives. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:880568. [PMID: 35546942 PMCID: PMC9082498 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.880568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system is generally known to be the primary defense mechanism against pathogens. Any pathological conditions are reflected in anomalies in the immune system parameters. Increasing evidence suggests the involvement of immune dysregulation and neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In this systematic review, we summarized the available evidence of abnormalities in the immune system in schizophrenia. We analyzed impairments in all immune system components and assessed the level of bias in the available evidence. It has been shown that schizophrenia is associated with abnormalities in all immune system components: from innate to adaptive immunity and from humoral to cellular immunity. Abnormalities in the immune organs have also been observed in schizophrenia. Evidence of increased C-reactive protein, dysregulation of cytokines and chemokines, elevated levels of neutrophils and autoantibodies, and microbiota dysregulation in schizophrenia have the lowest risk of bias. Peripheral immune abnormalities contribute to neuroinflammation, which is associated with cognitive and neuroanatomical alterations and contributes to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, signs of severe inflammation are observed in only about 1/3 of patients with schizophrenia. Immunological parameters may help identify subgroups of individuals with signs of inflammation who well respond to anti-inflammatory therapy. Our integrative approach also identified gaps in knowledge about immune abnormalities in schizophrenia, and new horizons for the research are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeny A Ermakov
- Laboratory of Repair Enzymes, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Mark M Melamud
- Laboratory of Repair Enzymes, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Valentina N Buneva
- Laboratory of Repair Enzymes, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Svetlana A Ivanova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
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Gober R, Ardalan M, Shiadeh SMJ, Duque L, Garamszegi SP, Ascona M, Barreda A, Sun X, Mallard C, Vontell RT. Microglia activation in postmortem brains with schizophrenia demonstrates distinct morphological changes between brain regions. Brain Pathol 2022; 32:e13003. [PMID: 34297453 PMCID: PMC8713533 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a psychiatric disorder that can include symptoms of disorganized speech and thoughts with uncertain underlying mechanisms possibly linked to over-activated microglia. In this study, we used brain samples from sixteen donors with SCZ and thirteen control donors to assess the differential activation of microglia by quantifying density and 3D reconstruction of microglia stained with ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule-1 (Iba1). Our samples consisted of sections from the frontal, temporal, and cingulate cortical gray matter, subcortical white matter regions (SCWM), and included the anterior corpus callosum. In the first series of studies, we performed a density analysis followed by a spatial analysis to ascertain the microglial density, distribution, and soma size in SCZ brains. Second, we performed a series of morphological quantification techniques to investigate the arborization patterns of the microglia in SCZ. The results demonstrated an increase in microglia density in the cortical gray matter regions in SCZ cases, while in the SCWM, there was a significant increase in microglia density in the frontal and temporal, but not in the other brain regions of interest (ROIs). Spatial analysis using the "nearest neighbor" demonstrated that there was no effect in "clustering", but there were shorter distances between microglia seen in the SCZ cases. The morphological measures showed that there was a region-dependent increase in the microglia soma size in the SCZ cases while the Sholl analysis revealed a significant decrease in the microglia arborization in the SCZ cases across all the ROI's studied. An in-depth 3D reconstruction of microglia in Brodmann area 9 cortical region found that there was a significant association between age and reduced microglial arborization in the SCZ cases. This region-dependent age association can help determine whether longitudinal changes in microglial activation across age are brain region-dependent, which may point to potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Gober
- Brain Endowment BankUniversity of MiamiMiamiFLUSA
| | - Maryam Ardalan
- Centre for Perinatal Medicine and HealthInstitute of Neuroscience and PhysiologySahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Department of Clinical MedicineTranslational Neuropsychiatry UnitAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Seyedeh Marziyeh Jabbari Shiadeh
- Centre for Perinatal Medicine and HealthInstitute of Neuroscience and PhysiologySahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Department of Clinical MedicineTranslational Neuropsychiatry UnitAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Linda Duque
