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Banerjee S, Saha D, Sharma R, Jaidee W, Puttarak P, Chaiyakunapruk N, Chaoroensup R. Phytocannabinoids in neuromodulation: From omics to epigenetics. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 330:118201. [PMID: 38677573 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent developments in metabolomics, transcriptomic and epigenetics open up new horizons regarding the pharmacological understanding of phytocannabinoids as neuromodulators in treating anxiety, depression, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and autism. METHODS The present review is an extensive search in public databases, such as Google Scholar, Scopus, the Web of Science, and PubMed, to collect all the literature about the neurobiological roles of cannabis extract, cannabidiol, 9-tetrahydrocannabinol specially focused on metabolomics, transcriptomic, epigenetic, mechanism of action, in different cell lines, induced animal models and clinical trials. We used bioinformatics, network pharmacology and enrichment analysis to understand the effect of phytocannabinoids in neuromodulation. RESULTS Cannabidomics studies show wide variability of metabolites across different strains and varieties, which determine their medicinal and abusive usage, which is very important for its quality control and regulation. CB receptors interact with other compounds besides cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, like cannabinol and Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol. Phytocannabinoids interact with cannabinoid and non-cannabinoid receptors (GPCR, ion channels, and PPAR) to improve various neurodegenerative diseases. However, its abuse because of THC is also a problem found across different epigenetic and transcriptomic studies. Network enrichment analysis shows CNR1 expression in the brain and its interacting genes involve different pathways such as Rap1 signalling, dopaminergic synapse, and relaxin signalling. CBD protects against diseases like epilepsy, depression, and Parkinson's by modifying DNA and mitochondrial DNA in the hippocampus. Network pharmacology analysis of 8 phytocannabinoids revealed an interaction with 10 (out of 60) targets related to neurodegenerative diseases, with enrichment of ErbB and PI3K-Akt signalling pathways which helps in ameliorating neuro-inflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases. The effects of phytocannabinoids vary across sex, disease state, and age which suggests the importance of a personalized medicine approach for better success. CONCLUSIONS Phytocannabinoids present a range of promising neuromodulatory effects. It holds promise if utilized in a strategic way towards personalized neuropsychiatric treatment. However, just like any drug irrational usage may lead to unforeseen negative effects. Exploring neuro-epigenetics and systems pharmacology of major and minor phytocannabinoid combinations can lead to success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhadip Banerjee
- Medicinal Plant Innovation Center of Mae Fah Luang University, Mae Fah Luang University, ChiangRai, 57100, Thailand
| | - Debolina Saha
- School of Bioscience and Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Department of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Wuttichai Jaidee
- Medicinal Plant Innovation Center of Mae Fah Luang University, Mae Fah Luang University, ChiangRai, 57100, Thailand
| | - Panupong Puttarak
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand; Phytomedicine and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Excellence Center, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
| | | | - Rawiwan Chaoroensup
- Medicinal Plant Innovation Center of Mae Fah Luang University, Mae Fah Luang University, ChiangRai, 57100, Thailand; School of Integrative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand.
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Xavier FAC, Barbieri SS, Popoli M, Ieraci A. Short- and Long-Term Effects of Subchronic Stress Exposure in Male and Female Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Knock-In Val66Met Mice. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:303. [PMID: 38785785 PMCID: PMC11118886 DOI: 10.3390/biology13050303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Stress is an important risk factor for the onset of anxiety and depression. The ability to cope with stressful events varies among different subjects, probably depending on different genetic variants, sex and previous life experiences. The Val66Met variant of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which impairs the activity-dependent secretion of BDNF, has been associated with increased susceptibility to the development of various neuropsychiatric disorders. Adult male and female wild-type Val/Val (BDNFV/V) and heterozygous Val/Met (BDNFV/M) mice were exposed to two sessions of forced swimming stress (FSS) per day for two consecutive days. The mice were behaviorally tested 1 day (short-term effect) or 11 days (long-term effect) after the last stress session. Protein and mRNA levels were measured in the hippocampus 16 days after the end of stress exposure. Stressed mice showed a higher anxiety-like phenotype compared to non-stressed mice, regardless of the sex and genotype, when analyzed following the short period of stress. In the prolonged period, anxiety-like behavior persisted only in male BDNFV/M mice (p < 0.0001). Interestingly, recovery in male BDNFV/V mice was accompanied by an increase in pCREB (p < 0.001) and Bdnf4 (p < 0.01) transcript and a decrease in HDAC1 (p < 0.05) and Dnmt3a (p = 0.01) in the hippocampus. Overall, our results show that male and female BDNF Val66Met knock-in mice can recover from subchronic stress in different ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Antonio Costa Xavier
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90619-900, Brazil;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy;
| | - Silvia Stella Barbieri
- Unit of Brain-Heart Axis: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy;
| | - Maurizio Popoli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Ieraci
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, 22060 Novedrate, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
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Dirven BCJ, van Melis L, Daneva T, Dillen L, Homberg JR, Kozicz T, Henckens MJAG. Hippocampal Trauma Memory Processing Conveying Susceptibility to Traumatic Stress. Neuroscience 2024; 540:87-102. [PMID: 38220126 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.01.007] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
While the majority of the population is ever exposed to a traumatic event during their lifetime, only a fraction develops posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Disrupted trauma memory processing has been proposed as a core factor underlying PTSD symptomatology. We used transgenic Targeted-Recombination-in-Active-Populations (TRAP) mice to investigate potential alterations in trauma-related hippocampal memory engrams associated with the development of PTSD-like symptomatology. Mice were exposed to a stress-enhanced fear learning paradigm, in which prior exposure to a stressor affects the learning of a subsequent fearful event (contextual fear conditioning using foot shocks), during which neuronal activity was labeled. One week later, mice were behaviorally phenotyped to identify mice resilient and susceptible to developing PTSD-like symptomatology. Three weeks post-learning, mice were re-exposed to the conditioning context to induce remote fear memory recall, and associated hippocampal neuronal activity was assessed. While no differences in the size of the hippocampal neuronal ensemble activated during fear learning were observed between groups, susceptible mice displayed a smaller ensemble activated upon remote fear memory recall in the ventral CA1, higher regional hippocampal parvalbuminneuronal density and a relatively lower activity of parvalbumininterneurons upon recall. Investigation of potential epigenetic regulators of the engram revealed rather generic (rather than engram-specific) differences between groups, with susceptible mice displaying lower hippocampal histone deacetylase 2 expression, and higher methylation and hydroxymethylation levels. These finding implicate variation in epigenetic regulation within the hippocampus, as well as reduced regional hippocampal activity during remote fear memory recall in interindividual differences in susceptibility to traumatic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart C J Dirven