- Brain Endowment BankUniversity of MiamiMiamiFLUSA
| | | | | | | | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Brain Endowment BankUniversity of MiamiMiamiFLUSA
| | - Carina Mallard
- Centre for Perinatal Medicine and HealthInstitute of Neuroscience and PhysiologySahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
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Hu A, Li F, Guo L, Zhao X, Xiang X. Mitochondrial Damage of Lymphocytes in Patients with Acute Relapse of Schizophrenia: A Correlational Study with Efficacy and Clinical Symptoms. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2022; 18:2455-2466. [PMID: 36325435 PMCID: PMC9621005 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s380353] [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: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that schizophrenia is associated with mitochondrial and immune abnormalities. In this pilot case-control study, we investigated the level of mitochondrial impairment in lymphocytes in patients with acute relapse of schizophrenia and explored the correlation between the level of mitochondrial damage and symptoms or treatment response. METHODS Lymphocytic mitochondrial damage was detected using mitochondrial fluorescence staining and flow cytometry in 37 patients (at admission and discharge) and 24 controls. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI-S). RESULTS The levels of mitochondrial damage in CD3+ T, CD4+ T, and CD8+ T lymphocytes of the patients with schizophrenia at admission were significantly higher than those of the controls (p<0.05) and did not return to normal at discharge (p>0.05). The mitochondrial damage of T cells significantly improved at discharge for responsive patients only, as compared with that at admission (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in mitochondrial damage in CD19+ B cells between patients and healthy controls, or between admission and discharge (p>0.05). Furthermore, the reduction in mitochondrial damage of CD3, CD4, and CD8 lymphocytes was positively correlated with the reduction of the score of the PANSS positive scale at discharge (p<0.05), while no significant correlation was found between the level of mitochondrial damage in lymphocytes and the scores of PANSS and CGI-S. CONCLUSION Acute relapse of schizophrenia might be associated with higher levels of mitochondrial damage in peripheral blood T lymphocytes. The degree of recovery of mitochondrial impairment in the T cells may be used as a predictor of treatment response in schizophrenia. As this is a pilot study, the conclusion still needs further verification in large-scale studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aqian Hu
- Department of Psychiatry and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Faping Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second People's Hospital of Guizhou Province, Guiyang, 550004, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Guo
- Department of Psychiatry and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxi Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojun Xiang
- Department of Psychiatry and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
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Ramos-Martínez IE, Rodríguez MC, Cerbón M, Ramos-Martínez JC, Ramos-Martínez EG. Role of the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Reflex in Central Nervous System Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413427. [PMID: 34948222 PMCID: PMC8705572 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In several central nervous system diseases, it has been reported that inflammation may be related to the etiologic process, therefore, therapeutic strategies are being implemented to control inflammation. As the nervous system and the immune system maintain close bidirectional communication in physiological and pathological conditions, the modulation of inflammation through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex has been proposed. In this review, we summarized the evidence supporting chemical stimulation with cholinergic agonists and vagus nerve stimulation as therapeutic strategies in the treatment of various central nervous system pathologies, and their effect on inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Emmanuel Ramos-Martínez
- Glycobiology, Cell Growth and Tissue Repair Research Unit (Gly-CRRET), Université Paris Est Créteil (UPEC), 94010 Créteil, France;
| | - María Carmen Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, SSA, Morelos 62100, Mexico;
| | - Marco Cerbón
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (E.G.R.-M.)
| | - Juan Carlos Ramos-Martínez
- Cardiology Department, Hospital General Regional Lic. Ignacio Garcia Tellez IMSS, Yucatán 97150, Mexico;
| | - Edgar Gustavo Ramos-Martínez
- Escuela de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca, Oaxaca 68120, Mexico
- Instituto de Cómputo Aplicado en Ciencias, Oaxaca 68044, Mexico
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (E.G.R.-M.)