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lennart van Melis
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Teya Daneva
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lieke Dillen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tamas Kozicz
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Center for Individualized Medicine, Department of Clinical Genomics, and Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; University of Pecs Medical School, Department of Anatomy, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Marloes J A G Henckens
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Spinieli RL, Cazuza R, Sales AJ, Carolino R, Franci JA, Tajerian M, Leite-Panissi CRA. Acute restraint stress regulates brain DNMT3a and promotes defensive behaviors in male rats. Neurosci Lett 2024; 820:137589. [PMID: 38101612 PMCID: PMC10947420 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Depending on its duration and severity, stress may contribute to neuropsychiatric diseases such as depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that stress impacts the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, but its downstream molecular, behavioral, and nociceptive effects remain unclear. We hypothesized that a 2-hour single exposure to acute restraint stress (ARS) activates the HPA axis and changes DNA methylation, a molecular mechanism involved in the machinery of stress regulation. We further hypothesized that ARS induces anxiety-like and risk assessment behavior and alters nociceptive responses in the rat. We employed biochemical (radioimmunoassay for corticosterone; global DNA methylation by enzyme immunoassay and western blot for DNMT3a expression in the amygdala, ventral hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex) and behavioral (elevated plus maze and dark-light box for anxiety and hot plate test for nociception) tests in adult male Wistar rats exposed to ARS or handling (control). All analyses were performed 24 h after ARS or handling. We found that ARS increased corticosterone levels in the blood, increased the expression of DNMT3a in the prefrontal cortex, promoted anxiety-like and risk assessment behaviors in the elevated plus maze, and increased the nociceptive threshold observed in the hot plate test. Our findings suggest that ARS might be a helpful rat model for studying acute stress and its effects on physiology, epigenetic machinery, and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Spinieli
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Science and Literature of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Rafael Cazuza
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Science and Literature of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amanda J Sales
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ruither Carolino
- Department of Basic and Oral Biology, Dental School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Janete A Franci
- Department of Basic and Oral Biology, Dental School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maral Tajerian
- Department of Biology, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY, United States; The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christie R A Leite-Panissi
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Science and Literature of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
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Valvassori SS, Varela RB, Resende WR, Possamai-Della T, Borba LDA, Behenck JP, Réus GZ, Quevedo J. Antidepressant Effect of Sodium Butyrate is Accompanied by Brain Epigenetic Modulation in Rats Subjected to Early or Late Life Stress. Curr Neurovasc Res 2024; 20:586-598. [PMID: 38288841 DOI: 10.2174/0115672026277345240115101852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depression has a complex and multifactorial etiology constituted by the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in its development. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium butyrate (SD) on epigenetic enzyme alterations in rats subjected to animal models of depression induced by maternal deprivation (MD) or chronic mild stress (CMS). METHODS To induce MD, male Wistar rats were deprived of maternal care during the first 10 days of life. To induce CMS, rats were subjected to the CMS for 40 days. Adult rats were then treated with daily injections of SD for 7 days. Animals were subjected to the forced swimming test (FST), and then, histone deacetylase (HDAC), histone acetyltransferase (HAT), and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activities were evaluated in the brain. RESULTS MD and CMS increased immobility time in FST and increased HDAC and DNMT activity in the animal brains. SD reversed increased immobility induced by both animal models and the alterations in HDAC and DNMT activities. There was a positive correlation between enzyme activities and immobility time for both models. HDAC and DNMT activities also presented a positive correlation between themselves. CONCLUSION These results suggest that epigenetics can play an important role in major depression pathophysiology triggered by early or late life stress and its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Silva Valvassori
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Roger Bitencourt Varela
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
- Functional Neuromodulation and Novel Therapeutics Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Wilson Rodrigues Resende
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Taise Possamai-Della
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Laura de Araujo Borba
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - João Paulo Behenck
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Gislaine Zilli Réus
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - João Quevedo
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
- Translational Psychiatry Program, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, USA
- Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, USA
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Interventional Psychiatry, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, USA
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Wyns A, Hendrix J, Lahousse A, De Bruyne E, Nijs J, Godderis L, Polli A. The Biology of Stress Intolerance in Patients with Chronic Pain—State of the Art and Future Directions. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12062245. [PMID: 36983246 PMCID: PMC10057496 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12062245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress has been consistently linked to negative impacts on physical and mental health. More specifically, patients with chronic pain experience stress intolerance, which is an exacerbation or occurrence of symptoms in response to any type of stress. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unsolved. In this state-of-the-art paper, we summarised the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the two major stress response systems in stress intolerance. We provided insights into such mechanisms based on evidence from clinical studies in both patients with chronic pain, showing dysregulated stress systems, and healthy controls supported by preclinical studies, highlighting the link between these systems and symptoms of stress intolerance. Furthermore, we explored the possible regulating role for (epi)genetic mechanisms influencing the ANS and HPA axis. The link between stress and chronic pain has become an important area of research as it has the potential to inform the development of interventions to improve the quality of life for individuals living with chronic pain. As stress has become a prevalent concern in modern society, understanding the connection between stress, HPA axis, ANS, and chronic health conditions such as chronic pain is crucial to improve public health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Wyns
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.W.); (A.L.); (J.N.); (A.P.)
| | - Jolien Hendrix
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.W.); (A.L.); (J.N.); (A.P.)
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment & Health, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Flanders Research Foundation-FWO, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
- Correspondence:
| | - Astrid Lahousse
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.W.); (A.L.); (J.N.); (A.P.)
- Flanders Research Foundation-FWO, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
- Chronic Pain Rehabilitation, Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
- Rehabilitation Research (RERE) Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy (KIMA), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elke De Bruyne
- Department of Hematology and Immunology-Myeloma Center Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Jo Nijs
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.W.); (A.L.); (J.N.); (A.P.)
- Chronic Pain Rehabilitation, Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
- Unit of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lode Godderis
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment & Health, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, IDEWE, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Andrea Polli
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.W.); (A.L.); (J.N.); (A.P.)
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment & Health, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Flanders Research Foundation-FWO, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
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Cheng S, Wang W, Zhu Z, Zhao M, Li H, Liu D, Pan F. Involvement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor methylation in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress in male mice. J Neurochem 2023; 164:624-642. [PMID: 36453259 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15735] [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: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Early life stress alters brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promoter IV methylation and BDNF expression, which is closely related to the pathophysiological process of depression. However, the role of abnormal methylation of BDNF induced by stress during adolescence due to depression has not yet been clarified. In this study, adolescent mice were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Depression-like behaviors, BDNF promoter IV methylation, expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), demethylation machinery enzymes, BDNF protein levels, and neuronal development in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIP) were assessed in adolescent and adult mice. The DNMT inhibitor, 5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine (5-AzaD), was used as an intervention. Stress in adolescence induces behavioral dysfunction, elevated methylation levels of BDNF promoter IV, changes in the expression of DNMT, and demethylation machinery enzymes in adolescent and adult mice. Additionally, the stress in adolescence induced lower levels of BDNF and abnormal hippocampal doublecortin (DCX) expression in adolescent and adult mice. However, DNMT inhibitor treatment in adolescent-stressed mice relieved the abnormal behaviors, normalized the methylation level of BDNF promoter IV, BDNF protein expression, expression of DNMTs, and demethylation machinery enzymes, and improved the neuronal development of adult mice. These results suggest that stress in adolescence induces short- and long-term hypermethylation of BDNF promoter IV, which is regulated by DNMTs, and leads to the development of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyue Cheng
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medical Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medical Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zemeng Zhu
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medical Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingyue Zhao
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medical Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hannao Li
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medical Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Dexiang Liu
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medical Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Pan
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medical Medicine Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
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Micale V, Di Bartolomeo M, Di Martino S, Stark T, Dell'Osso B, Drago F, D'Addario C. Are the epigenetic changes predictive of therapeutic efficacy for psychiatric disorders? A translational approach towards novel drug targets. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 241:108279. [PMID: 36103902 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The etiopathogenesis of mental disorders is not fully understood and accumulating evidence support that clinical symptomatology cannot be assigned to a single gene mutation, but it involves several genetic factors. More specifically, a tight association between genes and environmental risk factors, which could be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms, may play a role in the development of mental disorders. Several data suggest that epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, post-translational histone modification and interference of microRNA (miRNA) or long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) may modify the severity of the disease and the outcome of the therapy. Indeed, the study of these mechanisms may help to identify patients particularly vulnerable to mental disorders and may have potential utility as biomarkers to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. This article summarizes the most relevant preclinical and human data showing how epigenetic modifications can be central to the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressant and/or antipsychotic agents, as possible predictor of drugs response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Micale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
| | - Martina Di Bartolomeo
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Serena Di Martino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Tibor Stark
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Scientific Core Unit Neuroimaging, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernardo Dell'Osso
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy, Department of Mental Health, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy; "Aldo Ravelli" Research Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan Medical School, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA, USA
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
| | - Claudio D'Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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9
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Domingos LB, Silva NR, Chaves Filho AJM, Sales AJ, Starnawska A, Joca S. Regulation of DNA Methylation by Cannabidiol and Its Implications for Psychiatry: New Insights from In Vivo and In Silico Models. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:2165. [PMID: 36421839 PMCID: PMC9690868 DOI: 10.3390/genes13112165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic compound present in cannabis sativa. Many recent studies have indicated that CBD has a promising therapeutic profile for stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, schizophrenia and depression. Such a diverse profile has been associated with its complex pharmacology, since CBD can target different neurotransmitter receptors, enzymes, transporters and ion channels. However, the precise contribution of each of those mechanisms for CBD effects is still not yet completely understood. Considering that epigenetic changes make the bridge between gene expression and environment interactions, we review and discuss herein how CBD affects one of the main epigenetic mechanisms associated with the development of stress-related psychiatric disorders: DNA methylation (DNAm). Evidence from in vivo and in silico studies indicate that CBD can regulate the activity of the enzymes responsible for DNAm, due to directly binding to the enzymes and/or by indirectly regulating their activities as a consequence of neurotransmitter-mediated signaling. The implications of this new potential pharmacological target for CBD are discussed in light of its therapeutic and neurodevelopmental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana B. Domingos