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Förster A, Model V, Gos T, Frodl T, Schiltz K, Dobrowolny H, Meyer-Lotz G, Guest PC, Mawrin C, Bernstein HG, Bogerts B, Schlaaff K, Steiner J. Reduced GABAergic neuropil and interneuron profiles in schizophrenia: Complementary analysis of disease course-related differences. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 145:50-59. [PMID: 34864489 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND GABAergic interneuron dysfunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), a key enzyme in GABA synthesis, may also be altered. Here, we have simultaneously evaluated GAD-immunoreactive (GAD-ir) neuropil and cell profiles in schizophrenia-relevant brain regions, and analysed disease-course related differences. METHODS GAD65/67 immunoreactivity was quantified in specific brain regions for profiles of fibres and cell bodies of interneurons by automated digital image analysis in post-mortem brains of 16 schizophrenia patients from paranoid (n = 10) and residual (n = 6) diagnostic subgroups and 16 matched controls. Regions of interest were superior temporal gyrus (STG) layers III and V, mediodorsal (MD) and laterodorsal (LD) thalamus, and hippocampal CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) regions. RESULTS A reduction in GAD-ir neuropil profiles (p < 0.001), particularly in STG layer V (p = 0.012) and MD (p = 0.001), paralleled decreased GAD-ir cell profiles (p = 0.029) in schizophrenia patients compared to controls. Paranoid schizophrenia patients had lower GAD-ir neuron cell profiles in STG layers III (p = 0.007) and V (p = 0.001), MD (p = 0.002), CA1 (p = 0.001) and DG (p = 0.043) than residual patients. There was no difference in GAD-ir neuropil profiles between paranoid and residual subgroups (p = 0.369). CONCLUSIONS These results support the hypothesis of GABAergic dysfunction in schizophrenia. They show a more prominent reduction of GAD-ir interneurons in paranoid versus residual patients, suggestive of more pronounced GABAergic dysfunction in the former. Fully automated analyses of histological sections represent a step towards user-independent assessment of brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Förster
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZP), Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Germany
| | - Vera Model
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZP), Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Germany
| | - Tomasz Gos
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Thomas Frodl
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZP), Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Kolja Schiltz
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Mental Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Henrik Dobrowolny
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZP), Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Germany
| | - Gabriela Meyer-Lotz
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZP), Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Germany
| | - Paul C Guest
- Laboratory of Neuroproteomics, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Christian Mawrin
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Neuropathology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Gert Bernstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Bogerts
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany; Salus Institute, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Konstantin Schlaaff
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZP), Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Germany
| | - Johann Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZP), Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.
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Reduced adult neurogenesis is associated with increased macrophages in the subependymal zone in schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:6880-6895. [PMID: 34059796 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01149-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neural stem cells in the human subependymal zone (SEZ) generate neuronal progenitor cells that can differentiate and integrate as inhibitory interneurons into cortical and subcortical brain regions; yet the extent of adult neurogenesis remains unexplored in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We verified the existence of neurogenesis across the lifespan by chartering transcriptional alterations (2 days-103 years, n = 70) and identifying cells indicative of different stages of neurogenesis in the human SEZ. Expression of most neural stem and neuronal progenitor cell markers decreased during the first postnatal years and remained stable from childhood into ageing. We next discovered reduced neural stem and neuronal progenitor cell marker expression in the adult SEZ in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder compared to controls (n = 29-32 per group). RNA sequencing identified increased expression of the macrophage marker CD163 as the most significant molecular change in schizophrenia. CD163+ macrophages, which were localised along blood vessels and in the parenchyma within 10 µm of neural stem and progenitor cells, had increased density in schizophrenia but not in bipolar disorder. Macrophage marker expression negatively correlated with neuronal progenitor marker expression in schizophrenia but not in controls or bipolar disorder. Reduced neurogenesis and increased macrophage marker expression were also associated with polygenic risk for schizophrenia. Our results support that the human SEZ retains the capacity to generate neuronal progenitor cells throughout life, although this capacity is limited in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The increase in macrophages in schizophrenia but not in bipolar disorder indicates that immune cells may impair neurogenesis in the adult SEZ in a disease-specific manner.