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nicole R. Silva
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Adriano J. M. Chaves Filho
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Amanda J. Sales
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Anna Starnawska
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, CGPM, Center for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sâmia Joca
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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10
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Paoli C, Misztak P, Mazzini G, Musazzi L. DNA Methylation in Depression and Depressive-Like Phenotype: Biomarker or Target of Pharmacological Intervention? Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:2267-2291. [PMID: 35105292 PMCID: PMC9890294 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220201084536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder, the third leading global cause of disability. Regarding aetiopathogenetic mechanisms involved in the onset of depressive disorders, the interaction between genetic vulnerability traits and environmental factors is believed to play a major role. Although much is still to be elucidated about the mechanisms through which the environment can interact with genetic background shaping the disease risk, there is a general agreement about a key role of epigenetic marking. In this narrative review, we focused on the association between changes in DNA methylation patterns and MDD or depressive-like phenotype in animal models, as well as mechanisms of response to antidepressant drugs. We discussed studies presenting DNA methylation changes at specific genes of interest and profiling analyses in both patients and animal models of depression. Overall, we collected evidence showing that DNA methylation could not only be considered as a promising epigenetic biomarker of pathology but could also help in predicting antidepressant treatment efficacy. Finally, we discussed the hypothesis that specific changes in DNA methylation signature could play a role in aetiopathogenetic processes as well as in the induction of antidepressant effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Paoli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Paulina Misztak
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Giulia Mazzini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Laura Musazzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
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11
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de Sousa Maciel I, Sales AJ, Casarotto PC, Castrén E, Biojone C, Joca SRL. Nitric Oxide Synthase inhibition counteracts the stress-induced DNA methyltransferase 3b expression in the hippocampus of rats. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 55:2421-2434. [PMID: 33170977 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
It has been postulated that the activation of NMDA receptors (NMDAr) and nitric oxide (NO) production in the hippocampus is involved in the behavioral consequences of stress. Stress triggers NMDAr-induced calcium influx in limbic areas, such as the hippocampus, which in turn activates neuronal NO synthase (nNOS). Inhibition of nNOS or NMDAr activity can prevent stress-induced effects in animal models, but the molecular mechanisms behind this effect are still unclear. In this study, cultured hippocampal neurons treated with NMDA or dexamethasone showed an increased of DNA methyltransferase 3b (DNMT3b) mRNA expression, which was blocked by pre-treatment with nNOS inhibitor nω -propyl-l-arginine (NPA). In rats submitted to the Learned Helplessness paradigm (LH), we observed that inescapable stress increased DNMT3b mRNA expression at 1h and 24h in the hippocampus. The NOS inhibitors 7-NI and aminoguanidine (AMG) decreased the number of escape failures in LH and counteracted the changes in hippocampal DNMT3b mRNA induced in this behavioral paradigm. Altogether, our data suggest that NO produced in response to NMDAr activation following stress upregulates DNMT3b in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izaque de Sousa Maciel
- School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto - SP, Brazil
| | - Amanda J Sales
- School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto - SP, Brazil
| | | | - Eero Castrén
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Sâmia R L Joca
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto -SP, Brazil
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12
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Vander Velden JW, Osborne DM. Prolonged diet-induced obesity modifies DNA methylation and gene expression in the hippocampus. Neurosci Lett 2022; 780:136656. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Yan Z, Rein B. Mechanisms of synaptic transmission dysregulation in the prefrontal cortex: pathophysiological implications. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:445-465. [PMID: 33875802 PMCID: PMC8523584 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01092-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) serves as the chief executive officer of the brain, controlling the highest level cognitive and emotional processes. Its local circuits among glutamatergic principal neurons and GABAergic interneurons, as well as its long-range connections with other brain regions, have been functionally linked to specific behaviors, ranging from working memory to reward seeking. The efficacy of synaptic signaling in the PFC network is profundedly influenced by monoaminergic inputs via the activation of dopamine, adrenergic, or serotonin receptors. Stress hormones and neuropeptides also exert complex effects on the synaptic structure and function of PFC neurons. Dysregulation of PFC synaptic transmission is strongly linked to social deficits, affective disturbance, and memory loss in brain disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, depression, and Alzheimer's disease. Critical neural circuits, biological pathways, and molecular players that go awry in these mental illnesses have been revealed by integrated electrophysiological, optogenetic, biochemical, and transcriptomic studies of PFC. Novel epigenetic mechanism-based strategies are proposed as potential avenues of therapeutic intervention for PFC-involved diseases. This review provides an overview of PFC network organization and synaptic modulation, as well as the mechanisms linking PFC dysfunction to the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases. Insights from the preclinical studies offer the potential for discovering new medical treatments for human patients with these brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation (DNAm) have been associated with stress responses and increased vulnerability to depression. Abnormal DNAm is observed in stressed animals and depressed individuals. Antidepressant treatment modulates DNAm levels and regulates gene expression in diverse tissues, including the brain and the blood. Therefore, DNAm could be a potential therapeutic target in depression. Here, we reviewed the current knowledge about the involvement of DNAm in the behavioural and molecular changes associated with stress exposure and depression. We also evaluated the possible use of DNAm changes as biomarkers of depression. Finally, we discussed current knowledge limitations and future perspectives.