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Chauhan P, Kaur G, Prasad R, Singh H. Pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia: immunological aspects and potential role of immunotherapy. Expert Rev Neurother 2021; 21:1441-1453. [PMID: 34654348 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2021.1994857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Schizophrenia is a complex disorder owing to diversity in clinical phenotypes, overlapping symptoms, and heterogeneous clinical presentation. Even after decades of research, the exact causative mechanisms of schizophrenia are not completely known. Recent evidence indicates the role of immune dysfunction in schizophrenia pathogenesis as observed from alteration in immune cells, increased activity of complement cascade, and development of autoantibodies against neurotransmitter receptors. Immunotherapy involving immunosuppressants and cytokine-targeting drugs, have shown promising results in several clinical studies and it demands further research in this area. AREAS COVERED Here, the authors review the immunopathogenesis of schizophrenia, limitations of conventional, and atypical antipsychotic drugs and the potential role and limitations of immunotherapeutic drugs in schizophrenia management. EXPERT OPINION Schizophrenia is a complex disorder and poses a challenge to the currently available treatment approaches. Nearly 30% schizophrenia patients exhibit minimal response toward conventional and atypical antipsychotic drugs. Immune system dysfunction plays an important part of schizophrenia pathophysiology and existing monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs targeting specific components of the immune system are being repositioned in schizophrenia. The authors call upon public and private funders to facilitate urgent and rigorous research efforts in exploring potential role of immunotherapy in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prerna Chauhan
- Multidisciplinary Research Unit, Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh, India
| | - Gurjit Kaur
- Department of Physiology, Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh, India
| | - Rajendra Prasad
- Department of Biochemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Ambala, Haryana, India
| | - Harmanjit Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh, India
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De Picker LJ, Victoriano GM, Richards R, Gorvett AJ, Lyons S, Buckland GR, Tofani T, Norman JL, Chatelet DS, Nicoll JAR, Boche D. Immune environment of the brain in schizophrenia and during the psychotic episode: A human post-mortem study. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 97:319-327. [PMID: 34339805 PMCID: PMC8475749 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A causal relationship between immune dysregulation and schizophrenia has been supported by genome-wide association studies and epidemiological evidence. It remains unclear to what extent the brain immune environment is implicated in this hypothesis. We investigated the immunophenotype of microglia and the presence of perivascular macrophages and T lymphocytes in post-mortem brain tissue. Dorsal prefrontal cortex of 40 controls (22F:18M) and 37 (10F:27M) schizophrenia cases, of whom 16 had active psychotic symptoms at the time of death, was immunostained for seven markers of microglia (CD16, CD32a, CD64, CD68, HLA-DR, Iba1 and P2RY12), two markers for perivascular macrophages (CD163 and CD206) and T-lymphocytes (CD3). Automated quantification was blinded to the case designation and performed separately on the grey and white matter. 3D reconstruction of Iba1-positive microglia was performed in selected cases. An increased cortical expression of microglial Fcγ receptors (CD64 F = 7.92, p = 0.007; CD64/HLA-DR ratio F = 5.02, p = 0.029) highlights the importance of communication between the central and peripheral immune systems in schizophrenia. Patients in whom psychotic symptoms were present at death demonstrated an age-dependent increase of Iba1 and increased CD64/HLA-DR ratios relative to patients without psychotic symptoms. Microglia in schizophrenia demonstrated a primed/reactive morphology. A potential role for T-lymphocytes was observed, but we did not confirm the presence of recruited macrophages in the brains of schizophrenia patients. Taking in account the limitations of a post-mortem study, our findings support the hypothesis of an alteration of the brain immune environment in schizophrenia, with symptomatic state- and age-dependent effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia J De Picker
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; University Psychiatric Department Campus Duffel, Duffel, Belgium
| | - Gerardo Mendez Victoriano
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Rhys Richards
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Alexander J Gorvett
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Simeon Lyons
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - George R Buckland
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Tommaso Tofani
- Psychiatry Unit, Health Science Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Jeanette L Norman
- Histochemistry Research Unit, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - David S Chatelet
- Biomedical Imaging Unit, Southampton General Hospital, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - James A R Nicoll
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Department of Cellular Pathology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Delphine Boche
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