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Bian X, Gao Y. DNA methylation and gene expression alterations in zebrafish embryos exposed to cadmium. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:30101-30110. [PMID: 33586102 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12691-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An unexplored attributing molecular mechanism of Cd toxicity is interference with the epigenetic machinery, such as DNA methylation, processes that are crucial for early fetal development. In order to investigate the effects of Cd on the expression of metallothionein (MT) and Dnmts transcripts, markers of DNA methylation, and signaling pathway gene expression, zebrafish embryos were exposed during 24 hours post-fertilization (starting at maximum 8-cell stage) to 0.0089, 0.089, and 0.89 μM Cd. The results showed that the Cd accumulation in zebrafish embryo reached a stable level after 12 hpf, and the Cd accumulation at individual time points was significantly different among different concentration groups. MT mRNA fold was significantly positive with the Cd content in embryos. We observed that the expression level of DNA methyltransferase (Dnmts) in the 0.089 μM Cd exposure group was significantly up-regulated. Dnmt1 expression was significantly up-regulated in the 0.89 μM Cd exposure group, and Dnmt3s expression and global methylation levels were significantly down-regulated. Cd up-regulated ErbB-3 gene expression, down-regulated ErbB-4 gene expression, and neutralized ErbB-1 gene expression. Cd activated Ca2+, MAPK-JUK, p38 MAP kinase, PI3K-AKT, and VEGF signaling pathway genes, indicating these pathway genes related to Cd exposure level. The results are helpful to clarify the molecular mechanism of DNA methylation in zebrafish embryo under metal pressure and further interference with the epigenetic machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Bian
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria of Ministry of Education and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Yongfei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria of Ministry of Education and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
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The Importance of Epigenetics in Diagnostics and Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11030167. [PMID: 33804455 PMCID: PMC7999864 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11030167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies imply that there is a tight association between epigenetics and a molecular mechanism of major depressive disorder (MDD). Epigenetic modifications, i.e., DNA methylation, post-translational histone modification and interference of microRNA (miRNA) or long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), are able to influence the severity of the disease and the outcome of the therapy. This article summarizes the most recent literature data on this topic, i.e., usage of histone deacetylases as therapeutic agents with an antidepressant effect and miRNAs or lncRNAs as markers of depression. Due to the noteworthy potential of the role of epigenetics in MDD diagnostics and therapy, we have gathered the most relevant data in this area.
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Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety and Mood Disorders: Molecular Targets and Epigenetic Insights from Preclinical Research. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041863. [PMID: 33668469 PMCID: PMC7917759 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the most abundant non-psychoactive component of cannabis; it displays a very low affinity for cannabinoid receptors, facilitates endocannabinoid signaling by inhibiting the hydrolysis of anandamide, and stimulates both transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 and 2 and serotonin type 1A receptors. Since CBD interacts with a wide variety of molecular targets in the brain, its therapeutic potential has been investigated in a number of neuropsychiatric diseases, including anxiety and mood disorders. Specifically, CBD has received growing attention due to its anxiolytic and antidepressant properties. As a consequence, and given its safety profile, CBD is considered a promising new agent in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders. However, the exact molecular mechanism of action of CBD still remains unknown. In the present preclinical review, we provide a summary of animal-based studies that support the use of CBD as an anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like compound. Next, we describe neuropharmacological evidence that links the molecular pharmacology of CBD to its behavioral effects. Finally, by taking into consideration the effects of CBD on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs, we elaborate on the putative role of epigenetic mechanisms in mediating CBD’s therapeutic outcomes.
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Sales AJ, Maciel IS, Suavinha ACDR, Joca SRL. Modulation of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression in Rodent Cortical Neuroplasticity Pathways Exerts Rapid Antidepressant-Like Effects. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:777-794. [PMID: 33025509 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02145-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress increases DNA methylation, primarily a suppressive epigenetic mechanism catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), and decreases the expression of genes involved in neuronal plasticity and mood regulation. Despite chronic antidepressant treatment decreases stress-induced DNA methylation, it is not known whether inhibition of DNMT would convey rapid antidepressant-like effects. AIM This work tested such a hypothesis and evaluated whether a behavioral effect induced by DNMT inhibitors (DNMTi) corresponds with changes in DNA methylation and transcript levels in genes consistently associated with the neurobiology of depression and synaptic plasticity (BDNF, TrkB, 5-HT1A, NMDA, and AMPA). METHODS Male Wistar rats received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of two pharmacologically different DNMTi (5-AzaD 0.2 and 0.6 mg/kg or RG108 0.6 mg/kg) or vehicle (1 ml/kg), 1 h or 7 days before the learned helplessness test (LH). DNA methylation in target genes and the correspondent transcript levels were measured in the hippocampus (HPC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) using meDIP-qPCR. In parallel separate groups, the antidepressant-like effect of 5-AzaD and RG108 was investigated in the forced swimming test (FST). The involvement of cortical BDNF-TrkB-mTOR pathways was assessed by intra-ventral medial PFC (vmPFC) injections of rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor), K252a (TrkB receptor antagonist), or vehicle (0.2 μl/side). RESULTS We found that both 5-AzaD and RG108 acutely and 7 days before the test decreased escape failures in the LH. LH stress increased DNA methylation and decreased transcript levels of BDNF IV and TrkB in the PFC, effects that were not significantly attenuated by RG108 treatment. The systemic administration of 5-AzaD (0.2 mg/kg) and RG108 (0.2 mg/kg) induced an antidepressant-like effect in FST, which was, however, attenuated by TrkB and mTOR inhibition into the vmPFC. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that acute inhibition of stress-induced DNA methylation promotes rapid and sustained antidepressant effects associated with increased BDNF-TrkB-mTOR signaling in the PFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Sales
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
- FMRP-USP, Av Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.
| | - Izaque S Maciel
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Angélica C D R Suavinha
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Sâmia R L Joca
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- FCFRP-USP, Av Café, sn, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil.