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Rahimian R, Wakid M, O'Leary LA, Mechawar N. The emerging tale of microglia in psychiatric disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:1-29. [PMID: 34536460 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
As the professional phagocytes of the brain, microglia orchestrate the immunological response and play an increasingly important role in maintaining homeostatic brain functions. Microglia are activated by pathological events or slight alterations in brain homeostasis. This activation is dependent on the context and type of stressor or pathology. Through secretion of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, microglia can strongly influence the response to a stressor and can, therefore, determine the pathological outcome. Psychopathologies have repeatedly been associated with long-lasting priming and sensitization of cerebral microglia. This review focuses on the diversity of microglial phenotype and function in health and psychiatric disease. We first discuss the diverse homeostatic functions performed by microglia and then elaborate on context-specific spatial and temporal microglial heterogeneity. Subsequently, we summarize microglia involvement in psychopathologies, namely major depressive disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with a particular focus on post-mortem studies. Finally, we postulate microglia as a promising novel therapeutic target in psychiatry through antidepressant and antipsychotic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Rahimian
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Marina Wakid
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Liam Anuj O'Leary
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Naguib Mechawar
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Effects of fingolimod, a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonist, on white matter microstructure, cognition and symptoms in schizophrenia. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:1802-1814. [PMID: 32893328 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-020-00375-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence have implicated white matter (WM) deficits in schizophrenia, including microstructural alterations from diffusion tensor (DTI) brain imaging studies. It has been proposed that dysregulated inflammatory processes, including heightened activity of circulating lymphocytes, may contribute to WM pathology in this illness. Fingolimod is a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonist that is approved for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Fingolimod robustly decreases the number of circulating lymphocytes through sequestration of these cells in lymph tissue. In addition, this agent improved WM microstructure as shown by increases in DTI fractional anisotropy (FA). In this pilot study, we assessed the effects of fingolimod on WM microstructure, cognition and symptoms in an eight-week, double-blind trial. Forty subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomized 1:1 to fingolimod (0.5 mg/day) and placebo. Fingolimod caused significant reductions in circulating lymphocytes (p < .001). In addition, there was a statistically non-significant association (p = .089) between DTI-FA change in the WM skeleton and fingolimod. There were significant relationships between the degree of lymphocyte reductions and increases in FA in the corpus collosum (p = .004) and right superior longitudinal fasciculus ( p = .02), and a non-significant correlation with the WM skeleton. There were no significant fingolimod versus placebo interactions on cognitive or symptom measures. There were no serious adverse events related to fingolimod treatment. Future studies with larger samples and treatment durations are needed to further establish fingolimod's potential therapeutic effects in schizophrenia.
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Uranova NA, Vikhreva OV, Rakhmanova VI. Abnormal microglial reactivity in gray matter of the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia. Asian J Psychiatr 2021; 63:102752. [PMID: 34274629 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Microglial activation has been proposed to contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The present study addressed the questions of whether microglial reactivity is involved in the course of schizophrenia and is associated with aging. Transmission electron microscopy and morphometry were applied to estimate microglial density and ultrastructural parameters in layer 5 of the prefrontal cortex (BA10) in postmortem 21 chronic schizophrenia and 20 healthy control cases. A significant increase in microglial density was found in the schizophrenia group (+20 %), in young group (≤50 y.o.), in shorter duration of disease (≤26 yrs.) group, in early age at onset of disease (≤ 21 y.o.) group as compared to controls (p < 0.05) and in young schizophrenia group as compared to both young and elderly (>50 y.o.) controls (p < 0.05). Volume fraction (Vv) of mitochondria was significantly lower and area of lipofuscin granules was significantly higher in young and elderly schizophrenia groups as compared to young and elderly controls. Vv of lipofuscin granules strongly positively correlated with age and duration of disease in the schizophrenia group. Vv and the number (N) of lipofuscin granules were higher in longer duration (>26 yrs.) group as compared to shorter duration group (p < 0.01). Vv and N of vacuoles were increased in longer duration group as compared to controls (p < 0.01). The study provides evidence for microgliosis associated with age, duration of disease and age at onset of disease, progressive dystrophy and accelerated aging of microglia in gray matter of the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Uranova
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Centre, Moscow, Russia.