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Jeyaraj SE, Sivasangari K, García-Colunga J, Rajan KE. Environmental enrichment enhances sociability by regulating glutamate signaling pathway through GR by epigenetic mechanisms in amygdala of Indian field mice Mus booduga. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 300:113641. [PMID: 33017584 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) dynamically regulates gene expression and synaptic plasticity with positive consequences on behavior. The present study was performed on field-mice to explore the effects of EE on both captive-condition inducing social stress and epigenetic changes of molecules resilience stress. For this purpose, field-mice were caught and allowed to habituate in standard laboratory conditions for 7 days. The next day animals were randomly assigned to three groups: i) mice at short-term standard condition (STSC); which were subjected to social interaction test (SIT) on day 9, ii) mice continuously maintainedfor additional 30 days, with these long-term standard conditions (LTSC), and iii) mice maintained in an EE cage for additional 30 days. After achieving SIT, we examined epigenetic changes of a repertory of molecules associated with resilience stress, by determining their levels by Western blot. Thus, the main findings were that during SIT, EE exerted more social interaction of field-mice with the strangers compared with STSC and LTSC mice. Related with social behavior results, we found that in mice subjected to EE the levels of histone 3 lysine 9 di-methylation (H3K9me2), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), N-methyl-D asparate (NMDA) receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B, postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), and mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) were significantly elevated; whereas the levels of DNA methyltransferase-3A (DNMT3A), methyl-CpG-binding protein-2 (MeCP2), repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST), H3K4me2 and lysine demethylase-1A (KDM1A) decreased. These results suggest that enhanced sociability of EE mice could be mediated, in part, by altered expression of molecules regulating glutamate signaling pathway through GR by epigenetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soundarrajan Edwin Jeyaraj
- Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India
| | - Karunanithi Sivasangari
- Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India
| | - Jesús García-Colunga
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Koilmani Emmanuvel Rajan
- Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India.
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Shen J, Lin L, Liao L, Liang W, Yang X, Lin K, Ke L, Zhang L, Kang J, Ding S, Li C, Zheng Z. The involvement of Notch1 signaling pathway in mid-aged female rats under chronic restraint stress. Neurosci Lett 2020; 738:135313. [PMID: 32827575 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Women are vulnerable to adverse stress events, especially during perimenopause. Substantial evidence has associated the impaired neuronal plasticity with abnormal behaviors under stressful conditions in animals. The Notch signaling pathway is critical for neuronal plasticity in the structure and function of brain areas. In this study, the mid-aged female rats were subjected to chronic restraint stress(CRS) in combination with isolated rearing for 6 weeks. The behavior tests and HPA activity were conducted to evaluate the model. The mRNA and protein levels of Notch1 signaling related genes in the hippocampus(HIP) and prefrontal cortex(PFC) were analyzed by RT-qPCR and western blotting. The promoter methylation levels were measured by bisulfite sequencing PCR analysis. CRS induced depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors in mid-aged stressed females, as shown by decreased locomotor activity, sucrose consumption and increased HPA activity. Moreover, after CRS, the rats exhibited decreased mRNA and protein levels in Jagged1, Notch1 and Hes5 in the HIP and Notch1, Hes1 and Hes5 in the PFC. However, there were no significant promotor methylation changes between the stressed and control female rats. These findings suggest that Notch1 signaling pathway may contribute to the behavioral changes following CRS in mid-aged female rats and the upstream cause of the gene expression changes needs to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianying Shen
- Research Center of Neurobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China
| | - Ling Lin
- Research Center of Neurobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China
| | - Linghong Liao
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Research Base of TCM Syndrome, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China
| | - Wenna Liang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Research Base of TCM Syndrome, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China
| | - Xiaoting Yang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Research Base of TCM Syndrome, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China
| | - Kaimin Lin
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Research Base of TCM Syndrome, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China
| | - Long Ke
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Research Base of TCM Syndrome, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China
| | - Lingyuan Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Research Base of TCM Syndrome, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China
| | - Jie Kang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Research Base of TCM Syndrome, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China
| | - Shanshan Ding
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Research Base of TCM Syndrome, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China
| | - Candong Li
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Research Base of TCM Syndrome, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China
| | - Zhihong Zheng
- Research Center of Neurobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, China.