| | - O V Vikhreva
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
| | - V I Rakhmanova
- Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
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Lindholm Carlström E, Niazi A, Etemadikhah M, Halvardson J, Enroth S, Stockmeier CA, Rajkowska G, Nilsson B, Feuk L. Transcriptome Analysis of Post-Mortem Brain Tissue Reveals Up-Regulation of the Complement Cascade in a Subgroup of Schizophrenia Patients. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1242. [PMID: 34440415 PMCID: PMC8393670 DOI: 10.3390/genes12081242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a genetically complex neuropsychiatric disorder with largely unresolved mechanisms of pathology. Identification of genes and pathways associated with schizophrenia is important for understanding the development, progression and treatment of schizophrenia. In this study, pathways associated with schizophrenia were explored at the level of gene expression. The study included post-mortem brain tissue samples from 68 schizophrenia patients and 44 age and sex-matched control subjects. Whole transcriptome poly-A selected paired-end RNA sequencing was performed on tissue from the prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex. RNA expression differences were detected between case and control individuals, focusing both on single genes and pathways. The results were validated with RT-qPCR. Significant differential expression between patient and controls groups was found for 71 genes. Gene ontology analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed an up-regulation of multiple genes in immune response among the patients (corrected p-value = 0.004). Several genes in the category belong to the complement system, including C1R, C1S, C7, FCN3, SERPING1, C4A and CFI. The increased complement expression is primarily driven by a subgroup of patients with increased expression of immune/inflammatory response genes, pointing to important differences in disease etiology within the patient group. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis highlighted networks associated with both synaptic transmission and activation of the immune response. Our results demonstrate the importance of immune-related pathways in schizophrenia and provide evidence for elevated expression of the complement cascade as an important pathway in schizophrenia pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Lindholm Carlström
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (E.L.C.); (A.N.); (M.E.); (J.H.); (S.E.); (B.N.)
| | - Adnan Niazi
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (E.L.C.); (A.N.); (M.E.); (J.H.); (S.E.); (B.N.)
| | - Mitra Etemadikhah
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (E.L.C.); (A.N.); (M.E.); (J.H.); (S.E.); (B.N.)
| | - Jonatan Halvardson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (E.L.C.); (A.N.); (M.E.); (J.H.); (S.E.); (B.N.)
| | - Stefan Enroth
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (E.L.C.); (A.N.); (M.E.); (J.H.); (S.E.); (B.N.)
| | - Craig A. Stockmeier
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (C.A.S.); (G.R.)
| | - Grazyna Rajkowska
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (C.A.S.); (G.R.)
| | - Bo Nilsson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (E.L.C.); (A.N.); (M.E.); (J.H.); (S.E.); (B.N.)
| | - Lars Feuk
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (E.L.C.); (A.N.); (M.E.); (J.H.); (S.E.); (B.N.)
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Hidden Role of Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis in Schizophrenia: Antipsychotics or Psychobiotics as Therapeutics? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147671. [PMID: 34299291 PMCID: PMC8307070 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic, heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder that has complex symptoms and uncertain etiology. Mounting evidence indicates the involvement of genetics and epigenetic disturbances, alteration in gut microbiome, immune system abnormalities, and environmental influence in the disease, but a single root cause and mechanism involved has yet to be conclusively determined. Consequently, the identification of diagnostic markers and the development of psychotic drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia faces a high failure rate. This article surveys the etiology of schizophrenia with a particular focus on gut microbiota regulation and the microbial signaling system that correlates with the brain through the vagus nerve, enteric nervous system, immune system, and production of postbiotics. Gut microbially produced molecules may lay the groundwork for further investigations into the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis and the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Current treatment of schizophrenia is limited to psychotherapy and antipsychotic drugs that have significant side effects. Therefore, alternative therapeutic options merit exploration. The use of psychobiotics alone or in combination with antipsychotics may promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In view of the individual gut microbiome structure and personalized response to antipsychotic drugs, a tailored and targeted manipulation of gut microbial diversity naturally by novel prebiotics (non-digestible fiber) may be a successful alternative therapeutic for the treatment of schizophrenia patients.
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Munawar N, Ahsan K, Muhammad K, Ahmad A, Anwar MA, Shah I, Al Ameri AK, Al Mughairbi F. Hidden Role of Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis in Schizophrenia: Antipsychotics or Psychobiotics as Therapeutics? Int J Mol Sci 2021. [DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic, heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder that has complex symptoms and uncertain etiology. Mounting evidence indicates the involvement of genetics and epigenetic disturbances, alteration in gut microbiome, immune system abnormalities, and environmental influence in the disease, but a single root cause and mechanism involved has yet to be conclusively determined. Consequently, the identification of diagnostic markers and the development of psychotic drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia faces a high failure rate. This article surveys the etiology of schizophrenia with a particular focus on gut microbiota regulation and the microbial signaling system that correlates with the brain through the vagus nerve, enteric nervous system, immune system, and production of postbiotics. Gut microbially produced molecules may lay the groundwork for further investigations into the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis and the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Current treatment of schizophrenia is limited to psychotherapy and antipsychotic drugs that have significant side effects. Therefore, alternative therapeutic options merit exploration. The use of psychobiotics alone or in combination with antipsychotics may promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In view of the individual gut microbiome structure and personalized response to antipsychotic drugs, a tailored and targeted manipulation of gut microbial diversity naturally by novel prebiotics (non-digestible fiber) may be a successful alternative therapeutic for the treatment of schizophrenia patients.
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50
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Berry K, Farias-Itao DS, Grinberg LT, Plowey ED, Schneider JA, Rodriguez RD, Suemoto CK, Buckwalter MS. B and T Lymphocyte Densities Remain Stable With Age in Human Cortex. ASN Neuro 2021; 13:17590914211018117. [PMID: 34056948 PMCID: PMC8168031 DOI: 10.1177/17590914211018117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
One hallmark of human aging is increased brain inflammation represented by glial activation. With age, there is also diminished function of the adaptive immune system, and modest decreases in circulating B- and T-lymphocytes. Lymphocytes traffic through the human brain and reside there in small numbers, but it is unknown how this changes with age. Thus we investigated whether B- and T-lymphocyte numbers change with age in the normal human brain. We examined 16 human subjects in a pilot study and then 40 human subjects from a single brain bank, ranging in age from 44–96 years old, using rigorous criteria for defining neuropathological changes due to age alone. We immunostained post-mortem cortical tissue for B- and T-lymphocytes using antibodies to CD20 and CD3, respectively. We quantified cell density and made a qualitative assessment of cell location in cortical brain sections, and reviewed prior studies. We report that density and location of both B- and T-lymphocytes do not change with age in the normal human cortex. Solitary B-lymphocytes were found equally in intravascular, perivascular, and parenchymal locations, while T-lymphocytes appeared primarily in perivascular clusters. Thus, any change in number or location of lymphocytes in an aging brain may indicate disease rather than normal aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacey Berry
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, California, United States.,Department of Neurology and Pathology, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, California, United States
| | | | - Lea T Grinberg
- Department of Neurology and Pathology, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, California, United States.,Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil
| | - Edward D Plowey
- Department of Pathology, Stanford School of Medicine, California, United States
| | - Julie A Schneider
- Department of Pathology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Roberta D Rodriguez
- Department of Neurology and Biobank for Aging Studies, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil
| | - Claudia K Suemoto
- Division of Geriatrics, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil
| | - Marion S Buckwalter
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, California, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford School of Medicine, California, United States
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