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Methionine mediates resilience to chronic social defeat stress by epigenetic regulation of NMDA receptor subunit expression. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:3007-3020. [PMID: 32564114 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05588-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Previous studies suggested that methionine (Met) levels are decreased in depressed patients. However, whether the decrease in this amino acid is important for phenotypic behaviors associated with depression has not been deciphered. OBJECTIVE The response of individuals to chronic stress is variable, with some individuals developing depression and others becoming resilient to stress. In this study, our objective was to examine the effect of Met on susceptibility to stress. METHODS Male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to daily defeat sessions by a CD1 aggressor, for 10 days. On day 11, the behavior of mice was assessed using social interaction and open-field tests. Mice received Met 4 h before each defeat session. Epigenetic targets were assessed either through real-rime RTPCR or through Western Blots. RESULTS Met did not modulate anxiety-like behaviors, but rather promoted resilience to chronic stress, rescued social avoidance behaviors and reversed the increase in the cortical expression levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits. Activating NMDAR activity abolished the ability of Met to promote resilience to stress and to rescue social avoidance behavior, whereas inhibiting NMDAR did not show any synergistic or additive protective effects. Indeed, Met increased the cortical levels of the histone methyltransferase SETDB1, and in turn, the levels of the repressive histone H3 lysine (K9) trimethylation (me3). CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that Met rescues susceptibility to stress by inactivating cortical NMDAR activity through an epigenetic mechanism involving histone methylation.
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Wang YJ, Liu L, Wang Y, Wang JL, Gao TT, Wang H, Chen TT, Guan W, Jiang B. Imipramine exerts antidepressant-like effects in chronic stress models of depression by promoting CRTC1 expression in the mPFC. Brain Res Bull 2020; 164:257-268. [PMID: 32905805 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested that CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1) plays a role in the pathophysiology of depression. Although imipramine is thought to prevent the reuptake of synaptic serotonin and norepinephrine, its antidepressant-like mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, the effects of imipramine on CRTC1 were studied in several models of depression, including the chronic restraint stress (CRS), chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) models. We examined whether repeated imipramine administration can reverse the effects of CRS, CUMS and CSDS on CRTC1 expression in both the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Furthermore, genetic knockdown of CRTC1 by CRTC1-shRNA was used to determine whether CRTC1 is necessary for the antidepressant-like effects of imipramine in mice. Our results showed that imipramine reversed the down-regulating effects of CRS, CUMS and CSDS on CRTC1 expression in the mPFC but not the hippocampus, and that CRTC1-shRNA fully abolished the antidepressant-like actions of imipramine in mice. In conclusion, CRTC1 in the mPFC is involved in the antidepressant mechanism of imipramine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Jie Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jin-Liang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ting-Ting Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ting-Ting Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Guan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bo Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Jiangsu, China.
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Shen J, Lin L, Liao L, Liang W, Yang X, Lin K, Ke L, Zhang L, Kang J, Ding S, Li C, Zheng Z. WITHDRAWN: The Involvement of Notch1 Signaling Pathway in Mid-aged Female Rats under Chronic Restraint Stress. Neurosci Lett 2020:135244. [PMID: 32652209 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This article has been withdrawn at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianying Shen
- Research Center of Neurobiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China
| | - Ling Lin
- Research Center of Neurobiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China
| | - Linghong Liao
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China
| | - Wenna Liang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China
| | - Xiaoting Yang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China
| | - Kaimin Lin
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China
| | - Long Ke
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China
| | - Lingyuan Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China
| | - Jie Kang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China
| | - Shanshan Ding
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China
| | - Candong Li
- Fujian Key Laboratory of TCM Health State, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China
| | - Zhihong Zheng
- Research Center of Neurobiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China.
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Sales AJ, Guimarães FS, Joca SRL. CBD modulates DNA methylation in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of mice exposed to forced swim. Behav Brain Res 2020; 388:112627. [PMID: 32348868 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotomimetic component of Cannabis sativa plant, shows therapeutic potential in psychiatric disorders, including depression. The molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant-like effects of CBD are not yet understood. Previous studies in differentiated skin cells demonstrated that CBD regulates DNA methylation, an overall repressive epigenetic mechanism. Both stress exposure and antidepressant treatment can modulate DNA methylation in the brain, and lead to gene expression changes associated with depression neurobiology. We investigated herein if the antidepressant effect of CBD could be associated with changes in DNA methylation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HPC) of mice submitted to the forced swimming test (FST). Therefore, we assessed: i) the behavioral effects induced by CBD and DNA methylation inhibitors (DNMTi: 5-AzaD and RG108), alone or in association; ii) the effects induced by CBD and DNMTi in global DNA methylation and DNMT activity, in PFC and HPC. Results showed that treatment with CBD (10 mg/kg), 5-AzaD and RG108 (0.2 mg/kg) induced an antidepressant-like effect in the FST. Similar effects were observed after the combination of sub-effective doses of CBD (7 mg/kg) and 5-AzaD or CBD (7 mg/kg) and RG108 (0.1 mg/kg). Also, stress reduced DNA methylation and DNMT activity in the HPC and increased it in the PFC. CBD and DNMTi treatment prevented these changes in both brain structures. Altogether, our results indicate that CBD regulates DNA methylation in brain regions relevant for depression neurobiology, suggesting that this mechanism could be related to CBD-induced antidepressant effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Sales
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Francisco S Guimarães
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sâmia R L Joca
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Abstract
Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders affecting public health. Studies over the past years suggest that the methylations of some specific genes such as BDNF, SLC6A4, and NR3C1 play an important role in the development of depression. Recently, epigenetic evidences suggest that the expression levels of DNA methyltransferases differ in several brain areas including the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens in depression patients and animal models, but the potential link between the expression levels of DNA methylatransferases and the methylations of specific genes needs further investigation to clarify the pathogenesis of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghao Duan
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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26
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Epigenetic Mechanisms in the Neurodevelopmental Theory of Depression. DEPRESSION RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2020; 2020:6357873. [PMID: 32373361 PMCID: PMC7196148 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6357873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The genome (genes), epigenome, and environment work together from the earliest stages of human life to produce a phenotype of human health or disease. Epigenetic modifications, including among other things: DNA methylation, modifications of histones and chromatin structure, as well as functions of noncoding RNA, are coresponsible for specific patterns of gene expression. This refers also to mental disorders, including depressive disorders. Early childhood experiences accompanied by severe stressors (considered a risk factor for depression in adult life) are linked with changes in gene expression. They include genes involved in a response to stress (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, HPA), associated with autonomic nervous system hyperactivity and with cortical, and subcortical processes of neuroplasticity and neurodegeneration. These are, among others: gene encoding glucocorticoid receptor, FK506 binding protein 5 gene (FKBP5), gene encoding arginine vasopressin and oestrogen receptor alpha, 5-hydroxy-tryptamine transporter gene (SLC6A4), and gene encoding brain-derived neurotrophic factor. How about personality? Can the experiences unique to every human being, the history of his or her development and gene-environment interactions, through epigenetic mechanisms, shape the features of our personality? Can we pass on these features to future generations? Hence, is the risk of depression inherent in our biological nature? Can we change our destiny?
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Hack LM, Fries GR, Eyre HA, Bousman CA, Singh AB, Quevedo J, John VP, Baune BT, Dunlop BW. Moving pharmacoepigenetics tools for depression toward clinical use. J Affect Disord 2019; 249:336-346. [PMID: 30802699 PMCID: PMC6763314 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and over half of patients do not achieve symptom remission following an initial antidepressant course. Despite evidence implicating a strong genetic basis for the pathophysiology of MDD, there are no adequately validated biomarkers of treatment response routinely used in clinical practice. Pharmacoepigenetics is an emerging field that has the potential to combine both genetic and environmental information into treatment selection and further the goal of precision psychiatry. However, this field is in its infancy compared to the more established pharmacogenetics approaches. METHODS We prepared a narrative review using literature searches of studies in English pertaining to pharmacoepigenetics and treatment of depressive disorders conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, PsychINFO, and Ovid Medicine from inception through January 2019. We reviewed studies of DNA methylation and histone modifications in both humans and animal models of depression. RESULTS Emerging evidence from human and animal work suggests a key role for epigenetic marks, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, in the prediction of antidepressant response. The challenges of heterogeneity of patient characteristics and loci studied as well as lack of replication that have impacted the field of pharmacogenetics also pose challenges to the development of pharmacoepigenetic tools. Additionally, given the tissue specific nature of epigenetic marks as well as their susceptibility to change in response to environmental factors and aging, pharmacoepigenetic tools face additional challenges to their development. LIMITATIONS This is a narrative and not systematic review of the literature on the pharmacoepigenetics of antidepressant response. We highlight key studies pertaining to pharmacoepigenetics and treatment of depressive disorders in humans and depressive-like behaviors in animal models, regardless of sample size or methodology. While we discuss DNA methylation and histone modifications, we do not cover microRNAs, which have been reviewed elsewhere recently. CONCLUSIONS Utilization of genome-wide approaches and reproducible epigenetic assays, careful selection of the tissue assessed, and integration of genetic and clinical information into pharmacoepigenetic tools will improve the likelihood of developing clinically useful tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Hack
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
| | - Gabriel R Fries
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Harris A Eyre
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Innovation Institute, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA; IMPACT SRC, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chad A Bousman
- Departments of Medical Genetics, Psychiatry, Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Ajeet B Singh
- IMPACT SRC, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joao Quevedo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vineeth P John
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bernhard T Baune
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Boadie W Dunlop
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Ibn Lahmar Andaloussi Z, Taghzouti K, Abboussi O. Behavioural and epigenetic effects of paternal exposure to cannabinoids during adolescence on offspring vulnerability to stress. Int J Dev Neurosci 2018; 72:48-54. [PMID: 30476535 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2018.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic cannabinoid exposure during adolescence in male rats induces chronic cognitive and emotional impairments. However, the impact of this form of exposure on offspring vulnerability to stress is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavioural and epigenetic effects of stress in the offspring of male rats whose fathers were exposed to cannabinoids during adolescence. Male adolescent offspring of Win55,212-2 (1.2 mg/kg) treated rats were exposed during one week to variable stressors and subjected to behavioural tests of anxiety and episodic-like memory, followed by an assessment of global DNA methylation and expression of DNA methyltransferases enzymes DNMT1 and DNMT3a mRNA in the prefrontal cortex. Stress exposure induced a significant anxiogenic-like effect but did not affect the episodic-like memory in the offspring of Win55,212-2 exposed fathers in comparison to the offspring of non-exposed fathers. These behavioural changes were subsequent to a significant increase in global DNA methylation and DNMT1 and DNMTa3 transcription in the prefrontal cortex. These data suggest that the deleterious effect of chronic exposure to cannabinoids during adolescence are not limited to the exposed individuals but may increase the vulnerability to stress-induced anxiety in the offspring and alter their epigenetic programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zineb Ibn Lahmar Andaloussi
- Physiology and Physiopathology Team, Faculty of Sciences, Genomic of Human Pathologies Research Centre, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Khalid Taghzouti
- Physiology and Physiopathology Team, Faculty of Sciences, Genomic of Human Pathologies Research Centre, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Oualid Abboussi
- Institute of Academic Anaesthesia, Division of Neuroscience, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
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